By Robert Williams

Editor

ommissioner Phil Hansen reported some progress on the improvements needed on the Heartland Trail running from the County Road 10 bridge to Frazee at the Becker County Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning. 

“The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will not accept that trail because it’s sloped just a little bit off,” said Hansen.

Portions of the Frazee section of the Heartland Trail were deemed non-ADA compliant shortly after completion of construction in 2025.

Two options were discussed in June of this year: milling down the middle of the trail or adding to the edges.

The trail repair was expected to create a delay in planned phases of new trails to Bucks Mill, Dunton Locks to North Pearl Lake and Cormorant Lakes.

“We can’t do that until this is resolved and we have to use the money by a certain time,” said Hansen at the June 16 commissioner meeting.

At the time, the DNR expected the segment contractor Hough, Inc. of Detroit Lakes, to fix the Frazee portion of the trail but Hough had pushed back.

“We’re kind of stuck,” said Hansen.

That issue appears to have become more pliable, but Hansen did not go into any further detail. He did comment briefly on the next phase.

“We’re working on that (Frazee trail) and starting to get some movement on that,” he said. “We’re still working on the trail to get to Cormorant; we’re working on a route.”

Dunton Locks

The new shelter at Dunton Locks had 36 rentals this summer, according to Commissioner David Meyer.

“That’s great,” he said. 

Increased use of the new shelter has aided in the septic system currently failing and it will need to be replaced. 

“We’re going to have to do it,” said Hansen.

An addition to the area being considered is self-service rentals offering kayaks and equipment.

“A little expensive for the start-up cost, but it is a service we could provide,” said Hansen.

EDA

The board approved a 12-month services agreement between the Cass County HRA and Becker County EDA, pending attorney approval. 

Cass County HRA will provide temporary support and flexible assistance and does not assign Becker County EDA’s powers, responsibilities, or authority. Becker County EDA will retain final responsibility and authority for its programs, employees, and operational outcomes.

Cass County HRA will provide staff assistance and technical support during the transition period to assist with program operational compliance; staff capacity building; internal procedures; agency reporting; property inspections; and other technical assistance developing and implementing procedures as necessary to ensure operational sufficiency.

Gambling

County Commissioners approved the gambling application for an exempt permit to conduct a raffle on January 30, 2027, by Four Corners Lions Club at The Fishbowl.

Highway

County Highway Engineer Jim Olson presented a professional services agreement between Ulteig Engineering and the county for 2027 roadwork on both East and West Main Avenue in Frazee, along with an additional job completing work on Birch Avenue from Highway 87 to County Road 29. The agreement was approved after review by the county attorney and a striking of one line of test regarding ownership of project documentation.

M State

Commissioner Meyer reported that the county had secured six months of rental space on the M State campus. The announcement came on the same day M State and the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities announced they are moving forward with plans to close the M State Detroit Lakes campus.

Meeting info

Rebecca Soukup spoke to the board during the Open Forum about more consistent online access to minutes of county board and other committee meetings.

“Some of it is just accurate information that needs to be available to people,” Soukup said. “I think it’s important. I think it is kind of a minimum that we need to have as a standard.”

Commissioner Phil Hansen acknowledged there are some gaps in the information online and that he is addressing each issue at each meeting he attends.

“I do agree with you,” Hansen said. “We say we’re going to put it out there, we should have everything out there without gaps.”

Commissioner Barry Nelson also agreed and cited Economic Development Authority information as one department that needs to improve communication with the public.

“We’ll try to do better,” he said.

Soukup provided a detailed list of missing information online to the board.

Side-by-sides

Hansen discussed a transportation committee meeting and a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) presentation that included talk about side-by-sides (SXS) on county roads. Currently, SXS are registered through the DNR and discussion was about whether or not Minnesota Driver Services (DVS) should be registering the vehicles given their increased prevalence on the roads.

Currently, SXS are allowed on the extreme right shoulder of township and county roads, city streets if the city has passed an ordinance allowing them, and state forest, public trails and minimum maintenance roads.