North River Drive gravel to be improved and treated

By Robert Williams

Editor

The future of the Eagle Lake Park has been on hold awaiting the conclusion of final negotiations of the purchase. The completion of the sale will now be delayed until the end of the year. 

An extension of the purchase agreement between the City of Frazee and the Eagle Lake Park Association, Inc., was approved by the city council Wednesday.

The original purchase agreement was dated Sept. 12, 2022. The extension has pushed that date to Dec. 31, 2024.

Negotiations with one neighbor have also been concluded, which was part of the delay.

The Park Association requested City Attorney Thomas Winters run a legal in the Forum for 2-3 weeks to announce the sale. The courts are expected to approve the sale approximately one month after that. 

“The buyers have been more than patient; which has been awesome,” said Winters. “Nothing has changed on their end. They just want this cleared up.”

City Administrator Stephanie Poegel, the Park Association have contacted Becker County on taking over the park and lake access.

The city, as the seller, does not have the right to put any stipulations on whether the park remains public or not. That is between the buyers and the county.

According to Winters, it is not the association’s intent to close the park and by purchasing it as a non-profit, it is their intent to have the park and access remain open to the public.

“Their main concern was that someone would do that, so that’s why they formed this non-profit to purchase it and keep it so people would have access to the lake,” Winters said.

The future plans are for Eagle Lake Park Association, Inc., to eventually turn the park over to Becker County.

North River Drive

To address the increased traffic on North River Drive, the city accepted the lower of two bids to add a gravel base and calcium chloride treatment to control dust.

The low bid came from Becker County for a total of $8,646. The other bid was from Hough, Inc., for $14,720, but to only import two inches of Class 5 aggregate base, grade and compaction, with no treatment.

According to Public Works Supervisor Larry Stephenson, hopes are to have the project done in the next two weeks.

The Frazee Community Development Corporation (FCDC) has offered to assist in funding after noting that much of the increased traffic is due to the troll art installation at Wannigan Regional Park.

The city may also contact the school district, given its contribution to the road’s wear.

Fire department

The Frazee Fire Department received donations from: Denise Geritz $450; Little Toad Lake Campground $250; David and Jane Moorhead $50 and Anonymous owner of a lemonade stand $18.

Police department

City Ordinance enforcement:

Seven properties noted for Grass and Weeds: 5 taken care of and 2 still in the works. 

One property is owned by Becker County and one property has the owner living in a care facility. 

Zero vehicle violations. 

Zero landlord violations.

The department is shopping to replace the chief’s squad car. There is $25,000-$30,000 in reserves and savings that needs to be used for DWI enforcement, which a new squad car qualifies for.

Rescue squad

Rescue responded to 24 calls. In City – 14 / Outside City – 10 Responded – 19.

The Pancake Feed / Open House is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 18. 

Coordinating with the fire department on updated preplanned landing zones that can  be used for air transport inside the city limits. 

Administration

The city is awaiting paperwork from 21 rental units that are to be inspected. The deadline for submissions was back in March and the city is sending out warning letters to the landlords, most of whom do not live in town.

The next step if noncompliance continues is the city will pull the rental registration and evict the tenants, confirmed by both Poegel and Winters.

The landlords of said units are currently in violation of their rental agreements with the city.

Responses are expected in two weeks.

Editor’s Note: Interim Mayor Mike Sharp was not in attendance Wednesday as he was on vacation.