Dennis Drewes, Inc. awarded low bid for Shoulder Widening and Aggregate Shouldering in Becker County

By Robert Williams

Editor

Improvements that were discussed in the fall of 2024 about improvements to Maple Avenue Apartments in Frazee were affirmed by a report from the latest Becker County Economic Development Authority (EDA) meeting.

Commissioner Richard Vareberg discussed the EDA-owned apartment building in Frazee. At the latest County EDA meeting, it was announced that the building is paid off, but the structure is in need of upgrades like outdoor paint, new siding, windows, decks and potentially new air conditioners.

Plans are to get some of that work completed in 2025 but no timetable was discussed. The siding work was already EDA-approved and is scheduled for this spring.

The low-income housing project, Maple Avenue Apartments, is managed by Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation (MMCDC).

Food Pantry

BeckerBay Auction Funds totaling $3,056 was donated to the Becker County Food Pantry.

The past four years there has been a 420 percent increase in use of the food pantry. Half of the clients of the pantry have signified they live with food insecurity, according to Manager Liz Lilja.

“That really enlightened me,” Lilja said.

In 2024, the pantry served 20,728 versus 17,000 in 2023. The first quarter saw 6,100 clients served with an annual projection for 2025 over 24,000.

The pantry distributed 592,000 pounds of food in 2024 over 467,000 the prior year.

“It’s just a big need and we don’t know what’s coming,” Lilja said. 

Land donation

The board passed a resolution to accept a land donation of 80 acres in Osage Township (Parcel No. 21.0044.000) to provide forest habitat. It joins 400 acres of tax forfeited land currently managed by the county. The only charges to the county will be taxes of $1,018 and closing costs, according to Auditor-Treasurer Mary Hendrickson.

Hendrickson noted this is the first time in her time in office that the county has received a donation of land this large.

Highway

County Highway Engineer Jim Olson announced several winning bids to the highway department, including a bid in the amount of $3,415,953.62 from Dennis Drewes Inc., of Frazee, the low bid received on March 20, 2025 for Shoulder Widening and Aggregate Shouldering on CSAH 7, from CSAH 14 to CSAH 16 and on CSAH 16, from Clay County Line to CSAH 7. The bid was 6.63 percent under the engineer’s estimate and the only bid of seven under estimate.

A county-wide weed spraying contract was awarded to L&M Road Service, LLC of Ulen, a quote in the amount of $135.00 per hour.

The board authorized the County Engineer to execute a construction engineering services agreement and oversee the contracted work of construction engineering services for CSAH 7 and CSAH 80 in the City of Lake Park. The agreement is between Becker County and Moore Engineering to perform construction engineering services on the street and sidewalk construction work in the City of Lake Park. State Aid construction funds will be used to pay for these services. The estimated total fee is $169,098.

A 2025-2027 Roadside Mowing Contract was awarded to L&M Road Services, of Lake Park. L&M bids were $130 in three of four areas and $140 per hour for the remaining section.

A 2025-28 Gravel Road Maintenance contract in seven different areas were awarded to:

BIDDER, Area, Total Area Bid

GROTH GRAVEL & GRADING LLC, 1, $133,650.00

HENDRICKS ROAD MAINTENANCE, 2, $139,000.00

GROTH GRAVEL & GRADING LLC, 3, $77,475.00

GUSTNER CONSTRUCTION LLC, 4, $68,725.00

PROJECTS UNLIMITED INC, 5, $64,000.00

THELEN’S EXCAVATING, INC, 6, $58,800.00

PROJECTS UNLIMITED INC, 7, $48,000.00

Environmental Services

Commissioners approved additional staff of a part-time transfer station attendant at the Osage Solid Waste Facility and a Transfer Station Solid Waste Manager to oversee solid waste operations on the Becker County Solid Waste Campus’s, including machinery maintenance and waste transfer operations.

Parks and Recreation

Commissioners approved an agreement with Potty Shacks, a portable restroom company based in Park Rapids and Moorhead to provide portable restrooms and related maintenance services for Mt. View Recreation Area, Dunton Locks County Park, Chilton Park – Bass Lake Access and Blueberry Lake Access, Hwy 34 Rest Area, E Height of Land Lake Access, Heartland Trail, and Osage Public Beach.