By Robert Williams

Editor

Both city councils from Frazee and Vergas held a joint governance meeting on Wednesday, May 21, to discuss potential collaborations between the two towns.

In attendance were: Mayor Mike Sharp, Council members Andrea Froeber, Jim Rader, Mark Kemper and Drew Daggett and City Administrator Stephanie Poegel, along with Vergas Council members Paul Pinke, Dean Haarstick, James Stenger and City Clerk/Treasurer Julie Lammers.

The idea of the meeting was brought up by Froeber a couple months ago and after discussions between Mayors Sharp and Dwight Lundgren the decision to proceed was made.

“The idea of collaboration between our cities makes a lot of sense,” Sharp said. “We are sister cities, Frazee and Vergas, with a lot of positive things going on between our communities and I think it is reasonable to assume that Vergas’ successes can benefit Frazee and Frazee’s successes can benefit Vergas.”

Sharp cited an example of the 30,000 people that visited Frazee and Wannigan Regional Park last fall.

“What if we can get 30,000 people to know about Vergas, as well?” Sharp said. “I think there is a lot of potential there and I think that the purpose of this meeting is to have an open discussion between all council members and administrators on how we can work together and support each other to the benefit of both communities.”

Froeber immediately brought up one concern, that being veterinarians are down to three between Hawley and Perham.

Dr. Randall Lindemann of Acorn Lake Veterinary Service in Frazee is planning on retirement soon, and while there is a chance that he may have a replacement, that is not set in stone, which would deprive surrounding communities of another experienced veterinarian in the area.

Lindemann is willing to mentor a replacement and assist in taking over his business. Froeber was hoping to network with Vergas people who might know of a potential candidate for the position.

She also discussed housing options.

“We would like to have more families move to Frazee and I have gotten a good education on why, how expensive, and what our families can afford,” she said. “My feeling is if we can get some of the older people that are living in single-family homes into a nice, senior two-bedroom home, we could turn those homes over to families.”

Vergas’ EDA/HRA has been focused on moderate income homes, basically from having nine lots in Sunny Oaks, of which they have sold seven. All seven of those homes were sold to local investors and some were benefactors of Otter Tail County’s Big Build program getting $5,000 returned in county and city taxes—up to a total of $15,000.

“It helps them get started when you have the major majority of your costs when you just start building—you at least get that refunded back to you,” said Lammers.

The program also benefited the creation of the apartments in Altona Square. The Big Build program has since expired.

Froeber noted she believed Frazee was not getting support from Becker County.

Poegel stated that Becker County representatives have discussed housing as recently as the last quarterly joint governance meeting.

Specifics regarding ordinance enforcement was another topic, basically how each town operates and enforces violations.

Discussing upcoming trail connections was a topic that took up the rest of the meeting.

The Heart of the Lakes Trail from Pelican Rapids and Maplewood State Park will connect to Vergas by the end of the year, according to Lammers. The project coincides with the Otter Tail County Highway 35 project as the trails will be eight-feet additions to the shoulder of 35 to create the trail and the road shoulder.

The trail will come through town and connect to the path around Long Lake about a half-mile outside of town.

Vergas completed a trail feasibility study in 2024 that found a preferred alignment to route the trail to Frazee east on 228/60 and then north on 370th Avenue and East Wymer Lake Road to connect to Frazee via the Becker County Road 87 crossover of State Highway 10.

Other options down County Road 4 all the way to Frazee and one option with a split to run around Eagle Lake were dropped due to areas that would not allow for trail construction, especially near Spanky’s and Rose Lake.

The vast majority of the trail is in Otter Tail County with a small portion from the county line at Graham Lake to the bridge.

Cost of the trail at the time of the study was $1.2-$1.4 million, according to Lammers. 

Both parties want to work together on acquiring grant funding, pending council approvals. Vergas and Frazee need to use their respective counties as fiscal agents for grant funding.

Combined grant requests would eventually be a four-unit venture between both towns and the counties as the fiscal hosts.

Discussions are going to be had on creating a trail committee with members from both counties, both cities and other trail experts.

Both groups also agreed to an annual meeting between Vergas and Frazee councils in the future as a starting point.

“I think it’s important if you have important things to talk about but just to have a meeting to have a meeting is not the best,” said Haarstick.

Given the trail connection, as-needed meetings were also agreed to be held.