All members of the Big Lake City Council were present on March 26, 2025 for the regularly scheduled meeting.
A resolution approving the Preliminary Plat and a Conditional Use Permit for the Planned Unit Development called “Prairie Meadows Fifth Addition” was unanimously passed. The proposed development, when completed, will be a 99-home subdivision situated north of Preusse Lake. Members of QV Big Lake, LLC, the applicant for the development, were on hand to answer any questions the council still had about the development plans.
Parks Update
As a sign that summer is just around the corner, Norm Michels, Streets, Parks, and Fleet Superintendent, updated the Council on Public Works happenings. Michels announced the final Winter Farmer’s Market at City Hall will be held on April 19 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. The first summer date will be Wed., June 4.
Moana 2 will be the first offering for Movies in the Park, which begins on Fri., May 23. All the spaces in the Community Garden have already been filled and the schedule for Music in the Park has been updated on the city’s website.
Pickleball nets are up, volleyball nets will be up soon, and new soccer nets have been ordered for Lake Mitchell Park. The boat dock at Lakeside Park will be installed the first week of April and the Community Gardens will be tilled at the end of April. Michels also shared some plowing stats from this past winter season - the city plowed eight times and sand and salted six.
Michels took a moment to celebrate Fleet Department Mechanic Matt Selo for his outstanding work. Selo was hired two months ago and according to Michels, “he is a great addition to the Fleet Department.” Michels also congratulated Joe Brenteson for 10 years of service and Brett Johnson and Brandon Greenwald for five.
Water/Wastewater
Water and Wastewater Superintendent Dan Childs reported that the Big Lake Wastewater Treatment Facility recently earned recognition from the MN Pollution Control Agency for operational excellence.
“To receive this recognition, facilities must demonstrate consistent compliance with monitoring, operations and maintenance requirements, submit accurate, on-time reports to the MPCA, and employ staff certified by the MPCA in wastewater operations,” said Childs,
Out of approximately 1,600 MN WWTF, 235 facilities qualified for the outstanding operations recognition. Childs thanked his staff.
“I would like to express my gratitude to Scott, Phil, Dana, Eric, Joe, and the rest of Public Works for all their hard work and commitment to the city of Big Lake.”
Childs also recognized Dana Mattson for five years of service with Big Lake Public Works.
Misc.
A public hearing was held for the liquor license application for Katherine S. Torres LLC which hopes to open Vitta’s Mexican Bar and Grill at the location formerly occupied by Damstrom’s Bar and Grill. Torres expects to open by April 18.
Within the Consent Agenda, a resolution was approved for a Lawful Gambling Premises Permit to the Becker/Big Lake Ice Association at The Third Rail Bar and Grill.
Lastly, Mayor Paul Knier took the final moments of the March 12, 2025 Big Lake City Council meeting to “set the record straight” on an article appearing in the March 22 edition of the Patriot entitled, “Halvorson calls for fiscal responsibility”. This reporter will simply state that the record presented in the article was factually and contextually correct.
