[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6230701,"mediaKeyId","3442058-70f2255775bfa3f3dd41fc90f9f41a5e","parentId",3442058,"title","County board asks zoning staff to prioritize ordinance fixes; work session planned","audioSeconds",2810,"startMs",10043000,"endMs",12853000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442058-70f2255775bfa3f3dd41fc90f9f41a5e&start=10043&end=12853","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442058-70f2255775bfa3f3dd41fc90f9f41a5e/thumbnail_10043000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6230701/Becker-County/Minnesota/County-board-asks-zoning-staff-to-prioritize-ordinance-fixes-work-session-planned","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230701-53eaa97953a4ca108275289917f364e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111029&Signature=SCstHRnBTqudbtXg2ZxcWFfyHEWAh2gxJ7mJtExoKr2xDxNnFqtLKEdmYHPCKiXW9-0SA7i25WD2CJlqQvibOcN8t5qlnMeYh2nYTqNw-MVPCveyUs9xkzG-kshfAQa3rmvFxptV6eQwWE0256HNGLorjeOEKVKKRQc61JivYrwTcurOTkPXeSNWgEJveffWrsBwiEq9X-F17MwlXRk0XoJ3Nka-zz5H8dbfVbhhubfMcxLg6MQaSM5r0CgDvkkyFySkTVTzIh6~IqpVm-pTwwtAOmtaT4vJcWwQJa0esOtTHEBnbJFBf4Ec-a-imIIEKzqmc1xrBPEJmd8T5w69bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Becker County, MN","date","2025-05-22T08:22:21.217Z","article","Becker County commissioners directed county zoning staff to prepare a prioritized list of zoning-ordinance topics and to bring that list back for a board work session at an upcoming meeting.

The decision follows a lengthy exchange in which staff explained the county’s zoning ordinance history — the document currently contains many amendments and is difficult for staff and the public to interpret — and commissioners and public speakers asked how to handle topic areas such as shoreland lot-size classifications, subdivision rules, parking requirements, feedlot and shoreland enforcement, and new topics such as solar and wind siting.

Zoning staff told the board the county’s ordinance has been amended many times and that some sections conflict or are hard to apply; staff recommended staged, prioritized work. Commissioners asked staff to return with a high‑level “20,000‑foot” view of topics and a recommended order to address them. They agreed to schedule a board-level work session where staff will present that list; staff said topics that are already tied to the county’s recently completed comprehensive plan could move faster to planning commission and public hearings after board prioritization.

The board also discussed the role of the county’s Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee and decided that where amendments are significant the board should see — and potentially direct — the advisory committee’s scope before the committee begins detailed vetting. The board asked staff to prepare a short report of topics and a suggested timeline for presentation at the June meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 20, 2025 Becker County Board of Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","After months of a comprehensive-plan process and piecemeal ordinance amendments, Becker County commissioners asked zoning staff to prepare a prioritized list of ordinance topics (subdivision rules, shoreland lot-size standards, signs, mixed‑use districts and others) for a board-level work session and for committee review.","taxTitle","Becker County, Minnesota","taxId",56037,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6230706,"Commissioners approve off-sale liquor license for La Bella restaurant in Detroit Lakes",66,3289000,3355000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442058-70f2255775bfa3f3dd41fc90f9f41a5e&start=3289&end=3355","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442058-70f2255775bfa3f3dd41fc90f9f41a5e/thumbnail_3289000.jpg","/articles/6230706/Becker-County/Minnesota/Commissioners-approve-off-sale-liquor-license-for-La-Bella-restaurant-in-Detroit-Lakes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230706-a6e7b4482dc05716096f497686dcc4f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111029&Signature=gI3L35N9TN2~cOw0xPvcsUUmRD-ZlQRf9bdOcd6O5-rd99aL-eWw2IM9hTEesZaFlCw8HdMQWsPhrI2hSlJT1gFw0TzO4LRUIXU-va2-N2ZRXIbyQRwxIrKzPe0tque44iLV8DWehmkkTvz2TaoezAkpDWhZj8wpLQAKR46-scN0HuSAdMktTMpRCw7~hic3QHGQuGrWaRKBJrC0IaqWQI3wDiJhqnVmP0~4npTs2NAokdlMAg63JzhGYo1w4j8bHArQrCrtT~vqHZ7WZQ8~6EZ87OodjxL6WkQrdoHKNmywdNCeM9FlgepeJga0z3YBJqytSHElmkrGviArWfONvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Becker County commissioners approved an off-sale liquor license for La Bella Restaurant LLC, which will operate as Sost and Swannies, following a short public hearing at the May 20 meeting.

Applicant James C. Herman introduced himself to the board and described plans to bring “a little New York Italian flavor” to the restaurant while preserving a pub concept. County staff said notices were published and neighboring businesses within three miles were notified; no written comments of opposition or support were received.

After the brief public comment period the board closed the hearing and voted to grant the off-sale license by voice vote. County staff will complete licensing paperwork and notify state regulators as required.

“...we're gonna try to bring a little New York Italian flavor. Keep the pub concept, but with some Italian variations,” applicant James C. Herman told the board when asked about his plans.","The county board approved an off-sale liquor license for La Bella Restaurant LLC (doing business as Sost and Swannies), clearing the applicant to operate an off-sale retail liquor outlet after required public notices and lack of opposition.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6230711,"County reports early gains from six-month pretrial supervision pilot; jail-day savings estimated",303,5467000,5770000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442058-70f2255775bfa3f3dd41fc90f9f41a5e&start=5467&end=5770","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442058-70f2255775bfa3f3dd41fc90f9f41a5e/thumbnail_5467000.jpg","/articles/6230711/Becker-County/Minnesota/County-reports-early-gains-from-six-month-pretrial-supervision-pilot-jail-day-savings-estimated","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230711-22797710dbe89abfa8c2b7870b7e77b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111029&Signature=Jl~ILqvDxsTCQ4Y3pNsn~1dVsxC1QxHngy-ewB6YE4ta0sIE8OKk091XAnmKG2UPtLgsimuRNFjikQgseBks1NL7oHD4BtlP2Yo~cbDWFf9M4b5l1HEKBpRtUEsWYi8ZVVSo9rIFTLohhxjZ1ZGtiZYGRCigCLmdfAocNhAVMHC-g6nd4eS5wsytGLTQbhF1stkPipRWDcaeJ5D9K~WHHaXycho4f~UorQS9jSZozF~YdgLPyYFjAGQWtjzwFBccI5wLYqtoUrNUqL4v2qzVO5lm9cjx9yEsrg6ssK1WVWNUK1LXC2u48noXNGBWDIo9SDbG4GSNzxuPoqndo8D6~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Becker County probation staff presented a six-month status report on a pretrial supervision program the board authorized in November. Staff told commissioners the program served 25 individuals covering 32 cases over the first half-year and that most participants remain compliant.

According to the presentation, 20 clients were male and five female; 17 clients were from Becker County, seven were from outside the county and one was listed as homeless. Two clients completed their supervision during the six-month period and 22 were continuing successfully; staff reported one unsuccessful termination (absconded or violated conditions). Risk screening results showed four people assessed as high risk, eight as medium and 13 as low. The MINPAT screening instrument was used for 16 eligible clients, and staff used additional assessment where eligibility rules previously excluded a client.

Probation staff reported 2,015 combined days of community supervision across the cohort and used a $60 per-diem benchmark to estimate a potential jail-cost avoidance of roughly $120,000 compared with holding those individuals in custody. The presenters emphasized that the notional savings are an estimate because the county still operates the jail and associated fixed costs; the program’s value, they said, is compliance monitoring, reduced unnecessary jail time and earlier access to treatment services.

Program staff said they will provide another report at 12 months and a multi-year analysis later to show recidivism, failure-to-appear rates and net fiscal impact.

“Right now we’re at the six-month review. We’re going to do another one in a year and then another in two years, which will give you a compiled data set of how pretrial has been going and the continued efforts that are being put behind it,” the probation presenter said.","A six-month county report on a new pretrial supervision program showed 25 people served (32 cases), mostly low-risk placements, with preliminary data suggesting reduced jail days and a notional cost savings to the county.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6230715,"County agrees to pay up to $30,000 to clear Dutton Locks storage building for public parking",2658,2788000,5446000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442058-70f2255775bfa3f3dd41fc90f9f41a5e&start=2788&end=5446","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442058-70f2255775bfa3f3dd41fc90f9f41a5e/thumbnail_2788000.jpg","/articles/6230715/Becker-County/Minnesota/County-agrees-to-pay-up-to-30000-to-clear-Dutton-Locks-storage-building-for-public-parking","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230715-ac97cd72d385f3dde3e34922d6618bec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111029&Signature=WPwYPx-XOjatb8jEFs81oCSIUlv-KGee5cEz4yWTZ8JL3nNgHgarzAGPH3UncgXujSCVuyjtJaYqxE9Aq3vURxrTV9G19fniy3DjPC4okgKVST-O8c~Abr6vOzka4Qp6l209-sf1kUJGiYgh79rCu8l4SXEo6C8cgg3-aMHECjJAYsmyHnYaFbJjFqgw5Ac~faACY10ZlChhJp0NKNeWwW1cDxubXgsQasJ3q~2IicZ3QryfhL74dlm3001MD7ik4dRlPvxT3Lkj3GS9ApzwNdQulETMFXwBQX9Deu8s7NkJEFZ3NAgaYmVOq2ez64yaa60nQOg3us2nJYWuxidhtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Becker County commissioners voted May 20 to offer up to $30,000 to the Pelican River Watershed District to secure abandonment of rights to a storage building at the Dutton Locks parcel, clearing the way for additional public parking and site improvements.

The county administrator summarized the structure’s history, noting the building was erected in 1987 after the county acquired the 56-acre Dutton Locks site in 1976 with federal and state grant support. The structure is an unheated storage building; county staff and commissioners said it is aged, not secure from rodents and unsuitable for long-term indoor storage without improvements. County staff estimated demolition or rehabilitation costs would be additional to any purchase amount.

Board members said the location is strategically useful for parking near lakeshore amenities and argued that reaching an agreement to have the watershed vacate the building would be less costly than repeated ad hoc access fixes. After discussion the board approved the $30,000 offer, with the condition that the watershed formally accept or deny the offer by July 1 and, if accepted, vacate the facility within 60 days of acceptance.

County staff said funding would be drawn from available county legacy/park-related balances and that further costs (site clearing, access improvements) would be budgeted after the watershed’s response. The board directed administration and legal staff to finalize a written agreement spelling out abandonment of claims and timelines and to return with implementation steps and cost estimates for parking improvements.","Becker County commissioners approved a one-time payment of up to $30,000 to the Pelican River Watershed District to relinquish claims to a 1987 storage building at the Dutton Locks site, a decision tied to short-term parking needs and longer-term site planning.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6230720,"County reappoints two Pelican River Watershed managers after months of contentious rule revisions",1091,1286000,2377000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442058-70f2255775bfa3f3dd41fc90f9f41a5e&start=1286&end=2377","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442058-70f2255775bfa3f3dd41fc90f9f41a5e/thumbnail_1286000.jpg","/articles/6230720/Becker-County/Minnesota/County-reappoints-two-Pelican-River-Watershed-managers-after-months-of-contentious-rule-revisions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230720-fa1d1d8e70de96a17cd79d48a413e1a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111029&Signature=ittYo8kD3BM014cCTADalJyqMV7maQ2hA3F0eGPNrdggKaCBnkftik-Wm-ipIx0m2jbYhfEIYWcgG5HG-8YmM6Vnfo1XrGkh4tZejww-5-xoGTvxV-yESI9GaYWeqVpThFg3BB9fII-ExTA-hGqVf-h-KGo-pgwCPq3TUtV7NTjXSVfbGmL7CaOAL0m9M7VGMtpHbhKAJalJhENJoAfPifdUnikjWw1FBhCB6YI7E~B1~pv7leCJozeuL8hmcx4m1DkjWEzqyYDkFCywLhb4ZR3OSh48p5HexJ2-QWqVbz7U6uFjEBfU~15sNxC7QoTEOxU8E3Z7cKCb7T0hkGlXuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Becker County commissioners reappointed two managers to the Pelican River Watershed District on a pair of motions that passed during the board’s May 20 meeting.

The appointments followed more than an hour of public comment from residents, current and former watershed board members and project contractors who gave conflicting assessments of recent rule revisions and the watershed’s pace on major projects.

Supporters of reappointing Scott Busker and Dennis Kroll said the board needs experienced members to move long-stalled projects such as Campbell Creek and the Rice Lake project. “I would respectfully ask for your consideration for my reappointment as a manager on the Board of Managers for the Pelican River Watershed,” said Scott Busker as he described recent field visits and ongoing projects. Manager Rick Michaelson, who called for continuity, said the watershed had been through extensive discussion during the rules update and that debate did not equate to dysfunction: “When you discuss and and ask questions and represent your opinions, that doesn't mean it's a fight,” he told commissioners.

Opponents and some former managers said the rules process left unresolved concerns. John Olkerson, who has served 14 years in area watershed roles, told commissioners he was troubled that a portion of a year-long rules revision was ultimately voted down and described it as a costly outcome: “They wasted a hundred thousand dollars, roughly, of taxpayer money,” he said. Other speakers, including contractor Scott Walls, argued the watershed should prioritize large upstream projects that reduce contaminants over strict shoreline vegetation enforcement.

Commissioners heard repeated appeals that new members might help break long delays on construction-phase projects: Busker and others described visiting Bridal Lake, Campbell Creek, Sinclair Lake and other sites where they said engineering work and grant funding are in place. Dennis Kroll, a long-time manager who asked for reappointment, said he had worked on the Rice Lake project and the flowering-rush response and said he would provide continuity if reappointed.

After public comment and internal discussion, the board voted to reappoint Scott Busker and Dennis Kroll to the Pelican River Watershed District Board of Managers. Commissioners and watershed speakers emphasized that future progress will depend on both clear rules and cooperation with state agencies and landowners.

The watershed’s rules revision, personnel changes (new attorney and engineering firm) and a long list of projects — including Campbell Creek, Rice Lake and Bridal Lake — were identified repeatedly in public testimony as the core matters that motivated both support and criticism of the current board.","Becker County commissioners reappointed two members to the Pelican River Watershed District Board of Managers after public testimony highlighted deep divisions over recent rule revisions and long-delayed water-quality projects.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County board asks zoning staff to prioritize ordinance fixes; work session planned

Commissioners approve off-sale liquor license for La Bella restaurant in Detroit Lakes

County reports early gains from six-month pretrial supervision pilot; jail-day savings estimated

County agrees to pay up to $30,000 to clear Dutton Locks storage building for public parking

County reappoints two Pelican River Watershed managers after months of contentious rule revisions