By Robert Williams

Editor

With Mayor Mike Sharp deciding to not run for reelection, Frazee will have a new mayor in 2027. Shon Bachleitner and Erik Anderson are the two candidates running for this two-year term.

Bachleitner has been the Quick Lane Manager at Webber Ford in Detroit Lakes for the past 15 years. Anderson is a General Manager at Daggett Truck Line, the Frazee Community Development Corporation (FCDC) Treasurer, Chair of the Parks & Rec committee and a Planning and Zoning committee member.

Anderson is a Frazee graduate and earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of North Dakota. 

He stated the draw to move back to his hometown was strong and he did so in 2020 with his wife and seven children.

“From the time I moved back I’ve been heavily involved in the community,” said Anderson. “I’m passionate about Frazee. I’m really excited to see additional improvements. We’ve got some great momentum built up and I think I can do some real things to be an awesome mayor.”

Bachleitner was short with his introduction, skipping any personal information and getting down to what he wants to concentrate on as mayor.

“I’m qualified to do this position because I feel that I am the best for this community,” said Bachleitner. “I don’t believe I’ve ever failed at doing anything. I want to see this town go and I want to definitely clean it up a lot.”

Bachleitner spoke first on the question of how to expand Frazee and welcome more businesses.

He noted he has already been in discussions with three businesses that are interested in moving to Frazee.

“There is some expansion we have to do and get approval for to get everything we need and make this town bigger,” he said.

He discussed issues like low enrollment at the school and housing issues.

“We have to make this town so people want to come here,” he said.

Anderson believes the biggest driver in Frazee is Wannigan Regional Park. 

“The tourism generated by the park is huge; 37,000 visitors annually – that’s a huge shot in the arm for the existing businesses downtown and it’s also a great reason for new businesses to move,” he said. 

Anderson also wants to expand the housing footprint in Frazee to aid in easing the tax burden on existing homeowners and it’s a big opportunity for local businesses.

“Those businesses need local residents, as well,” he said. “If we can increase our population and add residents to support the business through the winter – that’s huge.”

Anderson cited the housing crisis in Frazee as the most pressing issue, also noting the median household income in Frazee is $47,000.

“There’s not a lot of housing available in that price range that’s affordable,” he said.

Bachleitner was last to speak after all the city council candidates and his opponent, noting that everything he had listed to talk about had already been mentioned.

He reiterated the need for more businesses but hammered home his desire to clean up the town, notably trash-filled yards and complimented the current council for their work on cleaning up blighted properties and enforcing ordinance violations.

“I think the council that we have right now is doing a phenomenal job,” he said.

However, Bachleitner has a heavy hand ready for ordinance violators.

“I believe it should be 30 days,” he said. “Once you get that notice – 30 days and nothing is done, we will come and do it for you.”

Bachleitner even offered his own time to help clean up properties.

One new idea for business is Bachleitner wants a full-service gas station, specifically mentioning Flying J Travel Centers, something he would like to see on U.S. Highway 10.

Anderson closed with remarks on increasing community involvement and how he wants to see more people participate and volunteer and do the work.

“If we had some more engagement from the community in a lot of the things that are happening we would see huge improvements in town,” he said.

Bachleitner reviewed that the issues were all touched upon earlier in the meeting and did not expound further in his closing remarks.

LOWV of the Detroit Lakes Area President Sheila Welle introduced Frazee High School Principal Jason Smith, who spoke prior to the question period discussing the permanent school fund amendment. Smith stressed the importance of voters to vote yes on the amendment due to it not increasing taxes due to the money already existing in trust funds.

“This is simply a change in language of the constitution to allow our school to tap into this money that is already there,” said Smith. “Mobile control, this money comes with no mandates; no federal dollars attached. All the authority to spend, delegate, to use this money on our local student needs rests with your local school board.”

Under Minnesota law, a constitutional amendment requires approval from a majority of all voters. 

“Because of this rule and the same applies in other sections as well, if we leave the ballot blank, it defaults to a no,” Smith said. “If you leave the ballot blank, you don’t get an opinion. Your opinion is no. If your vote is yes, mark it so.”

The full hour-long session is available on the CornerStone Facebook page and will be posted on YouTube channel Lakes Area League & Friends in a couple days.