Park is being planned on Fish Lake, Pelican River

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

Otter Tail County is preparing a master plan for the new Echo Bay Regional Park, reviewed to county board members on March 26 by County Parks and Trails Director Kevin Fellbaum.

This effort is a collaboration between Otter Tail County and a private landowner to develop 165 acres on Fish Lake and the Pelican River, northeast of Pelican Rapids, into a new county park for residents and visitors to enjoy. 

“The Echo Bay Master Plan will identify amenities and activities to be explored for the new park,” Fellbaum said. “Our county will determine, with citizen input, what amenities and activities should be considered within the master plan.”

The property owner granted the Minnesota Land Trust a conservation easement to protect the property’s natural features. They include habitat for fish, wildlife and plants.

“We want to preserve the area’s open and natural character,” Fellbaum said. “Park plans are being developed to be in harmony with the conservation easement and the property owner’s vision for the property.”

Landfill expansion for ash approved

Ash from the county refuse burner in Perham is taken to the Northeast Otter Tail County facility near New York Mills. This landfill receives combustor ash from the Prairie Lakes Municipal Solid Waste Authority (PLMSWA) which operates the waste-to-energy facility in Perham.

The county’s landfill consultant, Foth, submitted a proposal to design an expansion to the ash monofil and prepare a permit application to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). To that end, county commissioners on March 26 approved an amendment to the existing services agreement with Foth for $34,000 for design and permit application for expansion of the ash monofil.

PLMSWA had previously been pursuing an ash reutilization program for future use of generated ash. Even though the new program was not fully established, PLMSWA asked county commissioners to pursue additional ash disposal capacity.

Speaking to county board members on this issue were Otter Tail County Solid Waste Director Chris McConn and Transfer Station/Landfill Supervisor Jeff Haugen.

“Approving the amendment to the services agreement was the right decision, since we need to stay ahead of the game,” said Commissioner Lee Rogness of Fergus Falls. “This action by the county board will, when needed, move along expansion of the ash monofil in a more timely manner.”