By Robert Williams

Editor

The Frazee Fire Department is getting new equipment from a national grant. Fire Chief Adam Walker announced to the city council on Wednesday, Oct. 14, the department was awarded the 2026 Department of the Interior grant to be used for a skid unit on a grass rig.

  “That’s huge news for us,” Walker said. “That saves the city and taxpayers about $64,000.”

A skid unit (also called a slip-on unit) is a self-contained, portable firefighting system built on a structural frame that slides directly into the bed of a pickup truck, flatbed, utility vehicle (UTV), or trailer without permanent vehicle modification.

For grass, brush, and wildland fires, fire departments use skid units to quickly turn a standard utility vehicle or pickup into a mobile “fast-attack” brush truck, according to Fire Apparatus Magazine.

The grant will allow the department to get rid of the oldest vehicle in the fleet, Walker said. 

“We’ll be pretty modern after that,” he said. “I’m pretty excited about that.”

The Lake Park Fire Department was also awarded the grant and the two departments have combined orders to save on shipping costs.

The council approved the skid unit purchase later in the meeting.

Council also approved the Finance Committee recommendation of a $3,000 to $4,000 pension increase in dollars per year of service while maintaining a 114 percent funding ratio for the pension fund. 

Apartments

Prior to the council meeting, Mayor Mike Sharp, City Administrator Stephanie Poegel and the entire City Council hosted a third special meeting with Turnkey Solutions & Development Vice President Jason Francis to discuss more preliminary information of a proposed 34-unit apartment complex in the city-owned lot next to Dollar General.

Francis provided a 3D rendering of the proposed building. Both parties agreed to continue to work together and move discussions to the Planning and Zoning committee to hammer out details for approval by the council as early as November. The project is slated for completion in late 2027, once approved.

Election

Izzy Hansmeier, Ariel Perex and Ken Miosek were approved as additional election judges for the upcoming election cycle.

Engineering

City Engineer (Ulteig) Kris Carlson submitted a resolution for approval of prepared plans and specs for two new sanitary lift stations at Main Avenue East and one at 2nd Street Southwest.

The Main Avenue station is the city’s main lift and will have a control house on top of the structure. 

The Main Avenue station construction will remove the tube running over the river and replace it with a new tube five feet under the river bed. The old generator building will be converted to cold storage.

The 2nd Street station will be moved to the east side of the property.

Council approved the resolution unanimously.

Liquor

Liquor Store Manager Amanda Young reported a rough month of September due to being surrounded by road constructions. 

“I’d estimate 30 percent of our customers are going elsewhere right now,” she said. “Now we have to hope they come back.”

According to Young’s report, the Off-Sale side saw a 12 percent decrease in sales. 

Demolition of the parking lot and dirt work has taken the parking lot away at times forcing people to park on the street. 

“I am looking forward to the completion of this project,” said Young.

Despite the issues, sales for September were $51,755.95, only $4,000 than the same timeframe in 2025 of $55,531.88.

Police

There were 124 Calls For Service for the month of September in the city – 99 Calls for Service by Frazee PD; one city ordinance violation; two motor vehicle crashes in town and one landlord violation.

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 was October 4, with 24 kids taking part in the Firearm Safety Class. Some traveled 3-4 hours for class as that shows the lack of instructors/classes in some areas of the state.

Public Works

The Public Works Department has begun winterizing city properties and has finished the annual sewer main flushing and manhole inspections, according to Public Works Supervisor Larry Stephenson’s report. The bathhouse will be winterized as well as the Lions Park restrooms. Hauling of the winter’s supply of sand and salt for the streets will begin soon.

Rescue

Council approved the resignation of Shawna King from the Rescue department and approved a new member Latasha Scott.