Steele County approves park-board structure, backs association-led pickleball project while debate continues on location

Steele County commissioners approved reorganization of the county’s park board and pledged county support for a proposed community-built pickleball and activities court — while several commissioners and community members expressed concerns about the court’s proposed location and longer-term park funding.

At the county’s Jan. 7 meeting commissioners voted to set the park board as a five-member body composed of three commissioners and two at-large members. Commissioners also nominated and approved park-board leadership: Matt Roller as chair and Ed Feigalstedt as vice president at the park-board organizational meeting that followed the commission session.

On the park facilities question — driven by a volunteer association that has proposed building and funding pickleball courts — commissioners voted to allow the association to build the courts on county-owned property. The motion approved county ownership of whatever parcel is selected; the association must fund construction, maintain the facility and sign a contract with the county setting those terms. Commissioners said the county will assist in locating a suitable parcel and will draft a contract that protects county interests.

Commissioners and community members discussed several practical concerns: parking, wind exposure at specific sites, long-term maintenance responsibility, and how the project might interact with existing lease lots and pavilion access. Some commissioners said the association’s members were generally in favor of the courts but that several residents objected to the currently proposed location near the east side of the store and campground. Commissioners asked the association to work with county staff to identify alternate options; the county will review several possible parcels and return with recommendations.

The park board also received updates on storm-shelter roof repairs and other facility maintenance: materials for shelter repairs have been ordered through a local supplier, and contractors are being sought to perform roofing and structure repairs when weather allows.

Motion and outcome: The commission approved a resolution to have a five-member park board (three commissioners and two at-large members), and separately approved a motion to allow the association to build pickleball courts on county-owned land provided the association funds and maintains the facility and signs a contract; both motions passed by voice vote.

Next steps: County staff will work with the association to identify candidate parcels and prepare a written agreement specifying construction, maintenance and liability terms for the county and the association.