With the full council present on Tues., Jan. 21, Becky Olmscheid took the oath of office. Olmscheid was reelected to her council seat this year and was absent from the previous meeting of the city council.
Pebble Creek Improvements
Josh Kuha, Recreation and Leisure Assistant Director, spoke to the council about the Pebble Creek Path Improvement plan project. Work began last year to begin to update all path work which was originally constructed 35 years ago. The project should be completed in 2027 and has been budgeted at $100,000 per year for 2025-26 and $125,000 for 2027. Last year, 6,600 linear ft. were redone.
Kuha was asking the council to approve the plan as a whole and to execute the plans for 2025 that would redo 6,500 ft. Hanson Paving of Sauk Rapids was the only company to have placed a bid. Aurora Asphalt and Erickson Asphalt both declined. Council approved the motion.
Last year, Pebble Creek upgraded to Toro Lynx software that controls the irrigation system. The first year was free, so Kuha was seeking approval to renew the software for an additional five years at a total cost of $12,290.63. The software is app and GPS based, allowing the ability to identify and eliminate dry spots faster before they become a problem. The motion passed unanimously.
Earlier, Olmscheid, who sits on the Golf Committee, gave an update on what’s happening inside at Pebble Creek. Construction of a pull tab stand is going well. The Becker Lions will run it and it will launch in February. She also explained that, “The simulator play is doing great. It has 28 teams right now signed up.”
Snuffy’s Landing
Over the years, the city has partnered with the Becker Lions to make improvements to Snuffy’s Landing. Next on the list of improvements is a fishing pier. City staff applied for a DNR grant through their Get Out MORE (Modernize Outdoor Recreation Experiences) initiative and were approved. To continue the process, the council approved a cooperative agreement with the state. The grant funds will cover the proposed cost of the fishing pier estimated at $25,404.25.
To speed up the project, the city would contract directly with Hewitt Company and then seek reimbursement from the state through the agreement. That would allow the pier to be installed in time for the opening of the 2025 fishing season. Parking, signage, a sidewalk to the pier and handrail will come from funds dedicated to park improvements from the Becker Lions who have donated $86,500 to the city for capital improvements at Snuffy’s Landing.
Other Items
A motion was approved to accept the Business Incubator Market Analysis and Feasibility Study completed for the city after it was approved in April of 2024 and paid for through grant funding from the Just Transition Fund. An incubator would allow individuals or start-ups who don’t have the means or space to start a business by providing basic infrastructure such as conference rooms, warehousing, workspace, or manufacturing. No further motions were made to act on the study.
Within the consent agenda, the council accepted the results of the 2025 Pay Equity Report. Every three years, the report has to be submitted to Minnesota Management and Budget. Preliminary results suggest the city is in compliance with equitable pay between male and female classes at the city.
