Incorporation News and Info
Northern Township has grown into a thriving community of over 3,800 residents, offering many of the services and amenities commonly associated with cities across Minnesota. As we continue to grow and take on more municipal responsibilities, the Northern Town Board believes it is time to take the next step in our development: incorporation.
Incorporation is the legal process by which a township becomes a city. This step would allow Northern Township to establish formal city boundaries, maintain greater control over local land use and growth, and access new sources of state funding. It would also ensure the Township is positioned to continue delivering high-quality services efficiently and effectively—now and into the future.
The decision to explore incorporation has not been made lightly. Northern has held meetings dating back to 1977 discussing incorporation. More recently, in November 2022, the Town Board held two public meetings to share information about the process and gather feedback from residents. Community input was overwhelmingly supportive of moving forward with the effort.
Northern Township remains committed to transparency and public involvement as this process unfolds. This page will serve as a central hub for updates, background information, and notices related to incorporation. We invite all residents to stay engaged as we move through this important chapter in our Township’s history.
Incorporation Trial was held Sept. 29 – Oct. 6, 2025
Locations: Town Hall and Bemidji City Hall
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Incorporation Public Hearing was held Sept. 30, 2025
Location: County Fairgrounds 4H building
Upcoming Incorporation Timeline Key Events
- Attorney’s legal briefs due to Judge Palmer-Denig: December 8th, 2025
- Judge Palmer-Denig issues decision: targeting January/February 2026
- Potential new Northern City Council election: spring – summer 2026 (if incorporation is granted, this will be set by the judge)
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Decades of Annexation Already
Nearly 23% of Northern Township’s original land area has already been annexed into the City of Bemidji. Each annexation shrinks our community, shifts tax base away from our residents, and reduces our ability to plan for our own future.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Bemidji steadily annexed portions of the Township through a series of smaller boundary changes.
In the early 2000s, the Township entered into a 15-year orderly annexation agreement with Bemidji. That agreement was honored in full and concluded in 2020. At the time, many believed annexation disputes were finally behind us.
But in 2021—barely a year later—Bemidji returned with new annexation plans, once again seeking to expand their city boundaries at Northern’s expense.
That history is why our incorporation effort matters. Incorporation is the only way to secure stable boundaries, protect our tax base, and keep local decisions in the hands of Northern residents so we can effectively plan for the future.
Incorporation vs. Annexation
When it comes to our future, the choice is clear: annexation takes more from our residents and gives less back, while incorporation strengthens our pocketbooks and keeps Northern’s future in Northern’s hands.
Northern vs. Bemidji Wastewater Plans
Northern has been developing a carefully planned wastewater project for years to serve our community and protect Lake Bemidji. In contrast, Bemidji has only recently put forward a last-minute idea to extend their system outside of their own city boundaries—an attempt to capture additional tax base while spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on an area that isn’t even under their jurisdiction.
Important Documents
Historical Documents
News/Updates
📣 Northern Township Incorporation Trial Update
The evidentiary portion of the incorporation trial has now concluded, and we’re very pleased with how the proceedings went. Our team was able to present all of the key points from our case, and the evidence came in very well. We sincerely thank Judge Jessica...
Joint Meeting on Contested Annexation by Ordinance Petition
🚨 Joint Meeting on Contested Annexation by Ordinance Petition 🚨 As many of you know, the City of Bemidji has petitioned to annex portions of Northern Township through annexation by ordinance. Minnesota law requires that a Joint Informational Meeting be held between...
Incorporation & Annexation Trial Update
📢 Incorporation & Annexation Trial Update On July 15, Judge Jessica Palmer-Denig formally opened Northern Township’s incorporation trial. Because the City of Bemidji is contesting our petition—and submitting its own request to annex the entire area around Lake...
Incorporation Update 7-2-25
Incorporation Update: Trial Start Date & Upcoming Steps We want to keep you informed as we continue moving forward with the incorporation process. 🗓 Trial Start Date:The judge has set July 15 as the official start date for the incorporation trial. This is when the...
Press Release: Response to Bemidji’s Resolution to Petition for Annexation
Northern Township Responds to Bemidji’s Vote to Proceed with Annexation 5-20-25 Northern Township is disappointed—but not surprised—by the Bemidji City Council’s decision to move forward with a petition to annex large portions of our Township. Let us be clear: the...