By Robert Williams

Editor

Lake Agassiz Library Regional Director Liz Lynch reported on the library systems providing services to 22 communities including Frazee, Cormorant and Lake Park through 13 libraries and nine LINK sites. Becker County Commissioners were thorough in questioning this year’s budget increase for LARL, especially seeking answers on higher costs for Becker County in regards to the amount of services provided.

“We really operate as one library,” Lynch said. “We have one collection of materials, one operating budget and one set of policies that governs our system for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.”

LINK sites, like Frazee’s, have approximately 500 items for public checkout, are open 6-9 hours per week, and provide access to a public computer, printer, Wi-Fi, Internet access, photo copier and other basic office equipment.

“They are called LINK sites, because they are a link to the larger regional library system and through a requesting and delivery system any materials including books, Wi-Fi hotspots, DVDs, book discussion kits and much more are available for delivery at any LINK site,” said Lynch.

There are 11,500 Becker County library cardholders and county residents have checked out 130,000 items in 2024.

The LARL board has increased its budget requests from 2025-27 to increase wages for employees and make filling positions less difficult. Currently, library assistants are paid $14.49 per hour and librarians $17.81 per hour. This year was a 10 percent increase, the most significant of the three years. Reserve funds were used to cover the first year. 

“We wanted to keep the signatory request low for 2025, but unfortunately using reserves is not sustainable,” said Lynch.

For 2026, an additional $40,790 is being requested, a number that is determined by operating costs. An 80-10-10 formula is used to determine how much is asked of each signatory. The 80 percent is determined by where a library cardholder resides, 10 percent is based on population and the other 10 percent on property value.

Multiple commissioners questioned the formula and how Becker County is charged more than Moorhead and Clay County.

“I don’t think it’s fair to Becker County; we’re being overburdened compared to Clay County,” said Nelson.

Lynch noted a review by the LARL finance director determined that the City of Detroit Lakes and Becker County used to split the usage costs 50-50.

“It started out a little higher than some of the other signatories,” said Lynch.

Board Chairman David Meyer and Commissioner Erica Jepson also commented.

“I look at $477,000 and I see that we’re paying for three satellite sites that are open six hours a week each and that’s hard to swallow— that’s tough,” said Meyer.

“When you look at other counties, such as Norman, and I get—we probably have more usage, but they have three satellite sites also, likely they’re receiving the same amount of services for their money and they’re proposed for 2026 is $125,000 so that’s $350,000 less than what Becker County is paying for three sites for the same amount of hours,” said Jepson. “It’s a great resource for our county and it’s obviously used widely, but we’re not getting any more services for what we’re paying for and when you look at the other counties and the services they’re getting—they’re getting the same services we are—we’re just paying more.”

Lynch countered with the formula being based on library cardholders.

“You’re paying to support your library cardholders—you can think of it as supporting the people versus the locations,” Lynch said

Jepson agreed, but noted the distinction that Becker cardholders are not getting any additional services, despite the county paying more.

“The Becker County residents are paying it; it’s not us paying it, what additional services are they getting for what they are paying for?” said Jepson.

Commissioner Phil Hansen questioned if the dated formula could be adjusted.

“We got stuck at a high amount early and it’s been going up ever since,” said Nelson.

Statutory requirements for Becker County are around $286,000.

“Regarding the amount required by statute, the maintenance of effort, that amount was frozen; it’s 90 percent of what counties were paying in 2011 and if we were to only receive that funding we would no longer exist,” said Lynch.

Commissioner Richard Vareberg was quiet through much of the discussion, noting, “This is not a fair way to do this,” toward the end of the discussion.

Commissioners requested usage statistics of the three LINK sites in Frazee, Lake Park and Cormorant prior to the next meeting.

Jepson reiterated that a more equitable formula needs to be discussed. Nelson wants to see a comparison between Clay and Becker County in regards to the number of users.

“If Becker County, outside the cardholders in the City of Detroit Lakes, has more people using the library system than Clay County outside the City of Moorhead then we can justify paying more,” said Nelson. “If Clay County’s numbers are higher then it’s not fair.”

The board will make a decision on the budget in the near future after receiving the data requested from Lynch. The numbers will be discussed first in a Budget Committee work session Tuesday, Oct. 14. The next Commissioners meeting is a week after on Oct. 21.

Frightfully Fun Events 

at the Detroit Lakes 

Public Library

The Detroit Lakes Public Library will offer several spooky-themed events in October, including an author visit, presentation by Midwest Paranormal Files, Halloween Scavenger Hunt and more. 

Beginning next week, Lake Agassiz Regional Library will host an appearance by Minnesota author Janet Prues, leading audiences through the historic events surrounding the death of Lillie Field, the subject of her book, The Thirteenth Crime, which is set in 1887’s Ottertail County. A Q&A session and book signing will follow the presentation. Pues is scheduled to visit the Detroit Lakes Public Library on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m., as well as additional appearances in Mahnomen, Hawley, Moorhead and more. A full list of appearances can be found at www.larl.org/legacy. 

Learn about local legends, cryptids and folklore with local paranormal experts the Midwest Paranormal Files. Scheduled on Friday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m., the group will visit the Detroit Lakes Public Library to share about local bigfoot and alien encounters, the Lake Monster and the Minnesota Ice Man. The presentation is family-friendly. The following week, a related program for youth will be held, inviting youth to create their own cryptid creature craft project on Monday, Oct. 20 at 4:30 p.m.

The Tuesday Afternoon Book Club will even get into the fun with a suspenseful selection. The group will meet Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 3 p.m. to discuss The Quarry Girls by Minnesota author Jess Lourey. The novel is set in Minnesota, 1977 and follows Heather and Brenda, who witnessed something in the dark, and are now facing a terrifying mystery. 

Don’t forget to add the Detroit Lakes Public Library to your list of Halloween stops! The library will host a scavenger hunt featuring beloved book characters hiding around the library from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31. 

All events are offered free-of-charge and are open to the public. The library is located at 1000 Washington Ave and a full list of events can be found at larl.org/events.

Environmental Services

Commissioners approved an organic processing agreement between Becker County and the Pope-Douglas Counties’ Solid Waste Board. Becker County has begun a source separated organic (SSO) waste diversion program. This agreement with Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Board will allow Becker County to deliver organics to the Glacial Ridge Compost Facility.

The agreement runs from September 1, 2025 to August 30, 2026.

Commissioners approved a Service Agreement from Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations for Electronic waste from Oct. 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026.

Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations Inc. is proposing a new service agreement with Becker County. Dynamic has been a long-time provider of E-Waste recycling for the county. This proposal has increased pricing (revenue to the county) and lower disposal charges for recyclable E-waste (tv & computer monitors) than previous years.

Commissioners approved the application for a Greater Minnesota Waste Reduction, Reuse, Recycling and composting grant for the purchase of mattress recycling equipment.

The mattress recycling program is expanding; the Environmental Services Committee supports applying for state grant to help pay for machinery to increase the efficiency of the processing and handling of recyclable commodities from this program. This grant will cover grant requests from $50,000 to $250,000. It requires a 25percent local match. 

The grant request would be a co-application with Better Futures Minnesota and be used for purchasing:

a. Boxspring Dismantler – this machine will separate the boxspring from a wood frame. Cost quote is $38,948 plus shipping and sales tax. Budget cost estimate is $50,000 with installation and electrical connections.

b. Box Spring Baler – this machine will compact the box springs, reducing shipping and handling costs. Budget estimate to purchase and install the Spring Baler is $167,900.

The total estimated project cost $217,900 of which $54,475 comes from Fund 18. Grant funds will cover $163,425. Becker County Fund 18 is the funding source for the county’s solid waste operations. 

Commissioners will review the requested data prior to making a decision on the LARL’s budgetary request at the next meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

Planning and Zoning

A Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for the cultivation, manufacture, and wholesale of cannabis was granted to Kari Warren, Allen Gulseth, and Mark Gulseth. 

“It was the first application for cannabis that we had zero opposition,” said Planning and Zoning Administrator Kyle Vareberg.

A CUP was granted to Austin McConkey for a private cemetery with the condition that the property is platted and recorded, according to Administrator Vareberg.

A Permitting Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the county and the Pelican River Watershed was approved. A new MOU was brought upon by the Lake Association’s rule changes back in March. Administrator Vareberg highlighted a number of recitals:

The county is responsible for shoreland alterations within a shore impact zone, shoreland zone or bluff impact zone.

Stormwater will be jointly managed on a case-by-case basis.

The Association will be in charge of certain surface drainage and public drainage projects.

The MOW is permanent unless terminated by both parties.

Vareberg agreed that the document will be malleable in the future when asked by Hansen.

“Absolutely—so far, this summer, a lot of people were concerned about workload and things of that nature and it really didn’t change,” said Vareberg

Senior Living

Commissioner Barry Nelson reported on an excellent year for Sunnyside Care Center in Lake Park. 

“We had an amazing year; it’s incredible how well they’re doing,” Nelson said. “We are just one of the gems of the state for a small nursing home and I think that’s leadership and staff that make that.”

Nelson reported the center has $2.8 million in reserves and will likely pay off a remaining balance owed to the county for the care center’s building.

Sheriff

The sheriff’s office received a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety. The Total Zero Deaths Grant program funds law enforcement and local agencies to prevent traffic fatalities and serious injuries through targeted strategies like impaired driving enforcement and the creation of traffic safety coalitions. The total of the grant was $17,750.

Solid Waste

The commissioners approved an increase in tipping fees as recommended by the Environmental Services Committee (ESC). After reviewing the 2026 proposed Environmental Services 2026 budget, the ESC recommended increasing the solid waste assessment rate from $12 per point to $13 per point. This proposal will increase the Solid Waste Assessment (SWA) on a house from $60 to $65. 

Information in the meeting’s packet listed the increase to be $1.50, but was quickly corrected prior to voting by Commissioner Hansen.

Property owners that are assessed a SWA based on the volume of solid waste produced will be increased at the same rate. The increased SWA will be used to help pay for future capital projects and offset increases in solid waste operational costs.