Frazee, DL and Project 412 aim to add trail amenities

By Robert Williams

Editor

The former transit bus building at the Becker County fairgrounds may be used to house the University of Minnesota Extension Office staff after discussions at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Staff is currently located on 8th St. S.E. in Detroit Lakes and the move would allow the county to potentially sell that building. The county cannot sell the fairgrounds transit building as it was paid for with federal grant money.

Becker County Transit bus service was formerly housed at the fairgrounds bus building, but has since moved to the new County Highway Department North Tower Road.

The extension staff is concerned that the fairgrounds site is too isolated for much of the year, and that the building is not well-suited to extension’s needs, being essentially a large bus garage with an attached office.

Commissioner Erica Jepson echoed concerns of extension staff with a possible move stating, “Extension does not want to be there.”

Some concerns include the site’s isolation for most of the year outside of the county fair time and incompatibility with extension’s needs as the building is a garage with an attached office.

Commissioner Barry Nelson stated selling the current extension office is in the best interest of the county and further discussions will include the Fair Board and the Becker County dive rescue team which also uses extension office space.

Cannabis

County Administrator Carrie Smith discussed answers she gave to commissioner questions regarding cannabis ordinances and the 19-step licensing process with the state. 

“Everything that I researched and asked questions of other counties, it appears the best solution is still to look at through the ordinances and looking at where things could be placed,” Smith said. “Potentially there are already some lawsuits that have been filed on the lottery system. I think if you get into the position of trying to restrict, I think you open yourself up to some of that type of lawsuit.”

Commissioner Barry Nelson is concerned about controlling growing cannabis and how to classify it.

Recommendations are to classify it as light industrial.

“You don’t want it in certain places,” he said. 

The lawsuits discussed were in relation to the Minnesota cannabis license lottery that did not happen as scheduled in late November.

Multiple lawsuits have accused the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) of denying licensing applications because the statutory requirements regarding application denials were not followed. The OCM retaliated with litigation alleging that some applicants are bad actors and have submitted multiple applications to overwhelm the system.

Commissioner pay

The Becker County Commissioners annual salary, effective January 1, 2025, will be established as:

• County Commissioner: $31,951.83

• County Board Vice Chair: $33,151.83

• County Board Chair: $34,351.83

Per diem for meeting attendance, other than regular commissioner meetings, will be $75 with meetings over four hours at $100.

“It’s important to note that the last couple years, through the significant increases that we have given employees, we have not gotten one,” Jepson said.

Highway

The commissioners requested a variance from the Minnesota Department of Transportation State Aid Operations Rules Chapter 8820.9936 (Horizontal alignment minimum curve radius) to allow 100’ curve radius in lieu of a 250’ curve radius for County State Aid Highway 22 (West Lake Drive from Washington Avenue to Legion Road, in Detroit Lakes).

The reasons for this variance request are physical constraints caused by right-of-way alignment and proximity of adjacent structures at the curve by the Pavilion, which does not meet the 30 mph standard. 

According to Jim Olson, County Highway Engineer, the curve meets approximately a 22 mph standard. Olson also presented a graphic of what a 30 mph curve would look like at the location and it would take out portions of Hub 41’s building and the canopy of the Fairfield Inn & Suites.

The next step in the process is a variance interview with the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Jail

The board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a collaborative partnership between Lakes Area Adult Education (LAAE) and Becker County Jail (BCJ). Its purpose is to provide educational support and resources to BCJ’s incarcerated population while

ensuring that BCJ retains full autonomy over its program structure, staffing, and operations.

Trails

The board approved a three-party request to apply for a grant to fund improvements to public bike paths in Becker County.

Detroit Lakes, Frazee, and Project 412 would like to partner with Becker County and other interested entities to seek funding through this grant opportunity to improve transportation support for multi-use trails across Becker County. The funding request would be for bike racks, bike fix-it stations, water bottle filling stations, shelters along trail(s) and benches.

Project examples:

• Includes providing access to drinking water in outdoor public spaces.

• Shading structures alongside sidewalks, trails and in Parks/green spaces.

• Installation or upgrading bike paths that are useful for commuting.

Transit

According to Chairman John Okeson, Becker County Transit  ridership is on the rise with 5,000 more rides given this year. During peak times, mid-afternoons, there have been as many as seven buses in use.

Commissioner David Meyer reported that ridership was up 19 percent in October, and six percent in November.