Ottertail contemplates new community center

Published Tuesday, January 22, 2008

The city of Ottertail — seeking public input — is considering the expansion of its current fire hall/community center or possibly constructing a new building. One public meeting already was held and city officials also sent out a mailing to Ottertail's snowbirds, who are south for the winter months, asking for their opinions.

“The City Council has made absolutely no decisions,” City Clerk Linda Bjelland said Monday. “A final decision is way into the future. The committee which was previously formed plans on visiting some area facilities.”

Ottertail Mayor Ray Mounts said many residents feel expansion of the community room is warranted.

“The (community) room gets really crowed when we have an event such as a Lions Club pancake breakfast,” he said. “Oftentimes we need to open up the adjoining fire hall, and we need to move the fire trucks out of the building. There’s a need, also, for a full kitchen. The Lions Club has its own grills but other groups say they need better and larger kitchen facilities.”

Mounts said another public meeting could possibly be held this year, for city taxpayers. If it were held, he wants the open meeting to be scheduled when all snowbirds are back from down south.

The first citywide meeting held earlier this month drew a roomful of community members. Many were eager to share their opinions about whether to add onto the current structure, build new, or keep the status quo.

Councilman Terry Wagenman led the evening's open forum. As mayor, Mounts said he wants to stay neutral on the subject.

A lengthy discussion ensued during this month’s public meeting concerning what — in the event a new facility were built — Ottertail residents would like to see included in a new and larger structure, aside from a larger community room and a full kitchen.

The current facility, in addition to the fire hall and community room, also includes a firemen’s training room and city clerk office.