By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

A motion by County Commissioner Dan Bucholz of Perham and seconded by Commissioner Sean Sullivan of Fergus Falls was unanimously carried on April 14 to approve a Conditional Use Permit. This was recommended by the Planning Commission for the Otter Tail County Parks and Trails Department to proceed with Phase 2 of the Phelps Mill Master Plan.

The plan consists of the construction of three concrete fishing stations, rip rap replacement and restoration on the downstream side of the mill, an access trail and sidewalk, construction of an amphitheater area and canopy, construction of a new playground area and replacement of the old playground area.

“We will also have rebuilding and reorientation of the parking lot,” said County Parks and Trails Director Kevin Faellbaum.

Fellbaum said there will be a pre-construction meeting involving the engineer, county land and resource management staff and the contractor. “We will also have a post-construction meeting at the time of inspection,” Fellbaum added.

County CDA to purchase

tax-forfeited property

County commissioners, on April 14, approved a request from Community Development Director Amy Baldwin for the purchase of tax forfeited property on South Vine Street in Fergus Falls as a potential rehabilitation project to create an affordable homeownership opportunity.

Minnesota state statutes provides that tax-forfeited land may be sold by county boards in Minnesota’s 87 counties for less than market value as determined by the county boards. This authorizes governmental subdivisions of the state to correct blight or implement affordable housing.

A motion by County Commissioner Sean Sullivan of Fergus Falls and seconded by Commissioner Wayne Johnson of Pelican Rapids was unanimously carried to authorize the conveyance of the property located at South Vine Street, Fergus Falls, to the Otter Tail County CDA for the minimum bid amount of $4,372.

County equipment

purchases approved

The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners, on April 14, approved the following equipment purchases deemed necessary for the betterment of Otter Tail County and its residents:

• Authorizing the County Solid Waste Department to purchase, for the Recycling Center, a new 2026 CAT Skid Steer from Ziegler in the quoted amount of $67,904 as presented by Recycling Manager Brooks Andersen.

• Authorizing the County Solid Waste Department to purchase, for the Recycling Center, a new Toyota Forklift from FM Forklift in the quoted amount of $53,940 as presented by Recycling Manager Andersen.

• Authorizing the County Solid Waste Department to purchase 180 film plastic collection carts from Revolution Sustainable Solutions (RSS), at $300 per cart, for a total amount of $54,000, as presented by Recycling Manager Andersen.