By Robert Williams

Editor

Becker County Commissioners held a public hearing on cannabis licensing fees on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The license is for retail businesses only.

Becker County Planning and Zoning Administrator Kyle Vareberg also addressed the difference between
cannabis products and low potency hemp. A provision in a recent federal funding bill could effectively make most low-potency hemp products illegal in Minnesota and nationwide by significantly lowering the allowed THC limit. The ban would take effect one year after the bill’s enactment, around November 2026, giving the industry a transition period.

Currently, a product containing 5mg or less of THC per serving is registered as low potency.

The products can be found in liquor stores, bars and local gas stations and have been available since before the legalization of cannabis in Minnesota because of the 2018 federal Farm Bill, which created a legal “gray area” for hemp-derived cannabinoids, combined with a lack of specific state-level regulation in Minnesota that explicitly prohibited the sale of such products.

“What I would like you to consider today is making that permissible and also exempting low potency hemp from the setbacks and other requirements we have for cannabis just because it has been ongoing—there hasn’t been an issue with it—the state just kind of stepped in and said we need to start licensing it,” said Vareberg.

The county adopted the following fees set by the state, including low potency hemp retailers:

New Registration Fees

Cannabis Retailer $500

Cannabis Microbusiness $0

Cannabis Mezzobusiness $500

Medical Cannabis Combination Business $500

Low-Potency Hemp Edible Retailer $125

Renewal Registration Fees

Cannabis Retailer $1,000

Cannabis Microbusiness $1,000

Cannabis Mezzobusiness $1,000

Medical Cannabis Combination Business $1,000

Low-Potency Hemp Edible Retailer $125

The vote was 4-1 with Commissioner Phil Hansen the lone no vote.

In a second vote, low potency retailers were made permissible county-wide and exempt from cannabis-related restrictions.

4-H

4-H Youth Development Educator Elliott Lawrence reported continual growth in the program since 2021 and shared some statistics in his 2025 impact report.

• 366 participants in Becker County

• 53,744 total participants

• 85 new 4-H’ers in Becker County

• 10,873 total first-year Minnesota 4-H’ers

• Retained 84 percent of youth from 2024 in Becker County

• Youth average seven years in Minnesota 4-H programs

“We’ve grown every year since 2021 and we had a fairly large increase this past year which is really exciting,” Lawrence said.

A total of 98 percent of youth enjoyed learning in 4-H. It’s hands-on, relevant and rooted in their interests.

Educators delivered over 2,100 events, and had 1,100 clubs statewide. 

Over 211 youth in Becker County showcased learning, demonstrating their growth and mastery in project areas, and nearly 20,000 youth across Minnesota.

• 80 percent youth reported having an opportunity to lead in Becker County

• 95 percent of MN 4-H’ers believe they have an impact on those around them–helping youth to see why their actions matter today.

• 93 percent learned about differences in people through 4-H—an important step toward becoming respectful, inclusive leaders.

• Three in four 4-H’ers reported serving their community in 4-H

• 60 percent 4-H’ers reported serving their community in Becker County

• 60 screened adult volunteers in Becker County

Airport

Commissioner Mark Green resigned from the Becker County Airport Commission. The county board is accepting nominations and the position will be posted for applicants.

Donations

An anonymous individual donated $1,000 to the Becker County Veterans Service Office in memory of her husband. She is requesting that it be used for veterans in Becker County in need.

Maple Avenue

Commissioner Erica Jepson announced the county will be seeking requests for proposals (RFP) for the upgrade work to be done on the Maple Avenue apartments in Frazee. Bids were initially opened in August but a portion of the project was “forgotten in the estimate” of an accepted bid and short nearly $70,000 causing the requests for proposals (RFPs) to be reissued after the accepted bid was withdrawn, according to County Economic Development Specialist Cody Piper.

The rehabilitation project includes new siding, new doors and windows, as well as new decks. Maple Avenue Apartments have a dozen units that are income restricted.

Pretrial Supervision

A 92 percent success rate was reported after the first year of the county’s pretrial supervision program, according to Brian Rubenstein, District Supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC).

The pretrial supervision program involves the County Court Services office evaluating defendants’ risk and public safety factors to help the court make release decisions, which may include conditions like reporting to a probation officer, drug testing, and electronic monitoring. The program, which began in November 2024, aims to reduce jail overcrowding and maintain public safety while balancing the needs of the accused.

Total Number of Cases: 81; Total Clients: 67;l Becker County Clients: 44; Other County Clients: 22; Male Clients: 60; Homeless Client(s): 1; Female Clients: 7.

Trails

The board approved and extended the limited use permit (LUP) and amendment with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for another decade on area snowmobile trails. The LUP was also updated to add the new groomed trails along State Highway 34 east and the newly constructed Heartland Trail from old highway 10 to Frazee (State Highway 87).

In other trail news, Project 412 is working with the county to brand, label and produce signage of all the county trails to help users find trails to use and be informed on what is allowed on each particular trail.

Wakeboats

Joe Louwagie of West Fargo spoke during the open forum about potential wakeboat restrictions on Pickerel Lake east of Detroit Lakes.

Louwagie owns a home on Pickerel and is a member of its lake association.

The Department of Natural Resources currently has no restrictions on wakeboats on the lake but recommends boats creating a wake remain at least 200-feet from shore. Proponents of wakeboat restrictions have cited a recent University of Minnesota study that recommends wakeboats operate in surf mode in depths greater than 20-feet and 500 or more feet from shore.

“Pickerel Lake has a very rocky shoreline so erosion doesn’t seem to be an issue there,” said Louwagie.

Louwagie submitted maps of the lake showing areas of Pickerel Lake that do meet the university’s study parameters. 

“There are roughly 1.1 miles that meet the area where we could operate a wakeboat 500-feet from shore and meet that depth of 20-feet or greater,”  said Louwagie.

Waste

An error was corrected on the 2026 Solid Waste Fee Schedule by the Environmental Services Committee. The 2026 tire disposal fee was incorrect as approved under Resolution 10-25-2H, it listed tire disposal at $3.75 per tire, the charge should be $3.75 per tire for up to four tires and $7 per tire for 5+ tires.