County board denies request for 14 more slips at Loon Lake Resort

By Robert Williams

Editor

Otter Tail County is proud to announce that it has been selected to receive the prestigious “Above and Beyond Award” from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Defense. This recognition is awarded to a select group of employers who demonstrate exceptional support for their employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve.

Last March, Otter Tail County was honored with the Seven Seals Award. The county has once again been recognized as one of the employers in Minnesota chosen to receive the “Above and Beyond Award” in 2025. This award is given to employers who go beyond the legal requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) by offering additional, non-mandated benefits to Guard and Reserve employees. These benefits may include differential or full pay to offset lost wages, extended health benefits, and other support initiatives.

On April 11, 2025, county commissioners and county staff traveled to Camp Ripley to accept the award on behalf of the county. At the April 22 Board of Commissioners meeting, Chair Wayne Johnson signed the Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve, pledging to honor and comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

Minnesota Army Reserve citizen soldier, Master Sergeant Kyle Westergard, nominated Otter Tail County. 

“I want (this award) to reflect my appreciation to the whole of the County Board and Otter Tail County leadership. I have been employed by the county since 1989 and have their unwavering support through 35 years of annual training, multiple deployments, monthly Battle Assemblies, and what seems like daily interaction with the Army,” shared Westergard. “From care packages and letters during deployments to their understanding of the challenges military members undergo daily, I have always had the best care and support an employee could ask for.” 

Westergard retired in March from the Army after almost 42 years of military service.

According to ESGR, the “Above and Beyond Award” is given to employers with at least one of their supervisors or managers recognized with a Patriot Award who signed or agreed to sign an ESGR Statement of Support. Region 1 ESGR Assistant Director Ron Lindgren presented the Patriot Award to Commissioner Kurt Mortenson on March 12, 2024.

“Otter Tail County is honored to receive this recognition and remains committed to fostering a supportive workplace for our service members,” said Commissioner Johnson. “We sincerely thank ESGR for this award and all Guard and Reserve members for their dedication and sacrifice.”

Planning Commission

Commissioners approved a conditional use permit for a six-camper Commercial Planned Unit Development and a Gas Pump to property owners Joe and Lisa Harlow on Mosquito Heights Road in Perham.

The proposed area is located east of Big Pine Lodge on Big Pine Lake. 

The permit received a number of comments from the public:

A letter was received from Pete and Jackie Dulski addressing concerns for additional parking spaces needed, access for emergency vehicles, maintenance/cleanup of the property and drainage on the road to private residences. 

Jesse Richter submitted three emails addressing safety concerns and appearance of the property and unnecessary clutter along with lack of parking. Mr. Richter indicated that they are in support of the Harlow’s and wish them much continued success. 

Lisa Baumgart submitted an email in opposition to the request for Conditional Use. She addressed the concerns with increased traffic and noise levels disrupting the overall tranquility of the neighborhood. 

Jim Baumgart submitted an email expressing his objections to the Conditional Use Permit request indicating his concerns of egress issues.

The request passed the planning commission unanimously with the following conditions: approval of the gas pump by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA and the six campers need to get licensed by Public Health.

“I’ve been getting plenty of phone calls on this one,” said Dan Bucholz, District 1 Commissioner. “What the main concern here is when is enough enough? There are so many campers in there already and now they’re going to put in six more. It is not a township road. They do the plowing themselves. It’s very narrow down there. I don’t know if anybody ever had a pizza and a beer down there, it’s tough negotiating a parking spot, but that has nothing to do with it. The planning commission passed the 16 criteria, so I’m willing to live with that, but I have enough complaints on this deal that if there’s smoke there’s fire. There’s enough smoke coming out of this one that’s saying hey, I don’t think the neighbors are really excited about this, but it’s progress. I don’t know. I have a tough time with this one.”

Land & Resource Management Director Chris LeClair pointed out that commissioners should ignore the existing campground owned by the same people, as the request is on a completely different parcel.

“This is a separate conditional use permit,” he said.

Discussions continued on any future sale of the properties and access to this parcel if not sold with the others. Board Chair Wayne Johnson brought up requiring an easement from the public right of way to allow for parking and access. The easement would be granted from the lodge property to the parcel in question.

Johnson amended the motion that an easement must be granted to accommodate four parking spots for the campers. The amendment to amend the original motion was passed unanimously. The conditional use with easement passed 4-1 with Bucholz voting no.

A second conditional use permit application submitted by Deforest (Jay) Malmstrom III (Loon Lake Holdings, Inc.) received some local pushback. The request would add 16 additional boat slips for a total of 47 slips at Loon Lake Resort. The request also would add a 490 sq. ft. 3-Season addition to the Park Model RV Site #41 and move existing RV Site #1, which is currently closest to the lake. The request was to relocate RV #1 to the south side of the boat shed.

At the planning commission meeting, Brad Sinclair, 30881 Park Manor Rd, West Loon Lake Resident, indicated that he filed comments on behalf of Loon Lake Association and talked about statutory interpretations. He went over the attachments and comments he submitted. Steve Odegard, 32313 Loon Dr., spoke against the additional boat slips and thinks that the current approved 31 boat slips is generous. He does not see the need for the additional boat slips and 47 is more than needed. Bill Russell, 32271 Loon Dr., spoke and supported the comments made by Brad Sinclair.

The commission discussed concerns regarding increasing the number of boat slips to 47 with regards to adequate lot area and water frontage with there being approximately 1,850 feet of water frontage. They felt that 47 boat slips is too many along that area. The board also expressed concerns with adequate parking and traffic management by the cul-de-sac and that area being very restricted and congested, while identifying concerns with hazards that may be created on both land and water as well as the density The commission unanimously approved adding a 490 sq. ft. 3-Season addition the Park Model RV Site #41, and relocating existing RV Site #1 to the south side of the boat shed, however it limited the total number of boat slips to 33. This is an increase of two boat slips that were approved in the initial Conditional Use Permit Application (CUP # 6976) in January of 2022 for 31 boat slips.

“The biggest complaints we hear from resorts is they want more docks,” said LeClair. “They want more boats to be able to be at their resort.”

LeClair discussed the difference between single-family residences having an near unlimited amount of allowed docks versus resorts and campgrounds stating they have tried to interpret the code in favor of said businesses.

“To allow them the same consideration we give single-family residential lots, so they can maximize how many dock slips they get,” said LeClair.

The commissioners approved the RV actions and the 33 slips.

Snowmobiles

Commissioners approved sponsorship of multiple snowmobile associations, including the Otter Country Trail Association that maintains and manages 364 miles Grant-In-Aid snowmobile trails in Otter Tail County and formally requested Otter Tail County for sponsorship for the 2025-2026 season on February 11, 2025; and, the Henning Sno Cruisers, which maintains and manages 45 miles of Grant-In-Aid snowmobile trails in Otter Tail County and the Otter Trail Riders maintains and manages 141 miles of Grant-In-Aid snowmobile trails in Otter Tail County and The Prairie Snow Drifters which maintains and manages 34 miles of Grant-In-Aid snowmobile trails in Otter Tail County.

Feedlot expansion

Anthony Anderson of WB Stone Inc., discussed a feedlot expansion to a current 500-milking cows operation. Heifers from five-months-old and older are raised off-site due to an avian flu instance that hit the farm hard in 2024. 

Proposed expansion includes a new calf barn and a heifer dry cow facility barn on-site.

A public hearing was held for the MPCA with no comments received.

The board will send approved meeting minutes to the MPCA to continue the review process.