Summary of Fergus Falls Committee of the Whole Meeting – July 15, 2026

Time: Morning Attendees: Mayor Anthony Hicks, council members (Mark Leighton, Al Kremeier, Mike Mortenson, Scott Rachels, Laurel Kilde, Jim Fish, Scott Kvamme, Laura Job), city staff (City Administrator Andrew Bremseth, Fire Chief Ryan, Building Safety Division Jason, Public Works Guy Kollman, and others present), guests (Nick Leonard, Otter Tail County; Jason Murray).

This concise summary is generated by AI, it is used only for reference purposes. Use the timestamps to view the section of the meeting on YouTube to verify actual meeting information.

Key Items

1. Building and Fire Departments Update (0:23–37:25) Action: Informational presentations by Fire Chief Ryan (fire operations, preparedness, and risk reduction) followed by Building Safety Division representative Jason (commercial projects, housing activity, mid-year permit statistics, and office relocation). No formal action required. Discussion:

   • Fire Department mission emphasizes all-hazards prevention, preparedness, and response beyond structure fires (hazmat, medical/trauma, technical rescue). Staffing remains consistent for decades: 36 paid-on-call members plus three full-time. Firefighters have been paid since 1892; retirement supported by the statewide 2% fire surcharge on homeowners policies via the Fire Relief Association.

   • Response area covers the city plus four contracting townships (Orwell, Ordall, Buse, and Fergus Falls) totaling 144 square miles. Year-to-date property loss approximately $500,000 with $3.6 million in property saved. ISO Class 3 rating maintained (last full evaluation 2025); Class 1–3 ratings can yield up to 25% insurance premium reductions.

   • 2026 improvements include replacement of aging exhaust extraction hoses (originally 2005–2006 grant-funded), extensive downtown business pre-planning data loaded onto truck iPads, new station call-viewer screens, free bikes for event standby, a small concrete patio for live-in members, completion of the first in-house firefighter academy (all new members certified), and an internal call-tracking system to replace the AS400.

   • Emerging hazard of electric-vehicle battery thermal runaway discussed in detail; department has trained, acquired a large fire blanket, and can bill as hazmat. Participation in the statewide fire service assessment and selection as one of 14 departments in the engine strike-team pilot program noted. Concerns raised about potential unfunded OSHA Emergency Response Standard costs (estimated $50,000 minimum compliance). Fire Association initiatives include life-jacket loaner stations and a scholarship raffle for frontline workers.

   • Council questions addressed ISO scoring factors (water system, apparatus, training documentation, prevention/inspections), long-term interest in a second station west of I-94 (on radar since a 2005 study; staffing model and residential life-safety priorities in the northeast corridor discussed), I-94 coverage (Big Chief to Exit 50, roughly a dozen calls per year), car-seat checks (referred to Otter Tail County), and how residents access free smoke-alarm installations (call the station; 250 homes served to date via Red Cross partnership).

   • Building update highlighted nearing completion of the Advanced Auto Care addition, Les Schwab footing/utility work starting, Nazarene Church ~25,000 sq ft remodel/addition, Premier Service Vehicles and QuikTrip plan reviews, ongoing SCR Solutions assistance, and two new industrial permits described as the most significant in 50–60 years. Housing activity includes five twin homes (10 units), three single-family homes under construction plus two more pending, and five county-auction homes under full rehabilitation by separate contractors. Mid-year 2026 permit count stood at 340 (typical full-year average ~600) with ~$15 million in improvement value (projected $20–30 million by year-end). Historical averages run $20–30 million except the 2024 anomaly of $61 million driven by school and state projects.

   • Building Safety Division has relocated to the fire hall (single-level, accessible, with public self-service permit/payment station). Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting (using a tape measure) and open house scheduled for July 20 at 11:30 a.m. Outcome: Updates received; questions answered. No vote. Significance: Gave the Council a clear picture of operational readiness, community risk-reduction programs, development pipeline strength, and the practical benefits of co-locating Building Safety with the Fire Department.

2. Resolution of Support for Otter Tail County DEED Grant – Westridge Mall (37:25–49:08) Action: Recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution of support at its Monday evening meeting for Otter Tail County’s DEED grant application (due August 3) seeking up to $500,000 for hazardous-materials testing and abatement on the uninhabited portions of Westridge Mall. Discussion:

   • Nick Leonard clarified the precise scope: only the major vacant sections of the mall. Explicitly excluded are Dunham’s (privately owned), the Reality Income property currently occupied by Dollar Tree and Harbor Freight, the outlot, and the theater (already fully separated for fire, sprinklers, and utilities under a prior DEED grant).

   • The request is limited to testing and abatement (asbestos, mold, and other materials common in a multi-tenant 1970s structure) so the property can become demolition-ready; a subsequent application for actual demolition dollars could be filed as early as February. Site control is expected by the end of the month; a purchase agreement alone satisfies application requirements.

   • Extended discussion focused on Reality Income’s delayed utility and fire-protection separation for the remaining tenants. The properties currently operate under temporary certificates of occupancy because suppression is inadequate. Last winter’s overhead water-line freeze created documented safety and amenity problems for employees. City staff (Building, Fire, Community Development) have been pressing the owner since March; the timeline is now severely compressed (design submittal needed within weeks, state review ~8 weeks). Mayor Hicks and others stated there is no appetite for another winter of the same risks and that temporary closures of Dollar Tree and Harbor Freight remain possible if separation is not completed before freeze-up. Reality Income received construction plans and a local contractor quote last summer at the same time the theater completed its work. Outcome: Motion by Jim Fish, seconded by Scott, approved unanimously (“All those in favor say I… hearing none, the motion is approved”). Significance: Positions the community to remove a large blighted commercial property while forcing resolution of immediate life-safety and habitability issues for the remaining businesses and their employees.

3. Tax Increment Financing District Review – Wickland Properties (49:15–1:02:15) Action: Review of the proposed economic-development TIF plan for Wickland Properties’ approximately 10,000-square-foot facility dedicated to the remanufacturing and repurposing of specialized vehicles. Public hearing scheduled for the Monday City Council meeting; Council recommended moving the item forward. Discussion:

   • Jason Murray walked through statutory compliance, the city’s business-subsidy and economic-development policies, and the “but-for” analysis. Projected assistance is roughly $140,000 over nine years (present-value approximately $93,000 using the 6.75% rate quoted by the project’s lender). Setup, engineering, and legal fees are excluded from TIF-eligible costs.

   • The project qualifies as manufacturing/value-added production. Five new jobs plus nine retained positions at an average wage just over $27 per hour (wage only) are committed; market-value increase is estimated at $800,000. Jobs must be created within 24 months of occupancy; failure triggers default provisions that allow the Council to cancel remaining benefits.

   • Council members questioned the gap between the $2.5 million project budget and the $800,000 assessed value. Murray attributed the difference to soft costs, approximately $315,000 in site remediation/investigation, and minor square-footage variances between the application and building-permit documents (possible inclusion of apron or display areas).

   • Multiple members expressed strong support, noting the project originated from grassroots outreach by Council Member Kremeier and prior economic-development staff. Outcome: Motion by Al Kremeier, seconded by Laura Job, approved unanimously. (Public hearing required; item will not appear on the consent agenda.) Significance: Supports expansion of a local specialty-vehicle business in a manner consistent with city TIF and business-subsidy policies, delivering new jobs and incremental tax base.

4. Residential Recycling Collection Options (1:02:23–1:03:31) Action: Clarification of existing options in response to a resident inquiry about weekly versus every-other-week recycling service. Discussion:

   • Guy Kollman explained that converting residential recycling to weekly collection would require purchase of an additional truck and hiring of another employee. The city already offers residents a second recycling cart at no extra charge; both carts are collected on the existing every-other-week schedule. The option is currently used by some households and businesses (including larger 300-gallon containers). Outcome: Existing no-cost second-cart solution confirmed. Significance: Provides a low- or no-cost capacity increase for residents who generate higher volumes of recyclables without expanding the city’s fleet or staffing.

Next Steps

• City Council to consider adoption of the resolution supporting Otter Tail County’s DEED grant application for Westridge Mall hazardous-materials testing and abatement at the Monday evening meeting.

• Public hearing on the Wickland Properties TIF plan at the Monday City Council meeting.

• Building Safety Division open house and Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting (tape measure) on July 20 at 11:30 a.m. at the fire hall.

• Work session on the 2027 Capital Improvement Program on July 20 at 4:30 p.m., followed by the regular City Council meeting at 5:30 p.m.

• Candidate filing period for City Council and other local elected offices remains open until July 28.

• Santa Summer Splash downtown event on July 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• Next Committee of the Whole meeting on July 29 at 7:00 a.m.

• Rededication of the George Bight sculpture in Wright Park: Carlyle Band performance at 6:45 p.m. and short program at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday evening (parking outside the park).

• Residents seeking free smoke alarms or home fire-safety visits should contact the fire station; Fire Association life-jacket loaner stations are in development.

Disclaimer: This summary was generated by an AI system without added opinions. No claims of accuracy are made, though timestamps are included for reference. For the full context, please view the meeting video on YouTube: [YouTube Video Link Here]. This content is provided by Growth Forge Studio, dedicated to helping businesses grow.