DOUG HAYES, recognized as city volunteer of the month.
The long-awaited Eagle Lake Road reconstruction project will begin Monday.
City Engineer Blayne Otteson spoke with the Big Lake City Council last week, informing them an information meeting on the project held Monday went well, with about 15 residents attending to ask questions.
It will be a disruptive two-plus months for Eagle Lake Road residents, as the construction project will block off traffic at Hwy. 10 northward to Eagle Lake Road. Through traffic will be detoured via Glenwood Avenue east to Co. Rd. 43, then back to Hwy. 10, and reverse.
The project consists of a complete overhaul of the street from Plymouth Avenue north to Glenwood, with with single lanes each way and a center turn lane, sidewalks on both sides of the street and a trtail northward from Glenwood north to Hiawatha Avenue, where it will cross Eagle Lake Road to the west.
From that point, it will run northward to Lions Park.
Included in the project will be at least two pedestrian-activated street crossings, at Minnesota and Hiawatha avenues.
The project, financed with federal, state and local funds, is expected to be done in time for Spud Fest in late June.
“We had a range of comments (at the public meeting),” Otteson said. “From specific areas to the trails, etc.”
He noted one resident after attending the meeting went to social media and remarked it looked like a good project.
(City funds will go primarily to finance the trail system at the north; they coming from proceeds of Lake Liquors.)
(A final crossing, set for Glenwood Avenue, is to be constructed as part of the Safe Routes to School program in a couple of years. Other safety measures included in that approximate $130,000 project will include sidewalks on Minnesota and Phyllis Street and a center median on Minnesota.)
Volunteer of the Month
The council continued its program of recognizing a city volunteer - and Wednesday it was Doug Hayes, a longtime member of city and community organizations.
Hayes, lifetime Big Laker, has served on the city planning commission and chairs the city-township economic development commission. He is also active in the Legacy Foundation, which brings Music to the Park in the summer and The Blenders to their annual holiday concert at BLHS.
Council Business
The council approved a request by Big Lake Schools to construct a gravel road leading to their five new ball fields on the southwest corner of the Liberty School property, set for construction this summer.
The 530-foot stretch of roadway lies in the city, but should pose no issues with dust or other concerns, the council agreed.
Mayor Raeanne Danielowski voiced her issue with the linkup of that road with the east Liberty parking lot, saying it could cause a lot of gridlock with school traffic.
The council agreed to allow Mortenson Construction, contractor for the Hwy 25 solar garden, to place a three-foot barbed wire fence around the garden. Other cities have done such construction, City Planner Michael Healy reported.
The council tabled a request by Bullseye Properties, new owner of the Larson building, 35 Lake Street South, to place a 30x2-foot sign on the north wall of their building, pending more review.
Bullseye is converting the property to a communications center for their business, moved from Monticello.
Hockey Facilities
Bruce Pfeffer, 26-year Big Laker and St. Paul transplant, is an avid hockey fan, and stepped forward during open forum to plead the case for Big Lake and Becker officials to construct an ice arena.
He said the traveling to “home” games in Princeton was putting a serious damper on the program, for players and fans alike.
This year, a Squirts team of local players journeyed to Roseau (the home of state hockey) and won a tournament up there, he said. But the program gets no traction because of lack of local facilities.
He noted all local communities - Elk River, Rogers, Monticello, Princeton - have their facilities. It is about time the local communities get one, too.
Construction Busy
Community Develop-ment Director Hanna Klimmek reported the city has issued seven single family residential permits and is awaiting development of the 144-lot Sanford Select Acres project on the south end of the city. As many as 70 homes in that plat could be developed in the near future.
Northern Star Apartments - 38 units, second phase - is expected ready for occupancy this fall.
LISI Medical-Remmele and Casey’s General Store (corner of Co. Rd. 43 and Hwy. 10) are due to start expansions or new properties. The Skjei dental project is well underway east of KleinBank.
To date this year, the valuation of new permitted projects is $1.187 million, with $80,553 in permit fees to the city.
Finally, City Finance Mgr. Deb Wegeleben was recognized for her efficient work in the just-completed city audit. She was recognized by Councilman Mike Wallen at the meeting.