The Becker City Council met Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 and passed a number of resolutions. 

Among them was to provide a letter of support to move forward with a grant request for an I-94 to US Hwy. 10 Mississippi River Crossing. With the completion of the Hwy. 25 Area Planning and Environmental Linkages Study in 2025, three proposals, along with a required no-build scenario, can advance to a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement, which provides a more detailed evaluation of the alternatives to identify and select a single preferred route.

The process is expected to begin in early 2027 to be completed in 2029. Wright County will apply for funding through the 2026 USDOT Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program. The letter of support was passed 3-1. Council Member Robin Dingmann was absent, and Council Member Mike Doering voted against due to dissatisfaction with the proposed crossing locations. 

The letter, to be signed by Mayor Mark Kolbinger, expresses strong support for the project described as “a critical regional initiative that will enhance mobility, relieve congestion, and support long-term economic stability for our community and neighboring jurisdictions.”

Housing Study

After determining that a 2020 Housing Study was outdated, council approved a new comprehensive housing study to be conducted by Redevelopment Resources LLC. The cost of the study will be a not-to-exceed amount of $29,945. The study will help the city better understand the condition of regional housing, gaps in supply, and areas of need and opportunity within the city limits. 

Pebble Creek Improvements

Two resolutions were passed to pay for improvements to the course at Pebble Creek. The first approved an additional $10,300 in spending to complete the #4 Pond installation project, bringing the total project cost to $127,800. 

The second resolution approved $100,000 to fund phase 3 of the city’s Cart Path Improvement Plan. Next year, Phase 4 will complete the project, bringing the grand total to $425,000.

BPD Communications 

Due to recent upgrades in the remodel and new construction at the Police Department and City Hall, the signal strength of BPD radio communications has been negatively affected. The council approved a resolution to address the problem, approving a quote from DSC Communications to install a bi-directional amplifier and antennas for $27,819 with a 10% contingency.

Other News

• City staff and elected officials will receive a half-day strategic communications training workshop from Leer Communications & Consultants. The cost of the training will be $7,350;

• A donation was accepted from the Becker Lions in the amount of $2,500 to pay for the placement of an AED at Kolbinger Park.