Approved solar project to save Frazee $180k over 30 years

By Robert Williams

Editor

City Engineer Chris Thorson answered questions and addressed citizen concerns during a public hearing on the final assessment of the Main Avenue East and Downtown Alley Project Wednesday, July 9.

Thorson gave a brief overview of the project and a breakdown of the total project cost of $1,117,174, prior to taking input from the public. The project will be financed by city funds, special assessments on benefitted properties and a Public Facilities Authority loan and possible grants.

Assessable amounts are $171,140 for sanitary sewer, $54,255 for sewer service, $35,550 for street repaving on Rivercrest Drive, $13,322 for street repaving on 8th Street and $11,936 for downtown alley drainage improvements. Total assessable charges were $286,203 of the $1.1 million total.

Street, water main and water service costs were not accessable as those costs were picked up by Becker County, owner of the Main Avenue corridor. Sidewalk costs were also covered by the county on East Main. Properties were assessed for sewer work.

“All the improvements we saw in that East Main corridor were picked up by the county,” said Thorson. “Everything from the back edge of the sidewalk, all the way across the street to the back edge of the curb with seeding included.”

Thorson clarified that properties on Rivercrest Drive, 8th Street, Cherry Avenue and the downtown alley behind city hall where properties were also being assessed.

William Jupitz had several complaints, including losing three feet of his driveway, hydroseeding in the area, $2,000 of mailboxes that were removed, and an approach installed on what he considered a ditch.

“Just because you get a little grant money doesn’t mean you have to spend it to do a project,” Jupitz said. “Because the people who suffer are the people of this city.”

Jupitz called out council member Mark Kemper for running for office on affordable housing.

“This project has increased the housing costs 35 percent for tenants from Perham to DL,” said Jupitz. “Your strip mall is going to increase the housing costs for the residents. What are you all thinking? Literally, What are you all thinking?”

Mayor Mike Sharp addressed the work done on the road Jupitz was discussing (East Main Avenue), stating the county was responsible for the street portion. The city oversaw the sewer and water infrastructure.

Jupitz was argumentative with both Sharp and Thorson.

“You’re basically the project managers that control whether or not you release the funds to Becker County,” said Jupitz.

Both Thorson and Sharp disagreed with that statement.

Jupitz continued arguing the removal of parking from one side of the street and a series of other complaints that were mainly issues created by the county and/or the postmaster regarding mailboxes.

Sharp eventually broke up the argument calling the public hearing back to order on discussing assessments and stating that Jupitz should take his other issues up with the county. 

Jupitz parried.

“I have a $10,000 tax assessment on a ditch for water and sewer,” he said.

“It’s not a ditch; it’s a parcel,” said Thorson.

“It’s an unusable, runoff ditch; there is sitting water in it from one street it runs down and the mobile home park it runs into,” said Jupitz. “It’s a ditch.”

Thorson attempted to discuss the issue of future use and development of the parcel needing water and sewer and the reasons for the curb and approach construction.

The discussion eventually fizzled to an end.

Donations

The Frazee Fire Department accepted a donation of $2,000 from Height of Land Township.

Eagle Lake Park

Becker County Commissioner Phil Hansen reported that he had discussions with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Regional Director Ben Berge. The DNR is ready to move forward with taking over the park but are awaiting the finalization of the sale between the city and Eagle Lake Association.

The association’s lawyer retired and the city is now considering a new lawyer after current city attorney Thomas Winters has elected to leave the Ramstad, Skoyles, Winters & Bakken Law Firm to go into business on his own. Winters had stated to City Administrator Stephanie Poegel that he would finalize the sale before making the employment change.

The association is now represented by Elliot Stoll of Pemberton Law Firm in Fergus Falls.

The city tabled a decision on whether or not to continue utilizing Ramstad, Skoyles & Bakken for all its attorney needs, stay with Winters or come up with another agreement. That decision will  be made at the next council meeting.

Hansen is advocating for the park to return to public hands and is hoping the sale can be finalized by the end of July. Poegel stated hitting that date is what has been planned.

Winters has also expressed his desire to retain business with Frazee, including taking over prosecutions from Ramstad, Skoyles & Bakken. Currently, Karen Skoyles represents the city during prosecution efforts. Should the city elect to stay with the firm, Winters would be replaced by Patrick A. Bakken and Skoyles would remain on the prosecution side.

Rescue

The council approved the hiring of Ryan Tollefson, a current Frazee Fire Department member and Adrian Herbst, a former Frazee Rescue member to the current rescue roster.

Solar

West Central Initiative (WCI) Energy and Adaptation Planner Griffin Peck returned to council following an April presentation of a solar analysis of the Frazee Public Works, Event Center and Liquor Store buildings.

Frazee was one of 10 cities participating in research to see if solar could be used to benefit an area of town.

Peck was joined by Holsen Solar owner Ben Holsen, a Fargo-based licensed contractor and electrician that performs residential, business and agricultural solar projects. Holsen Solar was chosen by the group of cities after reviewing requests for proposals.

In Frazee, the Public Works building was selected, and if approved, would have a solar photovoltaic system installed on its roof.

The facility uses 71 kilowatts per year and the solar system will produce 67 kilowatts, thus cutting the electricity bill for the building by 94 percent, according to Holsen.

Total cost of the project is $106,439.14 that will be financed by rebates and tax incentives, including a $60,000 rebate from Otter Tail Power.

The additional tax credits equate to a total of $102,576, leaving a $3,800 balance for the city to pay.

“As Ben was saying, you’re going to save $5,800 a year so this project pays itself off from the energy savings in 12 months,” said Peck. “The city is expected to save $182,954 over the lifetime of the project, which is 30 years.”

The city is partnering with Lakes Country Service Cooperative to pursue a clean energy initiative aimed at reducing municipal energy expenses and environmental impact.

The project was approved to go ahead with permitting beginning this week, final design approval by the end of July and construction beginning at the end of August. Electrical generation is expected to begin in mid-October.

Wannigan Park

Speed limit signage (20 mph) will be going up on the road to the park in the coming weeks, according to Polly Andersen. Work has also been done on the road to keep dust down again this year.

Andersen reported that the paving of the North River Loop was not approved in this year’s bonding bill, so will wait at least another year or two.

“We have rolled forward our application that would be funded in 2027 if we were able to get approval on this second try,” she said. 

The Frazee Community Development Corporation (FCDC) will continue lobbying and outreach for the project.

City workers reused the former shelter from Town Lake Beach. It has been resituated by the troll. Benches and picnic tables will be added to the area.

This fall, construction will begin on the two miles of trails to be paved inside the park.