By Robert Williams

Editor

Becker County District 3 Commissioner Phil Hansen continued discussions on the sale of Eagle Lake Park, which remains in stasis awaiting final approval. Last month, County Administrator Carrie Smith reported the sale is scheduled to take place and be completed at the recorder’s office in the next few weeks.

Hansen was in attendance at this month’s Frazee City Council meeting on March 12 and reported back to the board specifics of the sale and process up to this point that have previously been reported.

“A meeting or two ago, I wanted to assert ourselves into that, because I think it should remain public,” said Hansen. 

The purchasers, Eagle Lake Park Association, have asserted from the beginning of talks that they fully intend to keep the access and the park public. In fact, that is the main reason for the purchase.

“It’s going to go through with them and then after that, down the road, I would like us to entertain purchasing that to keep it public,” said Hansen.

Hansen also discussed the property with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and reported back that the DNR has no interest in purchasing the property.

In discussions with Detroit Lakes Area Fisheries Supervisor Nathan Olson, Hansen reported that Olson talked about stocking fish in Eagle Lake.

“Nathan said, we stock that over there. If we don’t have a public access, the 280 pounds of fingerlings we put in there every other year will go away,” Hansen said.

A lack of a public access would also eliminate a five-year fish survey.

Hansen reiterated the claim that the buyers are making the purchase to keep the access open.

Commissioner Barry Nelson stated he feels strongly about the access serving a large group of people in the area and the board should make all efforts to keep the access open to the public.

“I think we should step in and help that out and figure out how we can do that; the benefit to the people on the lake is significant too,” said Nelson. “There should be some buy-in from the lake and how that happens remains to be seen.”

Hansen correctly stated there is no lake association at Eagle Lake. However, the group of buyers led by Tony Stock, Robb Flint and John Drewes have collectively made the purchase as the Eagle Lake Park Association, Inc.

Nelson and Commissioner Erica Jepson discussed the possibility of using Natural Resource Management (NRM) funds.

“I think it’s a project that the county needs to be in,” said Nelson. 

“If we’re going to purchase it, the money we’re purchasing it with is specific for parks and rec,” Jepson said. 

According to Nelson, the county has $173,000 in NRM funds and over $1 million in resource development funds. 

The sale price between the city and the buyers is $190,000. 

Commissioner Richard Vareberg proposed reaching out to Burlington Township to gauge any financial interest in a future purchase of the park.

The Eagle Lake Park Association, Inc., has stated previously that they would be interested in selling it to the county for the sale price plus the fees it has incurred during the transaction.

No action was taken by the Board of Commissioners other than to direct Smith to open a dialogue with the Burlington Township board.

The latest report by Frazee’s City Administrator Stephanie Poegel came in February that the sale is expected to be approved and finalized in the next 90 days.