By Robert Williams

Editor

The City of Frazee, the Frazee Public School District and the Frazee Community Development Corporation (FCDC) have agreed to a cost-sharing agreement for the maintenance of River Drive North.

Once state and/or grant funding is available, plans are to pave the road. Until then, the road needs ongoing maintenance and repair to remain in safe and serviceable condition.

The three parties agreed to allocate and share equally the costs of such maintenance and repair, including: grading; application of calcium chloride, and addition of gravel, as needed.

The city was designated as coordinator of maintenance to arrange fixes, solicit bids and enter into contracts for such services.

The agreement is in effect until the paving of River Drive North is completed. The city will take on full responsibility for the road upon completion.

City office 

Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 2, city hall office hours will be changing to Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Eagle Lake Park

Legal teams are finalizing the sale of the park with an expected date of closing coming in early August.

Becker County Commissioner Phil Hansen clarified prior discussions about the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) having interest in the park upon completion of the sale from the city to the Eagle Lake Association.

“There is no done deal with DNR; this is all hope that we’ll have that conversation after this transaction takes place,” Hansen said. “They have not completely committed to that.”

Hansen answered in the affirmative to Mayor Mike Sharp’s inquiry clarifying that the DNR is open to conversations about the future of the property.  

Legal Representation

Ramstad, Skoyles & Bakken, the current city attorneys, contacted the City Administrator Stephanie Poegel to note the firm will not raise the standard $600 flat fee for prosecution services in 2026. The Civil Attorney Services of $250 per hour will also remain the same, a 20 percent discount from normal hourly fees, according to an email from Attorney Charles J. Ramstad.

The firm has been the city’s attorney for the last 35 years. Ramstad took over the position from his father James Ramstad in approximately 1990.

“We value and appreciate our long-standing relationship with the City of Frazee and certainly wish to continue to serve as city attorney and city prosecutor for Frazee,” Ramstad said.

The firm proposed that Patrick A. Bakken serves as the city attorney.

Current City Attorney Thomas Winters has left the firm and opened his own office. He also proposed to remain as the city attorney, but has since withdrawn that in an email communication to Poegel.

“After taking some time to consider things I am going to withdraw my name from consideration for the city attorney position,” Winters said.

He continued citing time constraint issues as he sets up his own private practice.

“I do not feel it will be fair to the city to not have my undivided attention; I also feel the Ramstad, Skoyles & Bakken firm will be better suited to represent the city with regards to both criminal ability and having the additional attorneys on hand to assist the city on civil matters.”

Winters has represented Frazee for the past nine years.

“I’ve learned so much and want to thank all the council members and staff that I have worked with over the years,” said Winters.

Winters’ withdrawal voided a decision between the two firms and council members were confident in the status quo of remaining with Ramstad, Skoyles & Bakken. Winters stated he will be meeting with Bakken to ease the transition.

Information Technology

The city renewed its agreement for IT services with Lakes Country Service Cooperative. 

Sharp asked Poegel if she was satisfied with the service provided to which she agreed. Costs are $10,154.60 for 2026 to be paid in equal monthly installments.

Essential Infrastructure Administration Functions:

• Administer (maintain in working order and administer scheduled updates) the Internet service, firewall, content filter, network infrastructure (wired and wireless), servers, and standard services such as printing and file storage.

• Administer (install, maintain, replace) the Microsoft office suite for staff.

• Create and maintain computer and email user accounts for staff.

• Basic instruction for staff on the use and operation of technology hardware or software, as needed.

• Essential security and privacy oversight of system processes and stored data.

• Provide specifications for new or replacement technology hardware and software.

• Maintain service renewal contracts and software licenses as they relate to the above functions.

• Annually Provide technology infrastructure recommendations for planning purposes.

• Provide annual reports of service provided to the client.

• Client-owned device support for staff.

Utilities

Public Works Supervisor Larry Stephenson reported that a transfer valve has been installed at the wastewater plant after two months of discharging to reach the valve.

A turtle that had been living near the valve’s location the past year was removed and humanely released back into the wild, according to Stephenson’s report.

The council passed a resolution to allow Public Works to purchase approximately 700-800 yards of post-project material from the East Main Avenue construction available from R.L. Larson Excavating, Inc., for $5,000. The money would come out of the Public Works budget.

A potential use of a majority of the material (approximately 600-yards)could be used down Walnut Avenue West, according to Stephenson. 

“Build that up some and get that packed in—would give that road a better base than it has,” he said. “I didn’t want to use it on a road that we’d have to go in and do some excavating for underground work. That road, pretty much everything is in there. So, that would be a good candidate for a bunch of that (material).”

The remainder would be hauled to the city’s storage site this fall.