The Fergus Falls City Council met on May 16 and started the process of determining what the next steps will be after council members learned that due to rising project and material costs, the original plans for Phase II of the Downtown Riverfront Project would have to be scrapped because of …
In a stunning development at the May 11 regular session of the Fergus Falls City Council, it was learned that due to rising project and material costs, Phase II of the Downtown Riverfront Project could look much different going forward because of a projected $3 million gap in funding.
During a regular session of the Fergus Falls City Council on May 2, council members were given a presentation from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) regarding a planned massive overhaul and reconstruction of Highway 210 near Interstate 94.
Lake Alice may become a lot cleaner if a newly formed technology company can convince the state legislature to fund an amendment for a device that will improve water quality.
The Fergus Falls City Council, on Mar. 13, at the Committee of the Whole meeting discussed changing city code and making operators seek a conditional use permit for any future halfway houses or other facilities that would house five or more unrelated individuals that were receiving services.
In a surprise development, Fergus Falls Public Schools have backed out of a proposed plan that would have seen the main tower of the Kirkbride, or Building 1, being retrofitted to house elementary school grades for the district.
It is an event that only comes once. The 150th commemorative Fergus Falls City Council meeting took place on Mar. 30, at 5 p.m. at City Hall’s Council Chambers.
The Downtown Riverfront project is massive in scale, and the first in decades to specifically transform the downtown area. Phase 1 is currently being constructed, which includes a new market structure with storage and restroom facilities, and Phase 2 is being planned.
In a regular session of the Fergus Falls City Council held on Monday, Mar. 21, the topic of most concern to city residents was a planned pedestrian bridge to be built as part of Phase 2 of the Downtown Riverfront Project.
In an interesting twist, Fergus Falls School District 544 may be interested in occupying part of the Kirkbride, part of the former Regional Treatment Center (RTC), but only if it is financially feasible.
In a regular session of the Fergus Falls City Council on Monday, two consent agenda items were approved relating to the Westridge Mall property on the west side of the city.
A tribute to a local doctor that was beloved by many families in the community, NP Park at 520 South Cascade Street will be renamed Dr. Allen Magnuson Park in memory of Dr. Allen E. Magnuson, a local pediatrician who served Fergus Falls and surrounding communities as a beloved pediatrician w…
A big item on the agenda for the Fergus Falls City Council at Monday’s meeting revolved around a long-proposed idea for an aquatic center to be built in the city.
At Tuesday’s regular Fergus Falls City Council session, a professional services agreement with Stantec Engineering Services was discussed regarding the planned Phase III work being proposed at the former Kirkbride designed Regional Treatment Center (RTC), and what the scope of that work woul…
Fergus Falls has not yet received any of the American Rescue Plan COVID relief funds that were signed into law by President Joe Biden earlier this year.Â
After much debate and two votes against the Fergus Falls City Council has approved the contract for a management and fixed base operator (FBO) contract for the new airport manager position at the Fergus Falls Municipal airport. Despite two council members voicing their dissent to the contrac…
The final cost hearing was held Monday at the regular session of the Fergus Falls City Council for a combined street and utility improvement project to take place this year. The project encompasses Bancroft Avenue, from Cascade to Whitford streets, and Whitford Street from Alcott to Channing…
Even though work is already in progress with Phase 1 of the Downtown Riverfront Project, Phase 2 is on the horizon and the city of Fergus Falls and the City Council are making sure the needed funding will be available to complete the first update to the downtown corridor since 1989.Â
NP Park in Fergus Falls may soon see a bunch of new playground equipment thanks to the Noon Kiwanis club. A thorough and detailed presentation was given by Sarah Duffy and Tami Vigessa giving the Fergus Falls City Council an update of where they are at in the fundraising and planning process.
A major milestone to bring the Downtown Riverfront Improvement Project to reality was reached on Wednesday with an official groundbreaking event that took place in the parking lot behind the Viking Cafe in downtown Fergus Falls. The event marks the beginning of phase one of the project.
A resolution approving a land sale to a city resident brought forth much discussion with Fergus Falls City Council members at Monday night’s regular session, as well as nearby concerned neighbors who would like to see it remain a residential property.
Fergus Falls will be celebrating its sesquicentennial, with newly designed street banners for the 150th anniversary in 2022.
A presentation from city of Fergus Falls engineer, Brian Yavarow, highlighted the process of street maintenance and street conditions in a pavement management overview at Wednesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.Â
Comstock Construction Inc., of Fergus Falls was announced Monday at the Fergus Falls City Council meeting as the winning bidder to become the general contractor for the long planned and anticipated downtown riverfront balcony enhancement and stabilization project. The project is massive in s…
The first dog park to ever be built in the city limits of Fergus Falls is one step closer to reality after a presentation from Fergus Falls Public Works Director Len Taylor at Wednesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.Â
Another facet of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting normal life and business as usual, is the lack of applicants for summer jobs this year with the city of Fergus Falls.Â
Fergus Falls has been named a 2020 Tree City USA, by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The designation was given in honor of the commitment the city has made to make trees a priority.
In Monday night’s Fergus Falls City Council meeting, the council authorized a few consent agenda items with a roll call vote. Among them was the transfer of Fergus Falls Municipal Airport entitlement funds to the Red Wing Regional Airport.
Monday night’s regular session of the Fergus Falls City Council saw two resolutions designating the Victor Lundeen building and the Northern Pacific Depot in downtown Fergus Falls as local historic landmarks. Both resolutions passed with a unanimous roll call vote of all council members.
The Fergus Falls City Council Committee of the Whole meeting on Wednesday brought discussion about two larger items to the forefront.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar stopped in Fergus Falls Thursday as she traveled north to visit with former U.S. Congressman Collin Peterson.
At its March 25 agenda meeting in St. Paul, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved construction of the Hoot Lake Solar Project, a 49.9-megawatt renewable energy initiative brought forward by Otter Tail Power Company (OTP).
A resolution authorizing the purchase of a $138,265 mobile performance stage from Stageline was passed Monday by the Fergus Falls City Council.
The Fergus Falls Committee of the Whole looked at the Heritage Preservation Commission’s 2021 goals Wednesday before handling a large agenda of recommendations from staff for Monday’s City Council meeting.
In his seventh year as Pelican Rapids mayor, Brent E. Frazier enjoys advocating for his community by extending friendly sentiment both in his role as mayor and in his personal life. Â
Heather Kantrud
reporter
A prayer offered before the Fergus Falls City Council meeting Monday evening by Hindu statesman Rajan Zed drew approximately 25 people to City Hall with signs and prayers.
Kevin Ballard, resident and city council member in Pelican Rapids, is proud to serve the community he grew up in. The father of four is an empty-nester who enjoys staying busy with his various hobbies.Â
A construction start date for Hoot Lake Solar has not been determined according to Stephanie Hoff, director of Otter Tail Power public relations.Â
The Fergus Falls City Council kept the Hoot Lake Solar Farm project on track Monday night with the unanimous approval of Ordinance 11.
The Fergus Falls City Council kept the wheels turning Monday on the Hoot Lake Solar Farm and pulled the trigger on the first phase of the Downtown Riverfront project.
Fergus Falls Public Works Director Len Taylor and Otter Tail County’s Cedar Walters tantalized the Fergus Falls Committee of the Whole Wednesday morning with the prospect of participating in an organic waste pilot program.
The Fergus Falls City Council’s well-intentioned extension of two weeks for the Airport Advisory Committee (AAC) to make a recommendation contrary to the one they unanimously approved Jan. 25 led to some drama Tuesday night at City Hall.
The Fergus Falls City Council’s well-intentioned extension of two weeks for the Airport Advisory Committee to make a recommendation contrary to the one they unanimously approved Jan. 25 led to some drama Tuesday night at City Hall.
The Fergus Falls City Council will be entertaining a recommendation Tuesday from the Airport Advisory Committee on the hiring of a new airport manager.
Winter - Is it the season Minnesotans hate or the problems that come with it?
In January 2021, the League of American Bicyclists recognized the city of Fergus Falls with a bronze level Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) award, earning it a place alongside over 1,400 businesses across the country contributing to the movement to build a more Bicycle Friendly America.Â
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA), an organization whose focus is to advance excellence in public finance, has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the city of Fergus Falls for its comprehensive annua…
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who delivered the first Hindu prayer to open the United States Senate, is slated to deliver the invocation at the Fergus Falls City Council meeting March 15. Zed has traveled across the country, opening meetings with Hindu mantras and prayers at a city, state and n…
Heather Kantrud
reporter
The Fergus Falls City Council passed a resolution at Monday’s meeting to increase the service benefits for retiring paid on-call firefighters.
Based on the scoring summary designed by global aviation consultant Landrum and Brown, the Fergus Falls Airport Advisory Board and city staff are recommending Kreg Anderson of Alexandria Aviation for the position of Fergus Falls Municipal Airport manager.
In a presentation to the Fergus Falls City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 19, architect Bill Hickey with Collaborative Design Group, reported that the ongoing Regional Treatment Center (RTC) Reuse Master Plan study has reached two major conclusions. First, while affected by lack of occupancy, age,…
The Fergus Falls Port Authority (FFPA) elected new officers for 2021 Tuesday in their first meeting of 2021.
The Fergus Falls City Council approved a resolution Tuesday to support the authority to impose a local sales tax to fund specific capital improvements.
The Fergus Falls City Council plans to continue the single- and two-family tax rebate program in 2021.
The Fergus Falls City Council kicked off 2021 with some housekeeping chores Monday with an interactive Zoom video.
Jason Schuetzle, building official with the city of Fergus Falls, was born, baptized, raised, confirmed, graduated, married, and has raised his family in the great community. Throughout his career he has worked throughout the Upper Midwest and is proud to work with the best developers, contr…
Heather Kantrud
reporter
An avid bicyclist and family man, Tom Rufer is nearing the beginning of his next four-year term as Fergus Falls Ward 2’s City Council Member. With the goal of making Fergus Falls a great place to live for generations to come, Rufer accepts the challenges and rewards of his duties with a smil…
Heather Kantrud
reporter
The Fergus Falls City Council paved the way for a River's Edge Development project on the corner of East Lincoln and North Cascade with two public hearings Monday evening in their final meeting of 2020.
Krista Hagberg is nearing the halfways point in her term as Fergus Falls City Council representative for Ward 1. She enjoys representing the people of Ward 1 in addition to her regular day job and spending time outdoors with her family. Now that she has a glue gun in hand, all can see where …
Questions, comments and answers about the Hoot Lake Solar Project mixed together into a 90-minute public meeting Tuesday night at City Hall in Fergus Falls.
The Fergus Falls City Council approved resolutions adopting the levy, budget and refuse rates for 2021 Monday at City Hall.