By Robert Williams

Editor

PartnerSHIP 4 Health provided a grant to complete a streets study of the Main Street reconstruction project for Frazee and Becker County to complete reconstruction of the Main Avenue corridor planned for the summer of 2027. City Engineer Chris Thorson presented the findings of the Complete Streets Study Committee and gave an overview of the project to the Frazee City Council on Wednesday, Aug. 13.

“We had meetings together, looking at the layouts extensively, talking about what benefits we could see throughout the corridor to make a complete streets review and move forward,” said Thorson. 

The committee was made up of council members Andrea Froeber and Jim Rader, City Administrator Stephanie Poegel, Public Works Supervisor Larry Stephenson, residents David Jopp and Tabiatha Branden, MnDOT District 4 Planning Director Mary Safgren, Becker County Highway Engineer James Olson and PartnerSHIP 4 Health Active Living Planner Patrick Hollister.

The committee held planning meetings in March and April, followed by an open house in June where Thorson and Hollister answered questions and addressed concerns from residents.

The reconstruction will consist of pavement and concrete replacement. The American Disabilities Act (ADA) design will be used on sidewalks and headramps. The city will also install a new streetlighting system. Minimal underground utility work is planned for the project, other than some county-owned storm sewer to replace and/or repair.

The project stretches from the bridge over the Otter Tail River down East Main to West Main all the way to 5th street, skipping the downtown intersection of Lake and Main that was reconstructed during the Highway 87 project.

Main Avenue will consist of driving lanes, parking lanes, bike travel lanes and sidewalks on both sides of the street.

The committee agreed to construct the addition of Share the Road Bike Travel Lanes, an amenity to accommodate bike riders through the corridor. This amenity will also add to the city’s commitment to creating a bicycling-friendly community.

The committee also agreed that the addition of sidewalks on the south side of Main Avenue West from 3rd Street to 4th Street be built into the project. That area was brought up by its residents to be a potential project hurdle due to spacing.

The close proximity of the homes and buildings in the 300 block of Main Avenue West on the south side of the street. A continuous sidewalk will be installed on both sides of the street, adding along the goose pond/ice skating rink area. The 300 block may see a decrease in the proposed sidewalk width to four feet to accommodate certain areas.

Donations

The Frazee Wrestling Booster Club donated $500 to the Frazee Rescue Department.

The Frazee Fire Department received eight donations:

• Frazee Wrestling Booster Club $1,000

• Little Toad Lake Campground $445

• LTLC, Inc. $250

• Lake Seven Lake Association $200

• David and Jane Moorhead $50

• Thomas and K.A. Hanson $25

• Robert and Rebecca Muhs $25

• Darrell and Lila Krabbenhoft $25

GROW Frazee/MVP is donating three benches to city parks. 

Generating Resilience, Opportunities and Wellbeing (GROW) and My Voice is Powerful (MVP) are a non-profit and youth organization caring for the youth of our communities, providing engaging opportunities, and fostering a strong culture of health.

Solar

The council gave final approvals on construction by (Ben) Holsen Solar out of Fargo to add a solar photovoltaic system to the roof of the Public Works building.

Frazee was one of 10 cities participating in research to see if solar could be used to benefit an area of town, including Vergas where the Event Center roof will be used for the same purpose.

The Public Works 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 West Central Initiative (WCI) Energy and Adaptation Planner Griffin 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 approved project timeline is for construction beginning at the end of August. Electrical generation is expected to begin in mid-October.

Wannigan Park

The council approved the acceptance of grant terms and conditions for the Active Transportation program grant of $613,334. The funds will be used for construction of multi-use trail improvements at Wannigan Regional Park. Total cost for the project is $705,484.50, with additional funding from a local match of $15,888.75 and grant funds of $92,140.50 from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

Management of the project by Widseth was approved. Widseth labor costs will be covered by the Frazee Community Development Corporation (FCDC), according to Poegel. Those costs are $30,000 for daily construction observation; $8,000 for contract administration and $6,000 for construction staking.