By Robert Williams

Editor

Construction is close to beginning and the former Lions shelter and brick building are being removed from Town Lake Beach, according to discussions held at the Frazee City Council meeting Wednesday, Sept. 11.

Site work and sidewalk removal are scheduled to begin this week prior to construction of the new community building at a cost of $500,000, half of which is covered by a state grant. 

The funds from the sale of Eagle Lake Park after closing of $175,000 are planned to be used to cover most of the other half, leaving $75,000 currently unfunded.

That money may be included in a bonding request to complete the roofing project on the Event Center.

The city received official building plans and renderings of the new community building and bathrooms to be built at Town Lake Beach last May.

The project was proposed in 2021 and has gone through multiple delays after an archeological study found a prehistoric artifact. Testing was done to assure the find was not one of many and was a isolated find prior to any major earthwork being completed.

East Main

Pipe work has been completed on the East Main Avenue project, the most time consuming portion of the work, according to City Engineer Chris Thorson.

Water main and sanitary sewer testing has also been approved and completed.

Thorson stated the city is currently in a holding pattern with the contractor since Labor Day.

“It’s on their end. They have scheduling conflicts with other projects,” he said.

Street grading is scheduled to begin this week applying some Class 5 with curb and gutter work scheduled to begin the following week, along with the back alley work behind the fire department. 

“It’s not going to take long,” Thorson said.

A total cost estimate for the project is $1,185,095. The eligible costs for water are $566,209.98, sewer $348,203.10, non-eligible Public Facilities Authority (PFA) costs are $271,571.92. 

The council approved City Administrator Stephanie Poegel working with Jason Murray of David Drown Associates, Inc., to access funding from the Minnesota Rural Water Association. 

The PFA bond for the project will likely be presented for approval at the next council meeting.

Also coming in the near future will be public hearings on the special assessments attached to the project.

Loose dogs

Linda Riebe continued the discussion of loose dogs in Frazee during the open forum. Riebe noted there are 16 dogs currently in her part of town. Her concern is proper licensing and specifically how dogs are allowed at rental properties, noting a rental neighbor was allowed to have three dogs and the neighborhood has one specific dog that is on the loose frequently.

Mayor Mike Sharp noted it is understandable that a dog might get loose, but it is the dogs that are routinely on the loose that are a problem.

Riebe wants owners of multiple dogs to help alleviate that city’s problem by installing kennels so dogs are not cooped up inside all day and following proper licensure procedures.

Residents have been advised to call the police when dogs are loose. Riebe does not want to do that and wants her fellow residents to show some common courtesy.

Both council member Mark Kemper and Sharp noted that residents should take photos and videos and have to reach out to the police department to enforce ordinances.

“I know you’re hesitant to do so, but that is the protocol,” Sharp said.

The topic will be discussed further at this month’s Planning and Zoning meeting Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Ordinances

Chief of Police Tyler Trieglaff spoke on the city ordinance process and potentially speeding up that process after discussions with Planning and Zoning.

Changes to the ticketing process for lawn, property and dog violations is one option, allowing the police to have ready access to ticketing on the fly, rather than having to return to the city office to use the computer system.

“Those seem to be our three biggest ordinance issues,” said Trieglaff.