9.c Designating official newspaper-Staff Report
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: January 21, 2020
To: City Council
From: Brenda Eklund, Deputy Clerk
Re: Designate Official Newspaper
Background:
State Statute requires the council, at the annual meeting, to designate a newspaper of general
circulation as its official newspaper in which the city will publish ordinances and other matters
as required by law.
Last year, the Council designated the Country Messenger as the official newspaper for 2019, as
it did in 2017-18. Previously, the Forest Lake Times was the official newspaper from 2007
through 2009, and in 2011 and 2016. In 2010, the Country Messenger was designated the legal
newspaper after state law was changed to reduce the circulation requirement from 500 to 400,
and a legal issue with the location of the office of issue was resolved. The Country Messenger
was the official newspaper of the city in 2012 through 2015 as well.
In December 2019, staff requested proposals from the Forest Lake Times and Country
Messenger. A summary of their responses is found on page 2 of this report.
Issue:
Which newspaper should be designated as the official newspaper of the city for 2020?
Proposal Details:
Attached.
Fiscal Impact:
The 2020 budget for legal notices is $2,000.
Options:
1) Designate the Country Messenger as the official newspaper for 2020
2) Designate the Forest Lake Times as the official newspaper for 2020
City of Scandia
Comparison of Legal Newspaper Proposals
January, 2020
Newspaper Forest Lake Times Country Messenger
Meets Requirements
of Minnesota
Statutes 331A.02
Yes Yes
Office Location Forest Lake, Minnesota Osceola, Wisconsin
Total Circulation 1,793 925
Scandia Circulation 110 480
Distribution Method U.S. Mail and dealer
locations in Forest Lake
25 free copies at Community
Center, U.S. Mail, and dealer
locations: Scandia Olde Town
Liquor, Scandia Store, Big
Marine Store, Marine
General Store
Subscription Price Mailed subscription
$38.00 per year
Mailed subscription
$26.00 per year
$0.75 single copy
Publication Schedule Weekly, Thursday Weekly, Wednesday
Submission Deadline Monday, 3:00 p.m. Friday, 12:00 p.m.
Type Size/ Lines per
Inch 7 pt/ 9 lines per inch 7 pt/ 9 lines per inch
Price per Column Inch $5.60 $4.00
Posted on Paper’s
Website, No Extra
Charge
Yes Yes
Designated Official
Newspaper
Forest Lake, Wyoming,
Columbus, FL School
District 831
Marine on St. Croix,
May Township