All members of the Big Lake City Council were present on Wed., Oct. 8 and were joined by 12 cresidents who live near Mitchell Farm Park (also referred to as Teal Park).  The playground equipment at their park was recently removed. During the open forum, residents explained why the park was important to them and expressed a desire to have the equipment replaced. 

Emy Mammenga presented a petition she claimed was signed by 120 neighbors and also noted that as of Wednesday, an online petition had another 92 signatures.  She was disappointed knowing that their tax dollars would be used for other parks and not their own.  

“It’s been 30 years,” she said. “We’ve had time to try to either repair it or plan for removal and repair.”

That sentiment was shared by Shaun Dunkle, who lives directly adjacent to the park.  His voice filled with emotion, Shaun explained why the park was important for the neighborhood and his family. 

“For the five years that my children and I have lived there, we’ve enjoyed that playground every fair-weather day,” he said.  “It was more than equipment.  There were friendships formed there.  There were children who learned to swing and share that swing with their neighbors and it’s where a community gathered and bonded.  Since the equipment has been moved, the neighborhood has felt significantly quieter and lonelier and a little less whole.”  

Dunkel concluded by asking council to direct staff to figure out replacement costs and consider funding capabilities to rebuild the park. 

Neighborhood residents were confused about what happened and why.  Kieren and Evie told council they didn’t have any answers for them as they went door-to-door to gather signatures for the petition or when they met their friends in the now empty park.  

“I was really sad because it’s where my friends and I meet up to talk about things that happened during our week,” said Evie. 

Consent Agenda

Item 6J was removed from the Consent Agenda to be discussed and voted on separately.  Item 6J was asking council to approve an extension to Prairie Meadows 4th Addition Development Agreement proposing to postpone the wear course installation until Oct. 15, 2026 to — according to the builder — reduce the risk of damage from heavy construction equipment using the finished roadway.

Halvorson noted that the city was already on the hook for four other times that projects were postponed by developers, but never completed and wondered aloud why the city would do it a fifth time.  

Finance Director Deb Wegeleben noted that because of new letter of credit requirements, the builder has an irrevocable line of credit where their lender bank guarantees payment if the project is not completed and the developer is in default.  That was enough to persuade four of the members who voted aye.  Halvorson opposed the measure.   

Other items of note passed in the consent agenda included purchases for Big Lake Fire Department: Computer equipment totaling $6,242.62 and upgrades to the parking lot of the BLFD, to be completed by Astech Surface Technologies, for $20,165.  Both costs will be equally split between the city and township.  Also approved was the purchase of a Parking Meter System at Lakeside Park totaling $5,745.

Street Project Update

City Engineer, Layne Otteson updated council about ongoing projects.  Work at Highland Dr. and the Mitchell Ridge neighborhood began two weeks later than anticipated however, curbing has been replaced and road surfaces have been milled.  Paving is expected to begin during the week of Oct. 27.  Otteson noted that Co. Rd. 5 is a county project, but did estimate that the final layer of pavement would be completed in the next two weeks. 

Fire and Police Updates

Fire Chief Seth Hanson shared calls for service numbers through July.  There was a total of 315 calls, 212 were for the city, 70 for the township, 19 for Orrock, and 14 were mutual aid calls. 

Chief of Police John Kaczmarek also shared CFS numbers. Through Aug./Sept. Big Lake Police received 2330 calls.  Notable calls include 15 DWI, 59 welfare checks, 14 theft, and 3 calls for burglary. 

Call for Action

The final moments of Wednesday’s meeting became contentious. Halvorson called council to readdress the decision to not replace the equipment at Mitchell Farm Park at the next city council meeting.  

“If we’re supposed to represent taxpayers and the taxpayers have spoken, then I think if we don’t reevaluate our thoughts, we’re in the wrong,” Halvorson said.

Noding agreed with Halvorson and thought it would be a good idea to add an agenda item to the next city council meeting to discuss how the city could replace the equipment.  However, no formal proposal was voted on.