Agenda - Council Work Session - 01/08/2013

Home

Designation of an Official Newspaper for Public Notices in 2013 The ABC Newspapers (Anoka Union, Blaine /Spring Lake Park Life & Coon Rapids Herald) have been proud to serve our local communities and this region for the past 145 years. During this time we have stood as the pillar of information for the citizens in the area covering the governing bodies' meetings and reporting on the actions in our newspapers and websites. During this time we have also been the trusted source for disseminating local public notices for communities and other government activities. It has been brought to our attention that a web -based "publication" has the intention of bidding to publish Public Notices for your local government municipality — the Anoka County Record. This entity, which is possibly unknown to you at this time, should be given a hard look before you would consider them as your "official publication" and their qualifications under the laws of the State of Minnesota governing official publications for Public Notices should be carefully examined. The Anoka County Record's claim of being "a new media newspaper" is both arbitrary and not relevant to the law as it relates to Public Notices for your jurisdiction. (331A -02 -a) A store front address in the county does not instill confidence that they have met the "Known office of issue" criteria (331A.02 -e). (They also have a mailing address different than their street address - which is puzzling as well. There doesn't appear to be a sign for their business at the listed address from their Legal Newspaper Status Application). In contrast, both our parent company, ECM Publishers, Inc. and the ABC Newspapers offices themselves are located within the Anoka County boundaries - the statute designated (331A.04, Subd2) choice for legal notice publication in Anoka County. In addition, the Record's claim that "The primary newspaper distribution method is online" may very well not hold up to the requirement of "circulation in the political subdivision which it purports to serve" (331A.02 -d).