During their recent meeting, the Big Lake City Council assessed costs of the recent streets projects to the nearby properties. They held an open forum for residents to voice their concerns before the assessment. 

Costs of the project were funded partly by the city and partly by assessments to properties benefitting from the work done, those houses along the improved streets. 

City Engineer Layne Otteson shared the details of the streets projects and the formulas used to calculate the cost assessments to nearby properties. Residents had three options in which to pay the assessment, which included paying in full by December 8, paying it over the course of ten years with their property taxes at a 2.9% interest rate, or deferring payment until the future sale of the property (this option being eligible for senior citizens only). 

Several spoke during the public hearing to voice their concerns over the assessment, and two letters were sent in objecting to the charges.

Several of the concerns voiced included the large costs of the assessment, the lack of communication regarding the project, and other issues such as the projects damaging property and driveways being missed. 

Otteson responded to the objection by referring back to the process of public hearings leading up to the project as evidence of his attempts to communicate effectively about the project. 

City staff will be in contact with each individual who raised objections during the hearing.

Winter Farm Market

The council accepted donations for the Big Lake Winter Farmers Market. The market is open on the third Saturday of each month at Big Lake City Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The first event was November 18, and the next will take place December 16. The December market will feature free professional photos with Santa sponsored by the Heitz-Gardner Realty Group. 

The market will take place every month on the third Saturday through April. 

In Other Business, the Council:

• Held a public hearing to assess delinquent utility charges to property taxes of the respective properties; 

• Heard department reports.