Two Cherry Ave. properties face 

abatement proceedings in Frazee

By Robert Williams

Editor

ak Shack Owner Jay Estenson spoke to the Frazee City Council about her concerns on the effects of continual road construction in Frazee on downtown businesses, including next year’s Main Avenue project Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Event Center.  ¶  “I’m watching the construction around here; is it driving me crazy? Yeah, but everybody else is too,” Estenson said. “If it takes as long to do Main Street, we’re going to have businesses suffering, as it has taken to do this. What can we do to improve this speed?”  ¶  Proof of Estenson’s concerns appeared later in the meeting when Liquor Store Manager Amanda Young also addressed the issue while presenting her monthly report.“August sales are down compared to last year,” she said in the report. “Construction is the main reason as several customers have expressed they have been going to other stores during construction because of the obstacles. I am looking forward to the end of construction.”

Sales at the liquor store in August were $55,478.94, compared to $58,472.07 in 2026 and the store has been at the center of construction with roads on three sides of the store in a state of repair.

Estenson had other concerns, but held fast to wanting to know about the timeline of next year’s work and any potential issues with Turkey Days. She also admitted that her business benefits from having parking in the back of her shop.

“I’m probably the only one who didn’t suffer through COVID because it was by appointment and they came to the back door, but I am a little concerned about next year and I’ve dealt with the county before.”

Next year’s Main Avenue project is a county job and it and the current utility and street improvement project were addressed by City Engineer Chris Thorson.

“This year’s project—there was a lot of underground water main and sanitary sewer work, so that takes the bulk of the time,” he said. “With the Main Street project, if you remember back in 2000, we replaced all those pipes. Those pipes are all good. We don’t have to touch them. With Main Street next year, it’s just surface work. Tear up the old asphalt, concrete and then put new down, along with new street lights and sidewalks. So, it is going to be a quicker process because we don’t have to do all the trenching and all the pipe installation.”

Thorson also addressed a concern brought up by Mayor Mike Sharp on assuring that access to downtown businesses will be maintained as much as possible during the work.

“Of course, there are those days when they are pouring the concrete when they won’t have access,” Thorson said. “It’ll be issues like that that are short term.”

The project will also be phased east to west.

“Not all of Main Street is going to be torn up at once,” said Thorson. 

The timeline for the project is to begin in June, possibly in May, at the earliest, and will be a likely three to four-month project. A secondary county project is scheduled to be completed at the same time, resurfacing Birch Avenue from Lake Street to 5th Street NW.

A full and more accurate timeline will be created when the design stage of the project is completed. A walk-through of the project was completed by the county, Public Works Supervisor Larry Stephenson and engineers.

The project will be the fourth major road construction effort since 2021’s Highway 87 Rural Resurfacing: A $16-million project from North River Drive in Frazee to the Becker/Wadena County line featuring resurfacing, shoulder widening, and culvert replacements. The Highway 87 Urban “Complete Streets” Project was completed in 2022: A $6.3-million partnership between MnDOT and the city of Frazee covering North River Drive to the south side of the Highway 10 interchange. Work involved grade corrections near Town Lake, new sidewalks and ADA compliance, a shared-use path, railroad signal updates, and local utility replacements. Currently underway is the Frazee Utility and Street Improvement Project: Local municipal construction targeting multiple city streets and underground utilities to upgrade infrastructure.

The 2027 complete street reconstruction of Main Avenue is partnered between Becker County and the City of Frazee. The initiative stems from a regional planning study funded by the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership.

Abatements

Two Cherry Avenue residences were given 30 days to become compliant with the city’s nuisance ordinance. Both properties were warned multiple times beginning in June.

An inspection report on 608 Cherry denotes the property has abandoned, inoperable vehicles and a temporary dwelling unit that has exceeded the seven-day grace period. 

The property is also littered with dangerous, unguarded machinery, junked, abandoned, or unlicensed automobiles, along with an accumulation of debris in the side and backyards, as well as a camper and tent in the front yard.

Similar conditions exist at 703 Cherry, inoperable vehicles, rubbish and debris hauled from another property, some debris piling into the street, an inhabitable camper with a tarp as a roof/cover, two trailers with piles of debris, several snowmobiles in the backyard, many piles of rubbish that could harbor vermin, according to the violation notice, and several used tires are lying about.

Both properties have until October 9 to come into compliance. If not, the cost of completing the abatement plus administrative costs will be assessed to the property.

Election

Additional judges are needed for November’s election. Training would be completed in January. Contact the city office if interested.

Fire

Fire Chief Adam Walker returned after missing a couple weeks due to training and a surgery.

So far, in 2026, the department has responded to 54 calls, which is below average, according to a report submitted by Assistant Chief Joe Nelson.

Walker commended Nelson on his job of filling in as Chief during Walker’s absence.

A related concern is there are only 17 active firefighters presently. Walker noted it is not just a state-wide problem and also stated recent attempts at recruiting new firefighters have not been very successful. Compounding the issue is the department currently has four members with over 20 years of experience who could retire in the near future.

The department and city admin are finalizing paperwork for a grant to be used to purchase a new skid unit for the new wildland rig purchased a few months ago. 

There is also a brand-new bumper for a 2026 Super Duty that came off the new wildland truck. An aftermarket bumper was purchased to be installed prior to delivery of the vehicle. 

There is no need for two and council approved using Bachmann Auctioneers, LLC., to sell the extra bumper.

The Frazee Fire Relief Association had a meeting with a representative from Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) to discuss the future of retirement funds. Other fire crew leaders were scheduled to meet with the finance committee in the next few days.

Liquor

Young will attend an Office of Cannabis Management question and answer session regarding new federal restrictions and potential bans on intoxicating hemp-derived THC products as of Friday, Dec. 11.

“No one is really sure what this means for people who sell it right now,” she said.

When asked by council member Andrea Froeber, Young stated she sells a “decent amount” of the products, mainly to customers who are not drinking alcohol.

Federal restrictions were originally scheduled for November but were bumped a month. The extension gives Congress time to debate permanent regulations, though business owners face uncertainty and potential revenue losses.

Pickleball

Council member Mark Kemper encouraged players to utilize the courts at will. In time, there will likely be a scheduling option for court time, or league play scheduling, but that utility has not yet been created. Community Education may be used due to school liability. Superintendent Terry Karger is expected to address the issue at the next school board meeting. The new courts are open sunup to sundown. 

Police

The Frazee Police Department had 112 Calls For Service (CFS) for the month of June in the City and 110 Calls for Service by Frazee PD. 

There were eight city ordinance violations and seven properties notified about needing to mow their yard.

Three vehicle violations, vehicles were moved from the front yard, and two motor vehicle crashes in town.

Zero landlord violations

Ordinance enforcement will continue this month. Two properties received letters for several public nuisance violations. Given 30 days to be in compliance or abatement proceedings may begin. 

Youth Firearm Safety is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 4. Interested parties can sign up at Frazee Community Education at 218-334-3181, Opt. 3.

Public Works

Stephenson confirmed a streetlight will be added near Joann Neimann Memorial Park, most likely at the end of Ash Avenue to help illuminate the lone basketball hoop there and the playground area, in general.

“There have been concerns with it getting dark there in the evenings,” he said.

The plan was approved by the Parks and Recreation committee and council consensus. There is no cost, other than the power. 

Crews will begin end of the season projects soon, like flushing the city’s sewer mains and manhole inspections along with fall lift station cleaning, and more water main flushing.

Rescue

The Rescue department had 31 calls in August, according to a report from Assistant Chief Amanda Tollefson. Year to date, the department has responded to 252 calls. 

Vice Mayor Jim Rader commended the department for responding to 100 percent of calls seven of the past eight months. 

The council approved the hiring of Traci Totland later in the meeting.

Solar

Solar panels have been installed on the roof of the public utility building and testing has been completed, according to City Administrator Stephanie Poegel.

The Public Works building was selected to have a solar photovoltaic system installed on its roof after a solar analysis of the it, the Event Center and Liquor Store buildings.

The 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 Solar owner Ben 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 for the entire project.

Savings from the installation equate to $5,800 a year so the project pays itself off from the energy savings in 12 months. The city is expected to save $182,954 over the lifetime of the project, which is 30 years.

The array is online and generating power.