Frazee council sets committee assignments for 2024

By Robert Williams

Editor

The Frazee City Council issued a public notice about potential hiccups with this month’s utility bill. The city completed a financial software upgrade, however this month’s utility bills may not arrive during their normal time frame, due to occasional inconsistencies during data transfer from the old system. 

The issue is not expected to affect all customers, but the council wanted customers to be aware of the potential delay. Contact the city office with any issues.

Event Center

The city is in the bidding process for a 3-gallon natural gas line fire suppression system for the center’s main stove.

“In the event of a fire there is nothing to stop and turn it off,” said City Administrator Stephanie Poegel.

The compliance issue was found during a mock Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) audit. The council has one bid for the job and is waiting on others to be submitted.

Fifth Street rail crossing

The police department received a complaint about pedestrian use around the railroad crossing at 5th Street NW. The complainant was a pedestrian who had slipped. Chief of Police Tyler Trieglaff brought up the possibility of a future sidewalk or chicane for pedestrians.

“There has been a lot more pedestrian traffic with the Dollar General,” said Trieglaff. “Just something to think about. It may improve a little bit of safety; we haven’t had any issues.”

The project could be fraught with costs, right of way issues, and the complications involved with the cooperation of multiple entities including the city, county, railroad and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Vice Mayor Mike Sharp noted replacing the Tuff Curb system currently installed with a concrete median as part of the project. The median would eliminate the maintenance of the yellow plastic that currently separates traffic crossing the railway quiet zone.

City Engineer Chris Thorson noted that would include widening the road, thereby bringing the railway signal arms into the project. Right turn lanes were also discussed. 

“Where do you stop?” said Trieglaff.

Thorson advised Flemmer to make the first move in contacting the parties involved for a preliminary discussion, but that project will likely remain more in the idea stage, especially, with the East Main Avenue project already scheduled to begin later this year.

Meeting schedule

The council’s meeting schedule has changed for 2024 with meetings being held the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at the Event Center. Meetings begin at 5 p.m.

The city council also set its committee assignments for 2024:

Council Committees:

Parks & Recreation: Mark Flemmer and Andrea Froeber

Personnel Committee: Mike Sharp and Jim Rader 

Finance Committee: Mark Flemmer and Mike Sharp

Council Member Liaisons to groups/organizations:

Frazee Area Action Fund: Mark Kemper

Frazee Burlington Silver Leaf Joint Powers Board: Mark Kemper and Larry Stephenson

Lakeside Cemetery Liaison: Mark Kemper

Lake Agassiz Regional Library: James Rader

Frazee School District: James Rader

Planning Commission:  Eric Anderson, Ken Miosek, Tyler Trieglaff

City Council appointees: Andrea Froeber, Mike Sharp

Economic Development Authority: 

Ted Anderson – Term Expires Jan. 2026

Ashley Renollet – Term Expires Jan. 2026

Jon Olson – Term Expires Jan. 2025

Heath Peterson – Term Expires Jan. 2025

Hank Ludtke –  Term Expires Jan. 2025

City council appointees: Andrea Froeber, Mark Kemper