The Becker City Council met Tuesday to discuss committee reports and a transportation study, while hearing a presentation from Attorney Kathleen Heaney, who gave her annual report on county legal business.

 

Attorney Heaney noted the rise in case files from 2015 to 2016 including felony cases (529 in 2016 compared to 478 in 2015), gross misdemeanors (254 last year and 196 in 2015), misdemeanors (1,734 in 2016, 1,503 in 2015) and adult probation violations (584 in 2016, 549 in 2015).

 

She also noted the number of CHIPS cases (Child in Need of Protection or Services) opened since 2012 has risen each year from 22 in 2012 to 89 last year. So far, seven CHIPS cases have been opened in 2017.

 

She also noted the figures she reported on CHIPS do not include runaways or truancies.

 

Eleven domestic lethality reports came into her office from Becker in 2016; thirty-six felony cases and 29 gross misdemeanors. Heaney indicated that meth and prescription drugs continue to be the drugs of choice for most drug users in the county.

 

Transportation Report

As council continues to discuss economic development and how best to position the city to diversify their tax base, they have talked extensively in committees and meetings about their transportation needs for future generations. 

 

In that context, the city has discussed a frontage road through their industrial park, realigning Co. Rd. 8 to improve safety and access, and extending Becker’s commercial district along Hwy. 25. 

 

“We want to be able to move traffic in-and-out of the industrial park better,” said City Administrator Greg Pruszinske. “It will also make better use of the rail system and its access points.”

 

The frontage road proposal is a road that runs along Hwy. 10 (where possible) next to the railroad tracks from east of Liberty Lane to the Co. Rd. 8 crossing and back through the IP.

 

The first step in the process is to conduct a feasibility study that will be launched in the upcoming weeks.

 

In order for Becker to be prepared for the possible changes in land usage and redevelopment of property near the Xcel Energy’s Sherco power plant, the study they propose will review rail and vehicle transportation options.

 

Pruszinske said the city will use SEH for the study. Their services will include meeting with the city to kick off the study and review preliminary routing options, prepare options for road connections in the study area, prepare options for rail connections in the study area, meet with Xcel Energy, the county and city to review transportation and rail options, finalize the preferred option for providing transportation service the development area, prepare opinion of cost for the preferred option, review the draft report with city staff and present report findings at a future Becker City Council meeting. 

 

Pruszinske says the public works committee has reviewed the study and supports moving it forward. The cost for the feasibility study will be approximately $25,000, including mileage and reproduction costs.

 

Randy Sabart of SEH says his group will start services promptly after receipt of the city’s authorization and he estimates their services will be complete in eight weeks.

 

As council reviewed the consent agenda, Member Lori Keller asked if one of the items — Pebble Creek Asset Disposal — could be tabled for further discussion. Keller said she had questions and issues with the designation of certain equipment and the costs involved. Keller and council agreed to bring the subject back to council at a later date after the golf committee hears from Keller at their March meeting.

 

In other action with the consent agenda, council agreed to:

• A temporary liquor license granted to the Becker Lions Club for their March 24 fish fry at the BCC;

 

• The hiring of Holli Pierce  as a fitness instructor at the BCC and Sophie McCann as a maintenance worker at public works.

 

Mayor Tracy Bertram announced the Safety Award winner for the month of January.

 

Jessi Robertson from the BCC was the recipient and she won the award for being part of the Adventure Zoner  for the past 1-1/2 years.

 

Mayor Bertram said the Adventure Zone program has been rapidly growing over the years with 60+ kids during the school year and 100+ kids during the summer. Safety is their number one priority and while the AZ staff do a great job with safety, Robertson has shown outstanding safety leadership.

 

As described in the outline from BCC staff read by Mayor Bertram, Robertson is known to continually remind staff to have an accurate count of children on a regular basis and ensure that lifejackets are worn on specific kids. She is quick to know when daily medications need to be administered and is comfortable and knowledgeable of children that may require an Epi Pens or inhalers. She always asks questions if something doesn't seem right or if she is unsure of how to handle a situation.

 

Council members associated with various committees gave updated reports to the audience and city staff in regards to public works, EDA, fire joint powers board and Freedom Days.

 

The next Becker City Council meeting is March 7 at 6 p.m.