By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

On Oct. 28 the county board of commissioners accepted donations of three concrete benches for Phelps Mill Park in central Otter Tail County. The donations come from Friends of Phelps Mill, the Duane and Helen Berry Family and from Paul and Laurie Lekanng.

The memorial benches will each include engraving of family names on the back rests to be installed as part of the Phelps Mill Park Phase 2 construction project. This will take place in 2026, according to county Parks and Trails Director Kevin Fellbaum.

“The benches will be professionally installed by the contractor for the Phelps Mill Park Phase 2 construction project,” Fellbaum said. “The donors have worked with our department to establish permanent locations for installation of the benches.”

Expressing appreciation and gratefulness to the donors were county commissioners Wayne Johnson, chairman from Pelican Rapids, Dan Bucholz of Perham, Bob Lahman of Parkers Prairie, Kurt Mortenson of rural Underwood and Sean Sullivan of Fergus Falls.

“Installation of concrete fishing stations will also be part of Phase 2 at Phelps Mill Park,” Fellbaum said. “Earlier this year we were proud to celebrate the completion of upgrades such as our boardwalk and prairie restoration project.”

Water management

property addition

County board members, on Oct. 28, held a public hearing regarding property additions to the Otter Tail Water Management District. The district includes part of Ottertail city, four townships, six lakes which include Otter Tail, Blanche, Deer, Round, Walker and Long Lake as well as Otter Tail River North.

The Otter Tail Water Management District has jurisdiction over all on-site septic systems around and within 1,000 feet of the aforementioned lakes and part of Otter Tail River North. County Commissioners formed this governmental body in 1981. 

There are seven people who form the Otter Tail Water Management District Board of Commissioners. These members are property owners within the district and are appointed by the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners. The District Board meets the second Wednesday of each month at the Ottertail City Fire Hall starting at 4 p.m.

The Otter Tail Water Management District enforces the Minnesota state codes relevant to on-site septic systems. Additions approved by county board members on Oct. 28 in Fergus Falls included three locations in Amor Township and one addition in Everts Township. All four septic system additions are located near Otter Tail Lake.

Pumping tanks, cleaning lift stations, replacing pumps and other major repairs are contracted services. The water management district personnel supervise and aid in the contracted services.