Johnson said the name change was necessary to clear hurdles associated with creating a 501(c)(3) non-profit and to avoid confusion with the Little Farm Hands project at the Minnesota State Fair.

 

Farm Friends Barn is planned to be an agricultural education exhibit for kids and is envisioned to be built on county land just across from the Sherburne County History Center.

 

The FFB will allow children to become farm hands and experience the agricultural process from growing vegetables to feeding pigs to bringing goods to the market.

 

Johnson said donations for the project have been slow and the board of directors are working on developing ideas for fundraising to help build the $200,000 barn, which will be available for year-round educational opportunities. Johnson thanked council and asked the city to continue to show support for the project as the board will be applying for permits in the future for gaining sewer, electrical service, etc. at the new site of the barn. 

 

For those interested in getting more information on the project or to donate, contact Jean Johnson by phone at 320-248-2615 or by email at jjohnson@farmfriendsbarn.org. 

Or check out their website at www.farmfriendsbarn.org.

 

 

City Administrator Greg Pruszinske presented council with a final lease termination agreement between the city and Nextel Communications.

 

Pruszinske outlined the agreement and said the lease terms and rent with Nextel will continue until either June 30 of this year or the date Nextel vacates the current site they are leasing (watertower). Currently, the city is getting rent from Nextel in the amount of $1,967.78 a month.

 

Pruszinske said once the lease is terminated and Becker signs a site acceptance and release, Becker will get a termination stipend of $2,500 from Nextel. Becker also will be allowed to keep the building and some equipment Nextel plans not to take with them.

 

Pruszinske noted the city has already secured another lease agreement with another carrier for around the same rent amount, so the city will see no decrease in revenue for this line item going forward.

 

 

Water/Wastewater Supervisor Dave Pesola told council the water supply piping in well house #2 is in need of refurbishment. Pesola says the refurbishment has been needed since well #5 was taken out of service as a municipal well a few years ago.

 

Pesola said his staff had this project slated for a later date, but it became a higher priority after a significant leak was observed in one of the main pipes. In order to make the repair, it will be necessary to disturb much of the existing piping in the well house.

 

Pesola noted his staff would like to get this job done before spring to avoid worrying about increased water demands as warmer weather presents itself.

 

The refurbishment is slated to cost $10,470 and will come out of the water enterprise fund.

 

 

Community Development Coordinator Amanda Fiedler brought forth changes to the city’s Business Subsidy Agreement (BSA) and asked Mayor Lefty Kleis to open a public meeting to hear comments from the public.

 

Kleis obliged but no one stepped to the podium to speak, so the public hearing was closed.

 

Fiedler said EDA reviewed the BSA and realized the last revisions to the procedures was made back in January of 2002. Revisions were discussed and made by the EDA staff to align the city’s BSA to current state statutes.

 

Updates to the policy include revisions to the purpose, definition, public purpose, compliance, wage and job goals, evaluation criteria, exceptions to the policy and public hearing requirements.

 

Fielder pointed out the EDA recommended approval by city council to accept the changes made to the BSA policy.

 

Council approved.

 

The next Becker City Council meeting is Feb. 18 at 5 p.m.