County to proceed with Master Plan

By Robert Williams

Editor

The Becker County Board voted 3-2 in favor of accepting an anonymous donation up to $52,000 to complete of a Master Plan on the Toad Mountain project going against the Sept. 17 resolution to shut down the project completely at the Tuesday Oct. 1 Commissioners meeting.

The new resolution was asked to be both on and removed from the agenda. County Administrator Carrie Smith addressed the comments that the project had already been denied and should not be on the agenda again.

“I felt it was important to bring it back for at least discussion and/or consideration since there have been some circumstances that have changed,” Smith said. “Not all circumstances, but monetarily the situation has changed.”

Chairman John Okeson asked if the Toad Lake Township board had a chance to act on these changes, but they have yet to meet this month.

Commissioner Erica Jepson spoke on the township’s behalf stating the township was against the lakeshore parcel and two cabins being included in the project. 

The township has previously voted against the entire project more than once with a minority in favor of proceeding, but under the agreement of returning the mountain to its natural state.

“I don’t know that we should be tackling something if we don’t have some significant control over what can happen,” said Jepson. “It’s a large property. It’s a large amount of money. There are a lot of unanswered questions and if we’re going to have a lot of conditions on what can be done I don’t know that we should move forward with this.”

Smith met with representatives from all sides prior to Tuesday’s meeting about a joint powers agreement between the county, township and a non-profit. However, joint powers agreements are only allowed between government agencies to have equal say, according to Smith.

Commissioner Barry Nelson clarified that no board member was involved in writing the latest resolution.

“There are things in there that I will not support,” Nelson said. “We can’t be tied by resolution to all these conditions if we do move forward with it. If that’s the case, then the property should be bought privately.”

Nelson proposed accepting the donation to complete the Master Plan only.

The original resolution was written as follows:

• WHEREAS anonymous donors have pledged a donation of $50,000 on behalf of Becker County for Master Planning and expenses in acquiring Toad Mountain.

• WHEREAS, the donation is intended to be used to allow a Master Plan to be conducted, which is nonrefundable in the event the project does not move forward.

• WHEREAS, the Trust for Public Land has agreed to purchase the land on behalf of Becker County until which time grant funding is secured by Becker County to purchase Toad Mountain to include the mountain and lake shore.

• WHEREAS, the wish of the donors is that the mountain and lake shore be non-motorized and the property remain in its natural state so the public can enjoy the property.

• WHEREAS, the wish of the donors is that the existing cabins remain on the lakeshore property.

• WHEREAS, the wish of the donors is the existing cabins be used by those in need of healing, for the public to learn about the history of the mountain and for all to have the ability to enjoy the natural beauty of the property.

• WHEREAS, if the property is not able to be secured by grant funding the remaining balance of the donation shall be refunded to the donors.

• WHEREAS, the wishes of the donors are for the acquired property Toad Mountain to be named On Eagles Wings Park.

“I can’t support any of it,” said Commissioner Richard Vareberg. “$50,000 is a nice donation, but this is going to cost a lot more than $50,000 and we don’t have any money.”

Nelson clarified that the donors are willing to donate up to $250,000 depending on the findings of the Master Plan.

The board discussed budgetary unknowns, specifically, the parks and recreation funds.

Jepson reiterated her point of if this project is a need or a want?

Nelson offered a motion of keeping the top four points of the resolution and accepting a donation of up to $52,000 for the Master Plan of acquiring Toad Mountain.

Nelson offered to add the anonymous donations must equal $250,000 to proceed in the future, but it was not included by Chairman Okeson.

Jepson preferred waiting for a township board ruling before proceeding. Jepson and Vareberg, who were the two dissenting votes, also stated that the public doesn’t want it. Vareberg continued on not wanting to add employees and cost because of the project.

Commissioner Dave Meyer cited the Master Plan will collect more public input. As a member of the Recreational Advisory Committee (RAC), he noted the RAC was in favor of having the Master Plan completed.

Prior to the vote, the Commissioners’ Open Forum included speakers on both sides of the decision.

“It’s important to remember that the reason it was put to bed last time wasn’t just because of the Master Plan,” Bambi Resort & RV Park Owner Doug LeSage said. “It was because of the ongoing expense and the liability that the county would take on. It’s wonderful that somebody wants to donate money but they sure don’t need the county to do this.”

LeSage continued by advising that the county does not need to take on this responsibility that could be better run by an existing non-profit organization.

David Schlossman, representing the sellers, publicly thanked the donor.

“When I received the call to hear about it, I was kind of shocked,” he said. “It was completely unsolicited and it just goes to show there is public interest beyond the open house we had, which was overwhelmingly positive based on the surveys.”

His thoughts were echoed by Jace Engelsted, a senior commercial agent for Schlossman’s Horizon Real Estate Group. 

“It just shows that clearly I think this donor had been able to experience this mountain and this land and he or she felt so passionately about this that they wanted to go to this extent and I think that speaks for a lot of people that know about this property,” he said.

Toad Lake resident Larry Knutson brought up the fact that the county shut down the project with a unanimous resolution vote at the last commissioner’s meeting.

“Here we are back again,” said Knutson. “It didn’t say anything if we get a donation, if we get a donor, if we get a grant; it says discontinue our pursuit and purchase of Toad Mountain.”

Knutson also brought up the county’s 2024 levy of 5.96 percent, which was the highest in 14 years. This year’s preliminary levy is 7.5 percent.

“I don’t think the county is in any position at all to spend any money on projects that have no end result or no cost involved in the final project,” he said. “I don’t know that a $50,000 donation on a project of this size should be in any position to dictate anything. I think the taxpayers that are going to have the biggest involvement maybe should have more input into that.”

Knutson also reiterated his prior position that the government should not be involved in purchasing any more taxable property.

Biologist Willis Mattson spoke on the potential increase in taxes. If the property was removed from the tax roll, according to Environmental Services Administrator Steve Skoog, the increase is attributed county-wide at a $4 increase, with a $1-2 further increase for township residents. 

“As a township resident, I’m more than happy to contribute that amount to the common good,” Mattson said.

Mattson claimed the numbers came directly from Skoog, but Commissioner Barry Nelson refuted the calculations as more than expected and if there was a $4 raise on a $400,000 property Nelson would hope the entire board would vote no.

In discussing maintenance at Toad Mountain, Mattson called the project proposal “a very passive recreation facility that does not require any more infrastructure than is already there, other than designated where parking is, some signage and routine mowing. Much of which could be taken care of by volunteers.”

Toad Lake resident Clark Lee phoned into the meeting and began by quoting the resolution passed two weeks ago to no longer pursue the project. Lee argued that since that resolution was already passed the current resolution should not be allowed on the agenda.

“Once again, the wishes of the township and the taxpayers, with the exception of the 2 or 3 or 4 people that are pushing this thing, are being ignored,” he said. “On that basis, I would ask that you, as commissioners, stick to the motion that you made and unanimously passed at the September 17 meeting and vote no on this resolution.”

Township 

Association meeting

The Becker County Township Association will be meeting Thursday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Becker County Courthouse-3rd floor Jury Assembly Room, 915 Lake Ave. Detroit Lakes. Registration is from 6:30 – 7 p.m. The meeting will start promptly at 7 p.m.

DVS

On Sept. 17, the commissioners tabled a decision regarding a written request from Driver and Vehicle Services in St Paul, for a new office in Ogema. Estimated startup costs are 140,000.

The board accepted County Auditor-Treasurer Mary Hendrickson’s recommendation unanimously to decline to designate a deputy registrar for the new office in Ogema due to the cost.

Corrections

The board unanimously approved a resolution to establish a Local Corrections Advisory Board for Becker County representing Judge(s), County Sheriff, Local Police, County Attorney, Public Defender, MN DOC District Supervisor, MN DOC ISR Supervisor, County Commissioner(s), County Administrator, County Health and Human Services, Community Member(s), and any other relevant representative as so chosen by the local corrections advisory board.