Douglas County News

Posted: Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Douglas County Commissioners voted to limit the number of retail businesses selling adult use cannabis products. This vote does not affect the businesses already established t...

Posted: Friday, April 4, 2025

Every year on tornado drill day, Douglas County sounds the outdoor warning sirens at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. It’s an opportunity for everyone to practice how they’ll respond t...

Posted: Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Saying we must stop discharging so much salt into our lakes, Douglas County commissioners, at their April 1 meeting, approved the addition of a new requirement for a proposed ...

Posted: Monday, March 31, 2025

Posted: Wednesday, March 19, 2025

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is taking in an alarming number of reports from residents fearing they’ve been targeted for a financial scam. The fraudulent contacts come ...

Posted: Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The State of Minnesota passed MN Statutes Chapter 342 in 2023, effectively legalizing the growing, processing, and distribution of cannabis or cannabinoid products.  The ...

Posted: Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Posted: Wednesday, March 5, 2025

At their March 4 meeting, Douglas County commissioners took action on traffic signs to increase safety in a newly congested area of the county, discussed a potential new inter...

Posted: Monday, March 3, 2025

Posted: Monday, March 3, 2025

Posted: Friday, February 21, 2025

Two of the county’s most popular outdoor concerts will continue in 2025. At their February 18 board meeting, Douglas County Commissioners granted permits for both the Summer S...

Posted: Monday, February 17, 2025

Posted: Thursday, February 13, 2025

Posted: Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Posted: Monday, February 3, 2025

Posted: Monday, February 3, 2025

Posted: Monday, February 3, 2025

Posted: Wednesday, January 22, 2025

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners approved livestreaming future meetings, allowing Burr Vineyards to sell beer and the 5-Year Road Improvement Plan. These, and other i...

Posted: Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Posted: Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Commissioner Jerry Rapp will serve as the chair of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners for 2025. Rapp, re-elected in 2024, represents District 3 which is located on the ...

Posted: Wednesday, December 18, 2024

An unusually long board meeting on December 17 included two public hearings, Douglas County Commissioners voting to close on a land deal for the proposed new library, updates ...

Posted: Wednesday, December 4, 2024

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners met in an evening session on Tuesday, December 3. The board meeting at 5 p.m. was followed by a 6 p.m. budget hearing. At the budget ...

Posted: Monday, December 2, 2024

Posted: Monday, December 2, 2024

Posted: Monday, November 25, 2024

Posted: Thursday, November 14, 2024

Ice storms, power outages, high winds and sub-zero temperatures can all make winter months miserable and dangerous. To reduce the impacts of winter dangers each year, emergenc...

Posted: Monday, November 11, 2024

Posted: Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Additional life-saving Naloxone will soon be available in Douglas County. At their November 5 meeting, commissioners approved a grant request to use federal settlement dollars...

Posted: Monday, October 28, 2024

Posted: Thursday, October 17, 2024

Douglas County Board meetings often include requests from residents, looking for opportunities to improve their land, or start a home-based business. County employees assist b...

Posted: Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Posted: Monday, October 14, 2024

Posted: Thursday, October 3, 2024

Posted: Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Funding for safety and improvements to county infrastructure come from a variety of sources, and commissioners must discuss and determine whether to move forward with all proj...

Posted: Monday, September 30, 2024

Posted: Monday, September 30, 2024

Posted: Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Posted: Monday, September 9, 2024

Posted: Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Posted: Wednesday, September 4, 2024

A proposed solar farm is now permitted for the Alexandria area. At its September 3 board meeting commissioners voted 4 to 1 to allow the Fern-Roth Solar project. The Planning ...

Posted: Thursday, August 29, 2024

Posted: Wednesday, August 21, 2024

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners had one of its busiest meetings so far in 2024 on Tuesday, August 20. Board members listened to 13 agency leaders whose organizations...

Posted: Thursday, August 8, 2024

At its August 6 meeting, Douglas County commissioners passed several resolutions and motions to ensure the residents and businesses of the county receive important services. B...

Posted: Thursday, July 25, 2024

Nestled within the July 16 Douglas County Board of Commissioners agenda of important, but routine business, was a presentation about the Alexandria Area YMCA. YMCA Board Chair...

Posted: Monday, July 22, 2024

Moms fix problems. They just do. Which is why, when Nicole Ness Botzet, a mom, asked Douglas County to allow her life jacket project to move forward at the county beaches, the...

Posted: Monday, July 15, 2024

Posted: Wednesday, July 10, 2024

A major road construction project in Douglas County will be fully underway on Monday, July 15. The impacted area is County State Aid Highway 4. This road is in the south-centr...

Posted: Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Posted: Tuesday, July 2, 2024

At its July 2 meeting, the Douglas County board took action on projects that will directly impact residents and visitors to both the eastern and western sides of the county. T...

Posted: Monday, July 1, 2024

Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2024

It’s a big yes for the next step in a new library in Douglas County. At the June 18 meeting, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners approved a letter of intent to accept th...

Posted: Monday, June 10, 2024

Posted: Thursday, June 6, 2024

For the first time in history, all Minnesota-born adopted persons will have the right to their original birth certificate. Beginning July 1, 2024, adoptees, 18 years of age an...

Posted: Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Recognition of one of the longest-serving employees created a heartfelt response at the start of the June 4 Douglas County Board of Commissioners meeting. Laurie Bonds is reti...

Posted: Monday, June 3, 2024

Posted: Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Douglas County Commissioners denied a request for a 300-person event facility in Orange Township. That decision was among the votes taken at the May 21 board meeting. The appl...

Posted: Wednesday, May 8, 2024

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted against the petition to create an Osakis Lake Improvement District. That decision came at the May 7 board meeting. Before the v...

Posted: Thursday, April 25, 2024

Posted: Thursday, April 18, 2024

Road construction work in Douglas County can now move forward after commissioners approved bids for two grading projects and overall county paving work in 2024. The bids were ...

Posted: Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Upon petition by the Osakis Lake Association for a proposed Osakis Lake Improvement District, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners has set a public hearing scheduled for ...