By Chad Koenen

Publisher

A now vacant lot in Ottertail could soon become a hub of activities for families throughout the Otter Tail County area.

During its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, Oct. 17, the Ottertail City Council discussed an expansive Ottertail Family and Recreation Center project. The facility could be located in the Arvilla development, just south of the demo derby area and former Smokin’ Iron track.

The mostly positive comments from the city council surrounding the facility came after the city hosted a work session just two days earlier that highlighted the overall project. The project, which will be run by a nonprofit organization, will include two separate daycare pods that will be connected by an indoor play area, community room, full size basketball court that could be used for pickleball and a walking track. 

The project will be funded through a variety of grants, donations and private contributions. 

Ottertail Mayor Ron Grobeck, who has been an advocate for the need of a larger community center in the past, said he was supportive of the plan that would allow the city to utilize the gym area for things like music in the park, OtterFest and even other community events where they may otherwise need to be canceled due to inclement weather. He said the space could even be utilized for things like Polka Days for the Ottertail Lions Club down the road. 

“I’m convinced this project will work. The (Ottertail) Lions had some issues (like) will it be big enough for Polka Days and all the concerns we have, have been answered that way,” said Grobeck. 

Grobeck said if the project comes to fruition it will fill a big need in the community as there is not a large community center space, or large daycare center, for the growing community.

“This fits our needs. We know if we need to move OtterFest over there this facility will meet our needs,” he said. 

Councilwoman Jill Carlson echoed Grobeck’s notion that the community center and daycare will fill a need in the community. 

“I am looking forward to it also,” she said. “It is very well needed.”

The nonprofit group has requested to have the facility located in the Arvilla development, but to date, no formal decision about selling the city-owned lots to the nonprofit organization has been approved by the city council. One of the biggest questions revolves around the septic system and whether the plan will ultimately get the blessing of the Minnesota DNR. Since the City of Ottertail does not have a sewer system and the facility will be located within the shoreland ordinance, special considerations are necessary for septic systems for a new structure. 

City councilwoman Jan Hill said if the nonprofit group can get the questions about the septic system answered the facility would be a big asset to the community. 

“Based on the meeting the other night, as long as any concerns regarding the septic system can be worked out with Chris Leclair and that can be worked out to the positive, I have no concerns about moving forward,” said Hill. “The daycare thing is very doable, very positive and it is on a positive track. The rec center thing there are a lot of unanswered questions that need to be worked out on your business plan, but that is for you to work out with your backers.”

While he said he was supportive of the project, councilman Michael Windey said he still had concerns with the recreation center part of the plan. He also questioned who would be responsible for the facility if it were to not work out down the road. 

While no formal vote was taken, the city council seemed to agree that the planning process for the new daycare and recreation center could move forward to address concerns that have been raised about the project as a whole. 

In order to continue moving forward with the project the city council approved setting a work session on November 13 at 5:30 p.m. to address some of the issues related to septic system. 

In other news

• Held a public hearing concerning proposed assessments on Wallenberg Drive. The assessment hearing came after the City of Ottertail paved the once Class 5 road with bituminous at the request of residents along the road. The final cost of the project was $155,669, of which 70 percent was assessable to property owners who benefit from the new road surface. The project breaks down to about $63.32 per linear foot and can be paid back over the course of the next 15 years at an interest rate of 3.714 percent. After hearing of two objections from property owners whose property abuts Wallenberg Drive, but do not have any access points off the road, the city council agreed to delay approving the assessments until more information can be gathered on the issue. 

• Held public hearings concerning two tax abatement hearings on Thumper Pond Road, as well as a variance hearing for creating a path to the lake and patio for a fire pit within the shoreland ordinance near Donald Lake. The tax abatements and variance were later approved in the meeting.

• Approved a variance request from Ottertail Bakery to add a 1,300 square foot driveway to the south of the building that would abut the building’s property line to the south. The driveway would provide a drive thru for the bakery, but will have a zero foot setback from the adjacent property. The plan was approved, but will need to have a storm water management plan, letter of agreement from neighboring properties acknowledging a potential increase in traffic, an approval from OTWMD confirming that the anticipated traffic flow will not compromise the SSTS and a minimal of 1,200 square feet of remaining lawn will be converted into a native grass pollinator plot. 

• Heard the Ottertail Fire Department remains busy as it responded to seven medical calls, two fire alarms and one mutual aid call with the Battle Lake Fire Department that was later canceled. The fire department also responded to a call at the laundromat. 

• Approved an extension to complete the Tyler Wohlers Trail project. The original substantial completion date was September 27, but the city council approved pushing back that date to November 1 due to unforeseen utility work that was being done in the footprint of the trail. Bob Schliemann, of Apex Engineering, said people are currently using the trail and fencing was expected to be added last week.

• Heard a preliminary engineering report for East Cozy Oak Drive that showed a variety of options for transforming the gravel road to a bituminous surface. The city could do everything from leaving the road as a gravel road to placing a layer of bituminous on the current driving surface to widening the road and straightening the intersection of East Cozy Oak Drive, West Avenue and Long Street intersection. The council said it will take the study under advisement. 

• Approved selling a lot in Arvilla Estates to the Habitat for Humanity for the future development of a home in Ottertail. The plan is to close on the property by the end of the year. 

• Heard a concern from a property owner along Lueders Road that stated the driving surface is in poor shape due to wash boarding. He asked the city to look into what could be done to improve the driving surface in the near future.