A light agenda Tuesday turned into a heavy night as the Becker City Council trudged through the OSA report presented to the city at the last council meeting. Mayor Lefty Kleis surprised council — as well as the sparse crowd — he wanted to read the OSA audit report on the golf course “word-by-word” since the local newspaper declined to write a story on it.

 

“This is huge,” said Kleis. “This is one of the most important reports to hit this town in the three-and-a-half years I’ve been mayor.”

 

Sherco notwithstanding, council members first resisted the concept of reviewing the 22-page report word-by-word, but after a couple bursts of arguments and questions, relented to the idea and gave way to the mayor’s proposal. When Tracy Bertram attempted to stave off the idea, Kleis abruptly asked her if she had something to hide?

 

Following an audible gasp from the audience, the mayor proceeded.

 

The expected 20-minute meeting turned into a three-and-a-half hour gathering.

 

At the last city council meeting June 7, Lisa Young, Randy Vogt and David Kennedy from the state auditor’s office presented their findings of an examination they did on Pebble Creek Golf Course. The “audit” was launched after the auditor’s office received a petition from 429 Becker residents who were interested in getting some answers to some questions they had in regards to how the golf course is being run.

 

(See a complete story on the subject in another area of this week’s Citizen-Tribune).

 

For approximately three hours, the mayor proceeded to read the entire report and asked council if they had any questions or concerns about the topics. Through a consensus, it was decided the council members would process their questions or issues in email format and send to Greg Pruszinske, who would review and forward on to either legal or staff who could answer the concerns.

 

As part of the same topic, the mayor asked council to consider dissolving the golf advisory board.

 

Mayor Kleis said, “they did their job” and suggested they break up the group.

 

Todd Hanrahan questioned whether the board had a five-year agreement to work on the panel even though they have given council their recommendations for getting the golf course to financial stability in that same number of years.

 

Bertram also suggested the topic go to the golf committee for their reviewal and to weigh-in on the subject.

 

After further discussion, it was unanimously voted on to table the subject to be discussed further at an executive session.

 

A public hearing was asked for in regards to two local businesses failing a recent alcohol compliance check through the BPD and the county.

 

Mayor Kleis closed the regular council meeting at 8:59 p.m., asked if anyone from the public wanted to comment and — seeing no one approach — closed the public hearing moments later.

 

Becker Police Chief Brent Baloun outlined the procedures for punishment for businesses failing compliance checks and asked council to approve the civil judgement of a fine of $750 be assessed to the two businesses — Nix Bar and Grill and Pizza Depot.

 

Shelly Mattson of Nix Bar and Grill was present — though she declined to comment during the hearing — while no one from Pizza Depot decided to appear before council.

 

Council approved the civil penalty per their city ordinance while Baloun mentioned Pizza Depot has decided to pull all alcohol from their shelves and not renew their liquor license moving forward.

 

The cashiers at both establishments who failed to check ID when the underage person made the request, have been charged criminally for selling alcohol to a minor and will have to appear in court at a later date.

 

Mayor Kleis read aloud an announcement proclaiming Pete Dane of Pebble Creek the safety award winner for the month of May.

 

Dane was being recognized for always wearing the proper personal protection equipment when operating machinery and for encouraging others to work safely.

 

 

Citizen Adam Maskowski spoke during open forum and asked if any of the questions, answers or comments from the OSA inquiry will be made public. He also added he hoped the city would apply accountability in all the situations recommended and discussed in regards to the report.

 

Citizen Lucky Balin asked council how long the city has been running the golf course. After receiving word that it has been 28 years, he reiterated Maskowski’s contention that someone has to be accountable for all the issues at Pebble Creek. Balin also commented he knew of two people in city hall chambers Tuesday who made a request to get a copy of the 429 individuals who signed the petition for the OSA “audit”.

 

“Two people here tonight asked for a copy of the petitioners list and they are Rick Hendrickson and Bill Morgan,” Balin said. “I was taken aback. Why does he (referring to Morgan) need a copy? He doesn’t even live in this community.”

 

Maskowski jumped out of his seat and stopped Balin, saying “he must be nervous because the two names were Bill Morgan and Troy Malo.”

 

Rep. Jim Newberger visited council Tuesday and gave a quick report on how the legislative session transpired.

 

Newberger discussed the new tax bill that he said would be the biggest tax relief package in decades that passed in a wide, bi-partisan vote only to be vetoed by the governor. Newberger says he’s still holding out hope it will get passed.

 

Newberger also talked about a transportation bill for roads and bridges that passed in the house but stalled and missed its deadline in the senate.

 

He is also hoping that bill gets reconsidered in a special session this summer.

 

Newberger stressed he is adamant in trying to get Xcel to build a gas-powered power plant in Becker rather than another location in the state. He also said he is working feverishly with Northern Metals to get their company to relocate to Becker — helping to offset some of the job losses expected to occur when Xcel Energy shuts down Sherco I and II in the next decade.

 

Newberger introduced Andrew Matthews, who is running in the upcoming election to take over Dave Brown’s senate seat following Brown’s decision to retire.

 

At 9:19, the Becker City Council called for adjournment.

 

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