During the March 6 Becker City Council meeting, Joel Mary of the Minnesota Government Finance Officers Association presented an Achievement for Excellence in Finance Reporting. This is the first time the city has won this award. Their annual finance report was reviewed and judged to be held to the highest standard by an impartial panel of judges, and only 130 cities in the state are awarded this honor.

Archery Range

City staff proposed using remaining ARPA funding to create an archery range. Staff has been working with the local archery club on design plans.

Council approved going out for proposals to be reviewed in April, as the ARPA funds need to be committed by the end of the year. Council Member Rick Hendrickson suggested that local organizations might also wish to contribute to the project, as some have done with other projects at the Becker Community Center.

In Other Business,the Council:

• Noted that over 600 rounds were played during the opening weekend at Pebble Creek, though they didn’t know at the time whether the course would be able to stay open or if cold weather would shut it down again;

• Approved a new massage ordinance that will allow massage parlors to be open as early as 6 a.m.;

• Approved making improvements to Pebble Creek cart paths as a part of a four-year improvement plan

• Approved seeking bids for the 2024 street improvement plan.