It took about 30 minutes Monday evening for the Becker Township Board to dispense with their October agenda, as they finished up one construction season and looked towards the next.

Engineer William Tessmer presented a few final bills for this year’s road work season, putting the finishing touches on the Bridgeview and 137th Street projects to bring the 2024 session to a close.

Next, Tessmer looked ahead to next year’s projects as outlined in the CIP, as he discussed specific roadways and a few zoning standard items he would like to address, such as driveway width, shouldering material and cul-de-sac accesses.

Some of the projects identified for the next cycle include roads in Wildwood Acres, as well as 109th Street, which will include a good deal of wetland delineation work.

With a good handle on what had been discussed previously with the budget work, the supervisors unanimously approved Tesser to get started on making next season’s projects shovel ready so bids can be let in the new year.

Visitors to the board included Sgt. Dan Frank of the SCSO, who noted 202 calls (93 traffic and just one mental health call), as well as Sherburne County Economic Development Coordinator Brian Fleming, who discussed business retention visits within the township.

Clerk Lucinda Messman talked about tree trimming efforts and noted that the deadline for public hearings had passed; therfore, projects would be moving forward.

Planner Ben Wikstrom discussed the re-zoning on 137th Street for an auto sales business, as well as some conditions likely to be required for the CUP in that area.

Supervisor Luke Babler highlighted the new light-rescue truck that arrived for the Becker Fire Department and is currently being up-fitted, while Chair Brian Kolbinger discussed efforts aimed at the Central Mississippi River Partnership (river crossing).  Citizen feedback is still being sought on that plan and there will be an open house at the City Hall in Becker (location could change due to construction) on October 28 from 4:30 until 6:00 p.m.  Topics included in that study are environmental impacts, traffic congestion, safety, and land use; moreover, the results could be used in future state and federal environmental reviews.

Supervisors also approved the addition of some lighting for the back of the building in an effort to increase security and perhaps deter the homeless population from camping in that area.

Messman concluded the meeting with an update on general election plans (held at the Legion building adjacent to the Town Hall) with polls being open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.