Recycling services changes reviewed for Otter Tail County

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

County easements were cedrtified Dec. 17 in an agreement by the County Board of Commissioners and representatives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This pertained to two parcels of land in Effington Township, west of Parkers Prairie, and one parcel of land in Aurdal Township, northeast of Fergus Falls.

A wetland easement is a legal agreement signed with the United States of America, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, that pays landowners to permanently protect wetlands. 

Landowners who sell a wetland easement agree that wetlands protected by an easement cannot be drained, filled, leveled or burned. If these wetlands dry up naturally, they can be farmed, grazed or hayed.

Wetlands covered by an easement are mapped, and a copy of the easement and maps is provided to the landowner. Property subject to a wetland easement remains on

local tax rolls.

By selling easements, landowners receive funds to pay down debt, reinvest in capital improvements or buy other lands to maintain and/or expand working lands.

Broadband fund transfer approved

County commissioners, in order to improve internet service in southwestern Otter Tail County, approved matching funds in supporting an application by Otter Tail Telcom to take part in a Minnesota Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant. 

A match commitment would be paid over a three-year period that would include financial partnership from participating townships in Otter Tail County. Commissioners previously approved the Navigating the Road Ahead (NTRA) program which includes expansion of broadband in less populated areas.

The match commitment will be paid over a three-year period that includes financial partnership from local participating townships. An Economic Development Broadband Account is in place, totaling $504,478.

“Today’s action by the county board,” said County Board Chairman Kurt Mortenson of rural Underwood, “fulfills an infrastructure need in southwestern Otter Tail County.”

Broadband, short for “broad bandwidth,” is a high-speed internet connection that uses multiple frequencies or simultaneous frequencies to transmit data. Broadband is faster than traditional telephone or wireless connections and allows users to access information digitally.

Recycling services changes reviewed

Public input has consistently showed broad interest in increased opportunities for recycling services in Otter Tail County. 

Under a proposed plan, as noted during a public hearing on Dec. 17, recyclables would be collected by licensed haulers, upon request, every other week in the most densely populated areas of Otter Tail County. These areas would include all towns with a population of 500 or greater and 59 lakes.

Otter Tail County previously took its first step to achieve this goal by applying for and receiving an Environmental Assistance (EA) grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for planning to initiate a curbside single-sort recycling plan. 

Each quadrant of the county would have a different effective date one year apart starting Jan. 1, 2026, in the southeast quadrant and reaching full effect Jan. 1, 2029, in the southwest quadrant.

Consultants have told county board members and County Solid Waste Director Chris McConn that privately operated service is less expensive than public operation. That’s because of key operational and financial assumptions.

“This option,” noted one consultant, “would provide a more cost-effective service due to increased route density and higher collection efficiency.”