During the recent Big Lake Town Board meeting, Big Lake City Engineer Layne Otteson gave an update on the joint project between the city and township for pedestrian safety near the schools. Since the project is receiving federal funding, plans have been submitted and are waiting for the appropriate signatures at the federal level. Otteson said he is working to keep the process moving along. 

The next step, after federal approval, is to go out for bids, which Otteson expected to happen in September. Construction will likely begin in the spring. 

Otteson said he was a little concerned about the signs on Co. Rd. 43 warning traffic if a fire truck is approaching. The way these signs work is by a fob inside of the truck which the driver can press to warn approaching traffic. However, these signs don’t exist anywhere else in Minnesota, so it may not be approved to be used as part of the federally-backed project, though he said he would try everything he could to keep them. 

Fire Department

Big Lake Fire Chief Seth Hansen gave his monthly report, noting 228 calls for service, year to date, and 42 calls for the month of June.

One notable call included a trench rescue. An employee at Premier Marine fell into a trench used to access machinery, which resulted in a broken femur.

Hansen was very excited to announce the department maintained their two-year winning streak at the fire department versus police department softball game at Spud Fest.

The BLFD is accepting applications for hire through August 1.

The department will hold a “pop-up splash pad” at Lake Ridge Park on August 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The board agreed to sell some old grass truck skid unit equipment. The equipment hasn’t been used for three years. The money from the sale will go to the fire department capital improvement fund.

The board also heard the proposed fire budget. The township portion of the fire budget will be $230,468, a 6.24% increase.

In Other Business,the Board:

•  Approved an early access agreement with White Bear Clothing Co., who is interested in purchasing land in the industrial park;

• Discussed replacing the trash enclosure, but tabled the decision pending more information;

• Discussed possibly agreeing to store spent pull tabs from Spud Fest on behalf of the Lions Club, pending approval from the township attorney;

• Came to an agreement with the Big Lake Ambassadors on allowing access to their garage, where the group stores some items, as they had previously discussed at the last meeting.