City Administrator Greg Pruszinske presented a certificate of commendation from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for outstanding operation, maintenance and management og the WWTF for the year 2013.

 

Becker has received four of these types of awards since 2007 and a total of 12 since 1977. The six city employees honored that were part of the presentation Tuesday were Supervisor Dave Pesola, Mark Griffin, Gerald Lanz, Mike Barringer, Robert Rierson and Jeremy Halvorson.

 

The award recognizes that the WWTF was overseen by a properly certified operator, the facility did not exceed the effluent limits contained on the discharge permit, all required monthly and annual reports were timely and complete and the facility did not experience any bypasses, enforcement actions or inspections identifying significant compliance concerns.

 

“It’s great to be able to recognize this outstanding achievement with our city’s employees,” said Pruszinske. “It proves our team is operating the system above and beyond their duties.”

 

 

In 1983, the City of Becker entered into a contract for private development and sold property to Keith and Evangeline Olson for construction of a hardware store on property in the Oak View Estates subdivision along Bank Street. This building (recently vacated by Element Arms) is now posted to have Snap Fitness run their business there.

 

The Olsons are now trying to sell the property to Clint Herbst, who has had it on a contract for deed for many years. In conducting the preparation for closing, the city was notified the title insurance company requires the city to issue a certificate of completion and release of forfeiture of the private development contact and quit claim deed issued back in 1983.

 

Kelli (Neu) Bourgeois said she reviewed the issue with the city’s attorney and it was felt it was in the city’s best interest to provide for the release being requested by the title company.

 

Bourgeois said since she is continuing to work with the attorney on the exact language of the release, the actual document verbiage will likely be different from the final.

 

 

Bourgeois asked council to call for a public hearing to be held June 3 for the possible buyer of property owned by Sherburne County.

 

Bourgeois said the property located in Evergreen Park formerly housed the old history center building. Since the county has a possible buyer of the property, the public hearing will be held to authorize Sherburne County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (SCHRA) to operate within the City of Becker and review the project plan, redevelopment plan, gain comments from the community, consider city planning commission comments and forward these comments to the SCHRA.

 

 

• The scheduled golf task force meeting for Tuesday night was cancelled because of staff availability and it results in all future golf task force meetings to be pushed back on the schedule;

 

• People are encouraged to attend the next Meet with the Mayor event at Jimmy’s Pizza May 12 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.;

 

• Two BPD officers were recognized for their years of service including John Batterberry (two years) and Tim Martin (15 years);

 

• BPD officer Deb Hanssen terminated her employment with the police department;

 

• The BCC hired Jessica Hill as a part-time fitness instructor;

 

• The golf course hired back three returning seasonal grounds staff and hired four others for the same positions. They also have terminated employment with Anton Nitsch, a PT seasonal employee.

 

The next Becker City Council meeting is May 20 at 5 p.m.