09/09/2026
Hi — we understand the concerns being expressed by members of our community and want to clarify the City’s role in this process.
The City of Howard Lake is not notified when individuals move into the community, nor does the City have the authority or ability to conduct background checks on every person who chooses to live within city limits. For individuals who are subject to registration and public notification requirements, notification occurs through the appropriate state agencies and law enforcement process.
Once the Howard Lake Police Department was notified of this relocation, our local department acted promptly to begin the community notification process and coordinate a public meeting with representatives from the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
The City of Howard Lake will continue to share information that is provided and authorized for public release as quickly as possible. We understand the concerns and questions from our community, and we encourage residents to attend the Community Notification Meeting on Thursday, September 10 at 6:00 p.m. at the Great River Regional Library. Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Corrections and the Howard Lake Police Department will be available to provide information, discuss public safety, and answer questions.
We appreciate our community staying informed and encourage residents to use the public meeting as an opportunity to learn more about the notification process and ask questions directly of the agencies involved.
