By Robert Williams

Editor

County Engineer Jodi Teich asked Otter Tail County Commissioners for a letter of support to be sent to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) for a funding application to the Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program.

RCE provides funding for highway-rail or pathway-rail grade crossing improvement projects that focus on improving the safety and mobility of people and goods.

The request for support is in response to one of eight MnDOT crossings. The local crossing is in Perham along First Avenue NE, according to Teich.

“While that’s not a county road, they would still like the support of commissioners when they apply for this funding,” Teich said. “I personally believe that any crossing improvement in Otter Tail County is good for Otter Tail County, not only those crossing on our county roads.”

Specifics have not been fully decided in detail, but Teich said likely changes would be improved crossing gates and other improvements.

Teich also mentioned working with Canadian Pacific Railway for funds from this same program and the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, specifically about the crossing in Vergas.

According to the last Vergas City Council meeting, the City and Otter Tail County are jointly pursuing the relocation of the railroad switch that currently causes significant traffic delays downtown. 

The railroad has completed engineering analysis and determined that moving the switch is the preferred solution. The County is applying for grant funding in collaboration with the railroad, with grant awards expected in 2027, engineering to follow, and the switch relocation projected for 2028. 

The city has submitted supporting letters from the Mayor, Fire Chief, EMS, and the school. The Committee noted that the frequency and severity of train blockages appears to have improved compared to prior years. Photographic documentation of train delays was requested urgently to support the grant application, which has a deadline at the end of the month

The last official discussion about the railway crossing was in March of 2025 when Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway (CPKC), Otter Tail County, the city of Vergas, and Hobart and Candor townships officials met at Vergas City Hall to discuss ongoing delay issues.

Public Health

Department Directors Deb Sjostrom, Robert Emerson, Jody Lien and Michael Schommer presented the service team annual reports.

“These numbers are just numbers,” Sjostrom said. “They certainly do not tell the whole story about the quantity and quality of the work, the level of work that we do each and every day in Health & Wellness, in the departments of Veterans Services, Public Health, Probation and Human Services. 

“When I look at the past year and I think about the work that is not captured in these annual reports, it is monumental.”

Some relevant findings:

Family child care providers are needed to support families, children, and our communities. There are 121 Licensed Family Child Care Providers in Otter Tail County, with 13 being new providers.

In 2025, the Child & Family Services team screened 866 child maltreatment and child welfare

reports, with 350 opened for assessment.

In 2025, 171 individuals received Adult Mental Health Case Management Services.

In 2025, Otter Tail County’s Behavioral Health team received 101 requests for pre-petition screenings for civil commitment. Of the 101 screenings completed, 57 individuals were subsequently petitioned for commitment and court ordered for treatment.

CIVIL COMMITMENTS

• 21 Mental Illness

• 9 Chemical Dependency

• 25 Mental Illness & Chemical Dependency

• 2 Other (under Rule 20.02 – when a criminal defendant is found Not Guilty by Reason of Mental Illness)

In 2025, 119 children received CMH Case Management services.

In 2025, the Behavioral Health Unit received 335 referrals for chemical dependency assessments, completed 286 assessments, and provided treatment coordination and/or treatment services to 267 individuals.

2025 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UNIT

• 335 Received referrals for chemical dependency assessments

• 286 Completed assessments

• 267 Provided treatment coordination and/or treatment services

SNAP – There were 1,975 Active SNAP Cases (average per month) and 3,650 total individuals served by SNAP Program.

The full county public health report will be added to the county website at ottertailcounty.gov/department/public-health/

Land & Resource 

Land & Resource Management Director Christopher LeClair presented and discussed the following recommendations from the Planning Commission:

The final plat was approved for Amor Storage Park, six single-family residential lots. Lot 1 is within 1,000 feet of Twin Lake, a recreation development lake. The remaining five lots are outside of the shoreland area, as is the road. 

The final plat was approved for Kvare’s Beauty Bay West, a 12-lot, non-shoreland, single-family residential plat in West Otter Tail County (Dunn Township). The preliminary plat approval by the Planning Commission included conditions requiring septic system soil treatment areas to be clearly protected with iron posts and snow fencing prior to final plat submission.

Jon Solinger –– A Conditional Use Permit Application request to convert an existing commercial resort to be a 12-Unit Residential Planned Unit Development (PUD) with 14 slips. The proposal is located at 41569 Dawn Rd., Pelican Rapids, Section 29 of Lida Township, Lida Lake.

The development currently has 2 docks with 20 boat slips and is proposing to remove one dock, reducing the total number of slips to 14. The applicant is also proposing to expand the pad area around the Nuthatch building to allow for construction of a garage addition. With these changes, the impervious surface coverage will meet ordinance requirements.

Shane & Kimberly Haugen –– A Conditional Use Permit Request: The landowners would like to build a driveway to provide access to more of the property. 2,323 cubic yards of total common excavation (cut and fill will balance out). An estimated 2,103 cubic yards of this total takes place within 1,000 feet of the shoreline. The proposal is located in Section 27 of Dunn Township, Franklin Lake. Condition: The approved Storm Water Management Plan shall be submitted to the Land & Resource Management Office prior to issuance of the Conditional Use Permit.

Mel Stoltz –– A Conditional Use Permit application for topographical alterations consisting of 1,788 cubic yards for construction of new 40’x80’ storage building and new detached 28’x32’ garage and associated site grading to direct drainage away from steep slope at lake. The proposal is located at 30991 Bank Rd., Dent, Section 9 of Star Lake Township, Star Lake.

The board discussed the existing large oak trees with the applicant and questioned whether those trees would be retained. The applicant indicated that the large oak trees will remain; however, a couple of smaller oak trees will need to be removed as part of the project.

The board also discussed whether the area qualified as a bluff and whether the proposed, detached garage would be a tuck-under garage. It was noted that the area does not meet the height requirements necessary to be considered a bluff. The applicant indicated that steps will be added along the existing driveway to assist with access up the slope to the dwelling area. The Board further expressed concern regarding the proposed excavation and the applicant wanted to ensure that the excavation activities would not negatively impact the existing dwelling, including potential settling or shifting of the structure.

BVH LLC –– A Conditional Use Permit Application Request: On May 24, 2016, Conditional Use Permit No. 6793 was issued to allow for the placement of a mobile food unit with seating on the beach.

The approval included conditions that the operation be limited to the summer season, defined as May 1 through October 1, operate only during daylight hours, and maintain clearly defined physical boundaries identifying and containing the area where alcohol may be possessed. An amendment to the existing Conditional Use Permit to allow for the addition of a second mobile food unit was added, resulting in a total of two mobile food units on the beach. The proposal is located across from 35776 County Hwy 72, Battle Lake, Section 5 of Everts Township, Otter Tail Lake.

Conditions: Both food units are located outside of the road right-of-way; The stick-built shed is removed; The Land & Resource Management Department shall work with the County Highway Department to assess the need for “No Parking” signs in the immediate area.

Commissioners agreed to continue ongoing observations on parking in the area before moving forward with signage or eliminating some parking areas.

KJ Carpenter –– A Conditional Use Permit application request to construct a replacement retaining wall to help protect existing buildings from further erosion and water run off issues occurring from the steep slope/bluff. In addition, the project includes removal and proper disposal of two existing modular block retaining walls. Approximately 375 cubic yards of existing fill material will be excavated to prepare the site for installation of a new retaining wall with proper embedment and structural support. A new Versa-Lok Bronco 18H (big block) (approximately 12’ 5” tall and 135’ long) retaining wall system will be installed, including required drainage components and aggregate backfill. The wall will be in the toe of the steep slope/bluff. Little to no additional fill material will be imported for the top of the wall area. Upon completion, the disturbed area will be stabilized with erosion control blankets, natural grass and prairie seed mix. The proposal is located at 46744 Co Hwy 51, Perham, Section 35 of Gorman Township, Little Pine Lake.

The board engaged in discussion with the applicant regarding the scope of earthwork, noting that a significant amount of soil will be removed and that there are established trees located on each end of the project area. The applicant indicated that the large trees will be preserved, while smaller brush and saplings will be removed as needed.

Conditions: A pre-construction meeting shall be held involving Land & Resource Management staff and the contractor. Erosion control measures shall be implemented on the lakeside of the property.

Highway

The board applied for and was awarded a Fiscal Year 2023 SS4A Planning grant by the Federal Highway Administration (“FHWA”) and completed the development of a comprehensive Safety Action Plan.

The plan outlines specific strategies, projects, and policy recommendations to improve roadway safety for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

The Safety Action Plan provides a comprehensive framework using the Safe System Approach to reduce traffic fatalities and life-changing injuries on the county’s transportation network with a goal of eliminating annual fatal and life-changing injury crashes by 2050; and adoption of the Safety Action Plan demonstrates The Board’s commitment to improving public safety and supports eligibility for future implementation funding through the SS4A program and other funding sources.

A requirement of the report is an annual update to the board by County Engineer Jodi Teich.

District 2 Commissioner Wayne D. Johnson asked Teich to comment on speed and its effects on driving safety and what she thought could be done about it through the plan and in general.

“I believe that we can use this plan…to apply for federal money to fund that increased enforcement and I would want to work with local law enforcement and our Sheriff’s Office to make sure we would have the staff availability to do that and to do a public information campaign,” said Teich.