ANNOUNCEMENTS
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Press Release
Changes will be occurring at the Municipal Yard Waste sites starting January 1st.
Refuge Neighbors: Please Fill Feeders for Christmas Bird Count
This year marks the 126th anniversary of the nationwide Christmas Bird Count, a survey of winter bird species conducted annually from December 14 to January 5. This citizen science project is organized by the National Audubon Society and involves tens of thousands of volunteers from Alaska to Antarctica, including a group of volunteers at your nearby refuge. Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, located just north of Zimmerman, has participated in this count since 1966 and is planning to conduct it again this year. On Thursday, December 18, Sherburne volunteers will survey within a 7.5-mile radius from the intersection of Sherburne County Road 9 and County Road 5.
While additional volunteer counters are not needed, the refuge could still use your help! If you live within fifteen miles of the count area, please clean and fill your bird feeders at least three days before the count. Be aware that vehicles may be driving slowly past your home with binoculars fixed on your property. There is no cause for concern; the observers are only interested in the species and numbers of birds on your property.
Reports from participating groups across the country are tallied by Audubon and other birding organizations, including the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union. The final tally provides valuable information on the number of bird species present during that 23-day time frame. Nationally, this data is used to track long-term trends in bird populations and distribution, including both declines in populations and increases in species such as bald eagles.
Local data for the refuge is used to track changes in our bird populations over time, and it can also be pooled with data from other areas to detect patterns over a larger region. Last year, the refuge’s Christmas Bird Count observed 42 species of birds, including numerous common species such as trumpeter swans and black-capped chickadees, as well as less common species like one northern saw-whet owl and four northern shrikes. This important count would not be possible without a dedicated group of refuge volunteers!
For more information, visit www.fws.gov/refuge/sherburne/ or contact us at sherburne@fws.gov or 763-389-3323.
Changes will be occurring at the Municipal Yard Waste sites starting January 1st.
Changes will be occurring at the Municipal Yard Waste sites starting January 1st.
Attention: Municipal Yard Waste Access Card Reset
Residents can expect a hard reset on all municipal yard waste site access cards on January 1st, 2026. This is due to a software update. Please note that your cards will no longer work after January 1st, 2026 until you get them reset.
For more information please reach out to your city directly.
Elk River City Hall
Becker City Hall
Big Lake City Hall
Zimmerman City Hall
Notice of Joint Meeting
The annual Joint Community Meeting will be held on Thursday, January 15th, 2026 at the City of Big Lake Council Chambers at 6:00 PM.
Orrock Cemetery Association Sexton Job Description
The Orrock Cemetery Association is looking for an individual to intern and eventually take over with burials at the Orrock Cemetery.
Job Summary: The Sexton is responsible for coordinating all activities pertaining to interments, including the staking/placement of all burials and markers within the cemetery. The Sexton marks the grave sites according to the plot map, staking instructions, and cemetery records to ensure accurate burials. The Sexton coordinates this activity with the appropriate entities as outlined below.
The Sexton attends the annual Cemetery Board Meeting as well as participates in the annual clean-up.
Contact the clerk for more information: 763-263-6411
West Eagle Lake Road Improvements
West Eagle Lake Road Improvements
Orrock Township and WSB will endeavor to provide general updates as this project occurs. For any questions regarding the project, please email kkruger@wsbeng.com.
Information and Upcoming Events
UPCOMING MEETING DATES
UPCOMING MEETING DATES
February 26, 2025 - 7PM - Regular Meeting & Annual Board of Audit Meeting
March 11, 2025 - 7PM - Annual Meeting
March 26, 2025 - 7PM - Regular Meeting
April 9, 2025 - 6PM - Local Board of Appeal and Equalization
April 23, 2025 - 7PM - Regular Meeting
May 28, 2025 - 7PM - Regular Meeting
June 25, 2025 - 7PM - Regular Meeting
July 23, 2025 - 7PM - Regular Meeting
August 27, 2025 - 7PM - Regular Meeting
September 24, 2025 - 7PM - Regular Meeting
October 22, 2025 - 7PM - Regular Meeting
November 19, 2025 - 7PM - Regular Meeting
December 17, 2025 - 7PM - Regular Meeting
One or more members may be attending remotely.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
UPCOMING MEETING DATES
The Annual Town Meeting is on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 beginning at 7PM.
Known as Township Day, these annual meetings are held every year on the second Tuesday in March.
Local township government is perhaps the best example of direct democracy in America’s republic system of governance, as these meetings are the place where citizens (the electorate) can have the greatest amount of input into items such as local expenditures and budgets.
Annual meetings are places where citizens can play a direct role in shaping the direction of their local governments on policy decision. This is YOUR meeting . At this meeting, residents of the township will meet to voice their opinions about local issues with other township residents and also vote directly on their annual tax levy.
SNOW PLOWING INFORMATION
Operations will normally begin when an accumulation of two inches or more AND snow has stopped falling. Under certain circumstances, the Town Board Authority may dispatch equipment when these criteria are not met. Despite the efforts of Township Maintenance, roads may have slippery areas. Be aware of this and always drive cautiously. The ability of salt to melt road ice reduces as the temperature drops, and shaded roads tend to stay icy longer.
Orrock Township is responsible for approximately forty-seven (47) miles of roadways. Residents shall NOT attempt to stop equipment operators, approach snow removal equipment of impede snow removal in any manner. Stopping plows to discuss y our concerns is counter-productive to getting the 47 miles of Town roads cleared, a safety hazard to you, the plow operator and the traveling public.
Concerns about the manner in which the road is being plowed, delivery of ice control products or other comments are to be directed to the Town’s Road Authority.
Township Road Authority Supervisor Peter Owen 763-250-4109
PLOWING ACROSS ROADS
AVOID THE SECOND SHOVEL/PLOW
As a reminder,
Per MN Statute 160.2715, it is
unlawful to push or plow snow into or across any public road. When clearing snow from your driveways, snow must be directed onto your own property.
Exercise caution in following or approaching plow trucks. Snowplows are not as maneuverable as smaller vehicles. Violators can be cited. Snow piles left on or near the side of the road create a hazard to all vehicles including
plow equipment.
WINTER PARKING
AVOID THE SECOND SHOVEL/PLOW
AVOID THE SECOND SHOVEL/PLOW
Residents are reminded to remove
parked vehicles from the roadways during the winter months. According to Orrock Township's Winter Parking Ordinance, it is unlawful to stop,park or stand any vehicle or parts thereof, on any roadway within the Township between November 1st and April 15th. Any vehicle or parts thereof left on any road, street, highway or thoroughfare in the Township in such a way as to impede the performance of any Town, City, County and/or State snowplow will be subject to the penalty provision of this Ordinance.
AVOID THE SECOND SHOVEL/PLOW
AVOID THE SECOND SHOVEL/PLOW
AVOID THE SECOND SHOVEL/PLOW
The primary goal of plowing is to remove snow from the streets so that the road is open to vehicular traffic. Plows typically push snow to the right of the travel lane and the driver cannot stop or raise the plow at each driveway as this would leave a pile of snow in the roadway. Clear an area for the snow pushed by the plow next to your driveway and near the road. This gives the plows a place to push the snow.
SHERBURNE COUNTY ATV REGULATIONS
These guidelines are for off-road vehicles in Sherburne County only. For further regulations, refer to the MN OHV Regulations Book.
SWING-AWAY MAILBOX SUPPORTS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
It is the policy of Orrock Township that the standard construction for supporting mailboxes is the swing-away mailbox support. If your mailbox is put in according to township standards and damaged during township maintenance activities, it may be repaired/replaced as needed by contacting the township.
SwingSafe Mailbox supports are available for purchase from the township. The price is $102 and does not include the mailbox.
YARD WASTE / COMPOST SITES
The four public compost sites located in Sherburne County are now gated and locked and require all users to obtain a key-card to access each site. All residents of Sherburne County are eligible to obtain a free key-card.
You may pick up your free key-card at one of the following locations:
Becker City Hall
Big Lake City Hall
Elk River City Hall
Elk River Maintenance Facility
Zimmerman City Hall
ADOPT A STORM DRAIN
What is Adopt a Storm Drain?
Everything that enters our storm drains gets transported to our waterways! This includes pollutants such as garbage, grass clippings, leaves, salt and oil. These types of pollutants can harm fish and wildlife populations, kill native vegetation, foul drinking water supplies, and make recreational areas unsafe and unpleasant. The program asks volunteers to clear their adopted storm drains and the surrounding area on a regular basis. Report what you collected and the amount so we can monitor the overall effects the program is having. Adopt A Storm Drain Today!
SHORE-LAND ALTERATIONS
Shoreland Alteration Permits are required for such things as deck expansions, grading & filling, vegetation alterations and more. Please contact the Sherburne County Planning and Zoning office for questions regarding your shoreland related projects.
SHERBURNE CO HOUSE TRUST FUND
Homeowner rehabilitation loan programs offer current homeowners financing to fund projects of necessary repairs, replacements and improvements on residential properties. Sherburne County has created a Housing Trust Fund (Ordinance No. 282) to be a permanent source of funding and a continually renewable source of revenue to meet, in part, the housing needs of Moderate, Low, and Very Low-Income households of the County. For more information click the link below.