Froeber pushes plaque project at Big Turkey

By Robert Williams

Editor

Frazee Community Development Corporation (FCDC) members Hank Ludtke, Polly Andersen, along with Community Club President Tom Watson discussed the handling of Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resource (LCCMR) grants with Mayor Mark Flemmer during the open forum session of the Frazee City Council meeting on Wednesday, June 12.

“The property we have out here would be very difficult to trade or sell or do anything with,” said Ludtke. “I thought that we made that clear when we did our agreement with the city for us managing it. Our mouthpiece for the city is the city administrator. I just want that noted.”

Lutdke’s remarks were in response to Flemmer’s research into potentially transferring Wannigan Regional Park to Becker County in the future. Proper procedure dictates that the mayor should run those questions through Poegel to relay to the state.

City Admin Stephanie Poegel is the acting project manager of Wannigan Park. She submitted an email from the State of Minnesota as confirmation of her role.

“So all council members are aware, if anybody has questions they are to come to me and I am the contact with the state,” Poegel said. “This issue has been discussed with a couple different entities of the state several times and I had told Planning & Zoning, EDA and Wannigan already what the response was from the DNR and LCCMR.”

FCDC Representative Polly Andersen spoke on clarifying how grants are disbursed and held.

“As we just launched our Active Transportation (Grant) work group yesterday for the trails within the park and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is handling that money and that’s coming from the federal budget,” Andersen said. “It was very interesting and there were three members from MnDOT just to clarify who does what at what stage along the way. It’s a normal thing for us to want to seek information and it’s a part of the process of learning.”

Andersen continued in an effort to calm some obvious frustration between Ludtke, Watson and Mayor Mark Flemmer, who would ultimately resign at the end of the meeting. (See our feature story on the front page for more on that action.)

“I think a lot of this is growing pains and having a lot of groups come together is not easy,” Andersen said. “Funneling information, it sure helps us understand that that is how it should be and that is what is expected of us,” said Andersen.

She went on to thank Poegel for her efforts in keeping track of a lengthy list of grant applications and approvals for the city.

“That would be with all grants, really,” said Poegel. “That’s the point of the Administrator being the point person for the grants—that’s the person who communicates with all the different entities.”

The park was discussed later in the meeting under committee reports.

The Wannigan Committee will be applying to The Greater Minnesota Parks & Trails Council (GMPTC) for continued grant funding of nearly $1 million.

“We don’t want to go for more than the average grant,” Andersen said. 

The Wannigan group has been meeting with GMPTC System Plan Coordinator Joe Czapiewski for guidance on what the components of the grant application should be, namely park access with a focus on the trails and signage.

“Those are the two key areas we can focus on for a lower amount of money than having to put in things that cost more,” Andersen said. 

Andersen also discussed the upcoming Grand Opening of Wannigan Park on Tuesday, June 18, from 4-6 p.m. at the covered bridge.

Funding already received in a Relief Grant will be used for a tree inventory in the park and the park committee is going to use that information to properly disperse different varieties of trees in the park, along with using local people associated with planting efforts in the past around the area. Students will also be involved in a tree planting day during the next school year.

“We’re partnering with bringing different classes together and we’re working with Trescha Mitchell (FFA Advisor) on that, Doug Schwarzrock and Ken Hammer, who were with the FFA for years, and Monica Fedora,” said Ludtke. “We’re working with people who have planted over 5 million trees that are helping us know what we should have and where it should be out there. We can keep the school curriculum going too and keep them involved in developing these parks.”

Watson related the weeks he put in helping build Frazee’s troll from the Thomas Dambo project and the effect that the art installation is going to have on the town, especially with the grand opening just three days ago. 

“I don’t think Frazee’s prepared for what’s about to hit ‘em,” Watson said. “I’ve been talking to the restaurants and so forth. It’s unbelievable, the traffic that has been out there already and it’s just the beginning.”

The troll in Frazee is still in need of two large rocks that are used to climb up the troll to unlock a portion of the troll stories. 

“Just by what I’ve seen so far it’s going to bring a lot of people to town,” Watson said.

Ludtke noted an estimate of 100-140 more cars coming through town already, as well as e-bike traffic destined for the park.

Councilmember Jim Rader echoed those sentiments.

Big turkey park sign

Council member Andrea Froeber has been examining putting a new information plaque at the big turkey with a goal to have it installed by the 70th Turkey Days celebration in July.

Froeber is discussing the project with JH Signs and working on the size and construction of the plaque materials from etched metal to cast iron.

The plaque project was first commissioned by the Frazee Community Club. Froeber will continue discussions with the community club to work on potential fundraising, project leadership, along with a donation to the city.

“If it’s a city park, it’s not unreasonable to believe the city has some responsibility and I don’t think we just want to have a blank monument up there,” Froeber said.

Another option is an information kiosk.

Neither project will be completed by Turkey Days.

“I do think it’s important to Frazee with all the other things going on that we should work on it,” Froeber said.

Water Treatment,

East Main project

According to City Engineer Chris Thorson, a banking error of $2,488 was found on the final payment for work on the Water Treatment Plant. The council approved payment utilizing funds from the water account, according to Poegel.

Thorson also discussed the upcoming East Main Project where materials testing will be needed on portions of the project 8th and Cherry and the alley behind city hall costing an estimated $14,900. Thorson noted that is a high estimate and the work typically ends up costing a lower amount.

Becker County is covering the cost of similar testing on its portion of the project running from the bridge to County Highway 87.

Thorson stated a project construction start date of Monday, June 24 with an estimated completion date of Nov. 1.

There will be phased detours because of trenching operations for pipe installation.

Construction meetings will be held weekly on Tuesdays at 10 a.m., at the Frazee Fire Hall.

The public is invited to discuss the project, according to Thorson.

Town Lake Beach

Specifications provided by Public Works Supervisor Larry Stephenson were discussed in a meeting with Poegel and Widseth Landscape Architect Jillian Reiner. All of Stephenson’s concerns were addressed and the drawings of the new community building were adjusted. The council unanimously opened up the bidding for the construction project.

Rescue

On Wednesday, May 29, the Frazee Rescue Board interviewed Brandon Wiirre, who had applied to become a member of the Rescue Squad. Wiirre lives inside the city of Frazee and is currently employed by Perham EMS as a paramedic.

The Rescue Board approved the hiring on a standard probationary period and recommended Wiirre to the city council, who approved the hire upon a satisfactory background check completion.

Currently the Frazee Rescue has 10 members: Suzann Bristlin; Amanda Felt; Stacy Hunt; Tasha Jenson; Josie Johnson; Matthew Johnson; Shawna King; Ken Miosek; Terri Thunstrom and Tyler Trieglaff.

Fire

The Fire Department received a donation of $9,908.79 from the Frazee Relief Association General Fund.

Planning & Zoning

Todd Johnson approached the committee about applying to open a smoke shop in the former Frazee gym area of the former bowling alley building on West Main Ave. 

“After further discussion, really what he is proposing is a retail shop that has some smoking-related products, so it’s not necessarily a smoke shop and therefore, we do not need to do anything zoning-wise to permit it,” said Vice Mayor Mike Sharp. “He would be permitted to proceed just like All-in-All, just like they do there, Dollar General, so we will not be seeing anything from Planning & Zoning. He withdrew his application.”

Sharp also discussed properties to annex in the city, mainly properties associated with the school district, mainly the ballpark area, portions of Lions Park and Wannigan Regional Park.

Frazee City Council

Mayor Mark Flemmer

Vice Mayor Mike Sharp

Council member Mark Kemper, Jim Rader, Andrea Froeber

City Administrator Stephanie Poegel

City Engineer (Ulteig) Kris Carlson

City Engineer (Ulteig) Chris Thorson

City Attorney Thomas Winters

Public Works Supervisor Larry Stephenson

Chief of Police Tyler Trieglaff

Fire Chief Nathan Matejka; Jason Kropuenske

MnDOT Project Manager Tom Pace

Frazee Community Development Corporation (FCDC)

Frazee Event Center Manager Jolene Tappe

Liquor Store Manager Amanda Young