Tuesday’s Becker City Council meeting began with an emotional thank you from Roger Bigalke for the city’s participation in a war memorial on city hall grounds. 

Bigalke spearheaded the project and has been instrumental in obtaining funding and contract work to have the memorial construction just outside the doors of city hall. 

The project is in its first few phases of clearing a spot, pouring cement and placing flag poles. Bigalke and his group of veterans are planning an inaugural flag-raising ceremony and unveiling in June, just prior to the commencement of   Saturday’s Freedom Days festivities in Becker.

Railroad Spur

Marie Pflipsen asked council for approval to accept a proposal to plat two parcels in the Becker Business Park for the benefit of a future railroad spur.

Pflipsen said the purpose of platting these parcels is to adjust the parcel boundaries and to establish an easement to reserve right-of-way for a future rail spur. This spur, she said, will benefit multiple parcels in the business park, giving way to future expansions.

The survey cost was estimated at $5,000. Pflipsen said other estimated costs were listed in the proposal as end process costs for the final plat, such as recording fees and final checks. Total cost for the survey is expected to be approximately $6,000 and will be done by Bogart, Pederson & Associates.

Comp Plan Update

Pflipsen asked council to approve the issuance of the Comprehensive Plan Update RFP.

She said the most recent comprehensive plan was adopted by the City of Becker Dec. 18 of 2012, nearly seven years ago. Pflipsen said since the city has evolved in recent years due to changing trends, demographics, transportation needs, increased residential housing, and commercial and industrial/ larger business interest — the age of the plan itself, the desire to make sure current and future vision, goals and policies of the city align with current and future trends and projections, and the need to make sure future land use and zoning typologies are accurate, an RFP has been drafted for release. 

“The resulting update of the plan will act as a guide for the City of Becker now, and in the future,” she said. 

Becker’s planning commission reviewed the draft Sept. 30 and no comments or revisions were requested by the commission and a consensus on forwarding the draft to city council was made. 

“The only updates made to the RFP since the planning commission meeting, are clarification on the selection process, clarification on the decision-making body for the process and some minor formatting revisions,” said Pflipsen.

Pflipsen said the plan has been budgeted for 2019 in the CIP, plus some grant funds have been received from the Initiative Foundation.

BCC Flooring

Josh Kuha asked council to approve and authorize staff to engage Cheney Carpet for the flooring project at the Becker Community Center.

As planned for 2019, Kuha said the BCC is looking to undertake carpet and tile replacement throughout the common spaces of the center. The current surfacing has surpassed its useful life and he and his staff are recommending the replacement to be conducted in November of this year. 

Kuha said staff received four quotes on the project and he recommended awarding the job to Cheney Carpets for $27,286.60. 

“This was the lowest bid, but also a company with a good work history and reputation for quality,” he said.

The other quotes came in from R&I LLC ($29,029.50), CFS Interior Flooring ($47,261) and HOM Commercial Flooring ($28,048.88).

Up Next

The next Becker City Council meeting is Nov. 5 at 6 p.m.