A Bassmaster Open event will be held on Leech Lake this summer and is expected to attract several thousand people.
Andrew Arnold of Reed’s Family Outdoor Outfitters and Cindy Wannarka of the Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce attended the May 6 Walker Council meeting to discuss the event that will be held Aug. 21-24.
“We’re laying the seed for when the Chamber comes to ask for street closures in June for this event that is expected to bring over 3,000 attendees,” Arnold told the council.
Wannarka said tourism takes a dip at the end of August, so this tournament would come at a perfect time. And after a terrible winter, this would be ideal for all the businesses in town.
The main stage and weigh-in location will be at City Dock with Fifth Street North from Cleveland Boulevard closed off. Walker Bay Live Aug. 22 will be included as part of the event.
The three-day tournament consists of up to 225 pro-anglers and 210 co-anglers paired for the first two days. The top 10 will only fish on the final day.
Pre-fishing can be done up until Aug. 3, with the lake off limits for contestants 14 days prior to tournament.
Councilor Jim Senenfelder said he didn’t see a problem with the proposal, adding, “What an opportunity!”
The council also heard from Jon Roscoe of Miller McDonald on the 2023 audit. Roscoe told the council he found no issues where the city was not in compliance. There were no deficiencies that were significant and overall, the city is in good financial shape. The fund was down about $500,000, but that was because of the Northwest Street Improvement project payment.
In other city business, the council:
Approved resolution supporting Walker Public Works Department to apply for Sourcewell Impact Funding to purchase sewer trailer jetter. The city has one but it is old.
Approved temporary on-sale liquor license for Walker Rotary June 3 at Walker Area Community Center; June 27 for Walker Bay Live at the City Park; July 4 in City Park; and July 18 for Walker Bay Live in City Park.
Approved resolution for exempt permit for lawful gambling by Walker American Legion Riders Chapter 134.
Approved resolution for Minnesota application for exempt permit for Lawful Gambling by Bemidji State University Alumni and Foundation.
Approved resolution for Minnesota application to conduct off-site gambling by Confidence Learning Center.
Approved successful completion of Liquor Store Manager Matt Haas’ six-month probationary period, and a 3 percent wage increase as of May 6.
Discussed developing a policy on how to handle donation requests. City Administrator Hope Fairchild and her staff will prepare an application form. Fairchild asked if the city should set a limit.
Discussed survey results received from restaurants and other businesses located in city limits regarding food truck regulation.
According to the survey, restaurant owners were not in favor, while community members were in favor. The council asked if there are other cities that have a policy they could use to develop a Walker policy or ordinance.
Approved variance request to reduce the setback along Fifth Street South from the existing legal non-conforming seven, to zero feet to remedy water runoff issues that causes damage to the foundation of the Old Barn Clothing Store and More, that go into the three story building.
Jill Bieloh told the council that since two of the three levels are below ground, the project is going to be expensive, but in order for her to keep the water away from the building, she needs the setback adjusted. “I’m looking to fix the problem and to make it appealing atheistically.”
Approved Lot Split of Metes and Bounds to split the business tract off from the remaining tract at Next Innovations, with the condition that work may not begin until June 8, according to three year rule between multiple splits from one lot.
Approved the new Walker Public Library furniture quote of $198,665.95 from Connect Interiors that includes shipping and installation services, and paying the deposit of 50 percent of the total cost which is $99,327.98.
Approved Walker Rotary fish fry and alcoholic beverage service at Walker Bay Live in the lower City Park June 27.
Approved Walker Rotary fish fry and alcoholic beverage service at Walker Bay Live event in the upper City Park July 18.
Approved Walker Rotary fish fry and alcoholic beverage service July 4 in the lower City Park.
Approved Leech Lake Area Block Party throughout the entire City Park Aug. 2-4 with the condition that six port a-potties are made available at the Park by the applicant.
Approved street closure request from Super One Foods on Seventh Street between Michigan Avenue and Elm Avenue through June 19 with the following stated conditions in the agreement.
Seventh Street will remain open on evenings, weekends and holidays. If the road has to be closed on a weekend that must be approved ahead of time by the city administrator. Green Scene will be allowed access Thursday mornings for Farmers’ Market vendors.
Approved street closure application from Walker American Legion Riders to close the parking lot north of the Legion building between Fourth and Sixth Streets June 21-22.
Mayor Jerecho Worth announced that the DMV will be closed May 27 in observance of Memorial Day; the city-wide spring curb side pick-up of bagged leaves and branches runs through May 15; and Public Works Department will flush hydrants during the week of May. Water mains are routinely flushed to clean the distribution system. Rusty water may be evident during flushing. If discoloration exists, residents should run the cold tap until it becomes clear.
Consent agenda items the council looked at included:
Approved Council meeting minutes of April 1.
Approved Council meeting minutes of April 18.
Approved Planning Commission and Board of Adjustments meeting minutes of April 29.
Approved Public Works Committee meeting minutes of April 16.
Approved Park Advisory Board meeting minutes of April 23.
Approved Library Advisory Board meeting minutes of April 9.
Approved Walker Area Joint Fire Department Board meeting minutes of April 11, 2.
Approved Walker Police Department Monthly Report.
Reviewed Sales Tax Receipts.
Approved Library Advisory Board meeting minutes of March 12.
Approved Planning Commission and Board of Adjustments meeting minutes of Feb. 26.
Approved repeal of the existing “Ordinance #2006-04 Subdivision and Platting Ordinance.”
Paying $50,604.12 to North Country Chevrolet for a new police squad truck.
Paying $2,000 to SEH, Inc. for Walker Municipal Airport 2024 Snow Removal Equipment Acquisition Engineering Services.
Paying $97,470 to League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust Property/Casualty Insurance for 2024-25.
Paying $15,000 to Miller McDonald for audit services related to the year-end Dec. 31
Paying $10,168.36 to Tyler Technologies for annual subscription for accounting/billing software.
Paying $2,112.00 to Ulteig Operations, LLC for Northwest Area Project professional services through March 31.
Paying $362,559.33 to Hy-Tec Construction for Walker Public Library building construction professional services and materials through March 26.
Paying $171,210.95 to R.L. Excavating, Inc. for NW Area Project materials and professional services from March 13 to April 26.
Approved Fairchild attending her third and final year of Minnesota Municipal Clerks Institute May 6-10 at the cost of $560 plus mileage, meals and hotel.
Approved thank-you letter from ARCC Emergency Shelter for donation.
Paying $2,602.17 to MacQueen Equipment for work performed on Street Sweeper equipment.
Paying $2,279.20 to Ferguson Waterworks for Neptune 360 meter reading software.
Paying $2,000 to Northern Harbor Dock and Lift for the installation of eight docks at City Dock.
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