Henning moves forward with building five camping sites
News | Published on August 12, 2025 at 3:34pm EDT | Author: henningmaster
0New camp sites to be located at Amundson Park
By Chad Koenen
Publisher
Five new campsites could soon be coming to Amundson Park in Henning.
During its regularly scheduled meeting last Monday night, the Henning City Council approved a plan to install five new campsites with full electrical, water and sewer hookups to Amundson Park near the new bathroom. The new campsites will be located near Jenson St. and are part of a number upgrades being developed for both Amundson Park and the festival grounds.
Henning Police Chief Mike Helle said the plan was originally to install four campsites, but after discussing the matter with Otter Tail County, the city could install a fifth full campsite at the location.
The cost for installing electric, water and sewer, as well as get the campsites ready to utilize was $14,200. The cost of installing the campsites will be offset down the road by rent payments to utilize the space.
The hope was Brogards Plumbing, Heating and Excavating would be able to complete the work by October 1, pending weather and the proper permits being approved on time. The council also heard the city could expand the number of campsites in the future if the demand for camping in Henning shows a desire for more options.
In addition to the campsites, the city council heard that Lloyd Amundson has donated $60,000 to install new playground equipment at Amundson Park.
“We got a wonderful donation for playground equipment for Amundson Park,” said Helle.
The playground equipment will be installed near the former volleyball courts and Helle said the slab being placed for the playground equipment is purposely being constructed larger than needed in order to accommodate future equipment down the road.
“It is made to be added to,” said Helle of the equipment.
The playground will feature wood chips and a ramp to allow for wheelchairs to access the new equipment. The equipment was recently ordered and can take 8-12 weeks to get delivered. The hope was to complete the work this fall, but if the weather does not cooperate the work to be completed it will be done in the spring of the year.
In other news
• Approved a settlement agreement with G works for $12,200 to the city spent converting its utility billing software. The city never fully converted to the new software program, but spent approximately $17,000 attempting to convert its utility billing software to G works.
• Approved a request from Diane Thorson regarding the painting of the new bathroom at Amundson Park. The city has received $1,500 from REA to put towards painting the bathrooms and Thorson asked if the city was willing to contribute the remaining amount to cover the cost of the mural if additional grants cannot be found. The cost of the mural was estimated to be between $2,700-3,000.
• Discussed the meter reading contract for an outside company to come to town and read the utility meters each month. The city recently hired a fourth utility worker and some of the council members, as well as the mayor, had expressed an interest in ending the meter reading contract and read the meters in house moving forward. The city will check into its current contract with the outside company and see if it can have the utility workers read the meters in the future.
• Heard the City of Henning has received a grant to cover a portion of the airport zoning CZAP and attorney allowance project at the airport. The total cost of the project is $57,000 and is needed to develop a plan for proper zoning for the airspace surrounding the airport, The city had to declare its intention to moving forward with the grant no later than August 29, but could back out of the 70/30 grant split if needed down the road.
• Heard the City of Henning received a grant for a similar 70/30 split to replace the fuel card reader and replace the gas pump at the airport. The cost of the project is estimated to be $70,000. The city moved forward with accepting the grant, but said it will discuss the overall project at a later date before determining if it would proceed with the project or how to fund it as a whole.
• Heard the City of Henning received a grant for turf improvements and obstruction removal at the airport. The cost of the project is estimated to be $10,000 and the grant will cover 70 percent of the project.