The Becker City Council moved ahead with three spending projects Wednesday, including a $79,500 parks system plan which would link all recreational spaces in the city into one data base.

 

Council action on the spending was split, with Mayor Traci Bertram and Councilmembers Lori Keller and Mike Doering in favor, and Councilmen Rick Hendrickson and Todd Hanrahan opposed.

 

The project will be contracted to Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc., Minneapolis. There was no timetable set for its completion.

 

Keller, a member of the parks board, spoke to the worthiness of the study, and noted Becker Public Schools has indicated their support for $14,250 of the project.

 

All school and city parks and green spaces would be included in the study.

 

Keller suggested the school might be approached again to share in a larger cost of the project, perhaps 50% of the base cost of the work - $48,500. But Councilman Doering said the city had taken the word of the school for their original support level and should not be approached again.

 

“The city will get more use out of this (project) than the school,” said Bertram.

 

Councilman Hendrickson posed several issues with the project - the cost and if how much of the work could be done inhouse, with community surveys and other fact-finding work.

 

But Doering questioned where the manpower would come from to accomplish that work.

 

Parks and Recreation Director Jamie Cassidy, who introduced the project to the council, had good things to say about the surveying firm. “They have gotten highest marks for a consulting firm,” he said.

 

He reported the city has more than 180 acres of parkland, 10 parks and more than 54 miles of trails and sidewalks, all of which would be incorporated into the study.

 

Cassidy also noted the city could be in line for grants to put information to work in projects with a good survey like that of Hoisington-Koegler.

 

The discussion went on for several more minutes before Bertram called for a vote on the project, and it was passed, 3-2.

 

The council met with Streets Director Joe Danielson and approved his request for the purchase of a new wood chipper. Tri-State Bobcat’s bid was accepted, over that of RDO Equipment. Total cost to the city, with trade-in of the present unit of $11,000, will bring their cost to $52,000. The purchase was provided for in the 2018 budget.

 

Dave Pesola, water-wastewater management director, met with the council and secured approval of a contract of $15,300 with SEH Engineers to establish bid specifications for the replacement of all water meters within the city.

 

There was no estimated cost of such replacements reported.

 

In a final action, the council met with Clerk Julie Blesi and approved her request for a public hearing at 6 p.m. Feb. 20 to enact an updated fee schedule.

 

The council approved the hiring of three police officers. They included Trevor Wolseth, part-time to fulltime, and Tyler Hecht and Aaron Tavares, part-timers, all effective Feb. 7.

 

Colin House was also hired as a part-time staffer with the public works department effective Feb. 8.

 

In a final action, the council acknowledged Ron Ohmann for his contribution of $300 for a hot tub at the Becker Community Center.