Mayor Paul Knier and Council Members Paul Seefeld, Ken Halverson, Kim Noding, and Sam Hanson were all present for the July 24, 2024 meeting of the Big Lake City Council.
New Police Vehicle
The consent agenda contains items that can be approved in one motion. Among the seven items was approval for the purchase of a new Police Ford Explorer for the Big Lake Police Dept. In the request, John Kaczmarek, Chief of Police noted that the vehicle needs to be ordered now so the department can receive it by mid-year 2025.
Kaczmarek gave a number of reasons for the purchase. He wrote, “Staff feels this preorder is vital as we anticipate that our department will not only be fully staffed by Fall of 2024, but officers will also be completing field training and be on their own by early 2025.”
The new Explorer will be purchased through Nelson Auto Center in Fergus Falls, MN for $45,838.41.
Personnel Changes
Also, within the consent agenda, the council accepted the resignation of Bruce Frandle, Waste-water Foreman. Frandle submitted his resignation on July 12, 2024. He has been employed by the city for nearly 4.5 years. City staff will begin the process of hiring for Frandle’s replacement.
Gary Stoltz was approved as the Assistant Liquor Store Manager. Stoltz was hired from over 40 applicants, nine of whom were interviewed. His start date will be August 12, 2024.
Parkwood Knolls Development
Lucinda Spanier, City Planner, addressed the council on the submitted development application for a Planned Unit Development Concept Plan from QV Big Lake, LLC. QV Big Lake was seeking advice from the council on their request to build 103 single family homes on 47 acres located north of Hwy. 10, west of 172nd St. NW, south of 205th Ave NW, and east of Liberty Elementary School before formally submitting their PUD.
The developer was seeking a change to their application and were asking for reduced lot sizes. They propose a lot density of 2.2 units per acre. That proposal would be less than the desired density for low density housing that ranges from 2.5 to 4 housing units per gross acre.
Council members advised that the new plan was an improvement over previous submitted plans. Ken Halvorson did express some skepticism.
“I wish the lots were bigger,” he said. “It seems like they go from a big difference from 20,000 to 10,000. I wish they would have met somewhere in the middle to put some nicer homes there.”
Park and Rec Updates
Norm Michels, Streets, Parks, and Fleet Superintendent, updated council on the Pickleball Courts that were approved for Hudson Woods Park. Construction of the project has begun and concrete has been poured. The project should be completed by the end of August.
Michels also noted some upcoming events. The Big Lake Graniteman Triathlon will be held on Sat., Aug. 3, 2024. The race begins at 5 a.m. at Lakeside Park and should conclude by 3 p.m.
Two movies are scheduled for Big Lake’s Movie in the Park. Migration will be shown Aug. 9. Parking for the event will begin at 7:45 p.m. and the movie will start at approximately 8:45 p.m. Back to the Future wraps up the 2024 Movie in the Park schedule on Sept. 6. Parking begins at 7 p.m. and the movie starts at 8 p.m.
