Willow, Frazee and Holmes street improvements will be reviewed by city council March 4

The Detroit Lakes City Council will review a facility plan for proposed street improvements to Willow Street, Frazee Street and Holmes Street, as well as an adjacent alleyway, at a special meeting 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 4.

The council authorized preparation of the facility plan at its regular meeting Tuesday night, Feb. 11.

After the March 4 meeting, there will be a 5:30 p.m. open house for the public to review the plans for a proposed $4.16 million street improvement project on South Washington Avenue, from the Willow Street intersection to West Lake Drive near the Pavilion. The joint project between the city and Becker County is expected to start this spring.

• A public hearing has been scheduled for March 10 on the first reading of Ordinance 460, which would amend city policy to raise the minimum age for all tobacco sales within city limits from 18 to 21. The hearing will take place as part of the council's regular meeting, which starts at 5 p.m.
• The council approved the hiring of Shawn King as the city's new public works director. King, who has worked for the Minnesota Department of Transportation for more than 24 years, including the past 10 at the District 4 office in Detroit Lakes, is expected to start his new duties March 1. He succeeds Brad Green, who retired from his post Feb. 7 after almost 13 years with the city.
• The council approved new three-year labor agreements with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Local Union 568, and Minnesota Public Employees Association (MPEA), retroactive to Jan. 1.
• The following committee appointments were approved: Beth Pridday and John Thorpe were both re-appointed to their positions on the Park Board; Eric Wilkins was re-appointed to the Tourism Bureau; and Helen Foltz was appointed to her first three-year term on the Public Utilities Commission, succeeding Gary Nansen, who was not eligible for re-appointment after serving three consecutive terms. All of these appointments will become effective March 1.