City Council Special Meeting

CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES Monday, November 03, 2025 at 6:00 PM Forestview Middle School Cafetorium, 12149 Knollwood “A Growing Community” Drive, Baxter, MN 56401 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Olson called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Darrel Olson and Council Members Connie Lyscio, Zach Tabatt, Patrick Sundberg, and Mark Cross were present. City Administrator Brad Chapulis, Assistant City Administrator Kelly Steele, Police Chief Matt Maier, Community Development Director Josh Doty, Assistant Police Chief Lance Herbst, and Public Works Director Trevor Walter were present PRESENTATIONS 1. Public Hearing for Hwy 371/210 Baxter Intersection Improvement Project (Hwy 371 Overpass) Eric Schiller, MnDOT District 3, presented a summary of the proposed project. OPEN PUBLIC HEARING Mayor Olson opened the public hearing at 6:12 p.m. Doug Francis, 6354 Clearwater Road, suggested the timing of the stop lights could be improved. People don’t know how to drive through a roundabout now, they will be more confused with more roundabouts. We need to keep the twin cities out of the Brainerd area. Steve (unknown last name), Brainerd, explained train traffic in the Fargo/Moorhead area is 85% higher than it is here. There will be harm to businesses and tax payers. He is opposed to the project and doesn’t believe the buttonhook design has been tested in similar situations. He suggested adding additional lanes of traffic to the east side of highway 371. Due to EMS issues, the length of trains can be reduced. Scott Hubert, 302 Tanager Circle, explained he is a future business owner. He stated the Chamber is seeking to find a solution as the project is deeply flawed. The council should vote no on the project. The risk of the project outweighs the reward of the grant money. Chris Quisberg, Nisswa, explained he recently sold the Cub Foods building and he still owns the adjacent strip mall, Holiday Station, and Cash Wise building. He doesn’t think people will want to travel the roadway and encourages MnDOT to revise the design. He also encourages the council to vote no. The Chamber refused to sign the original letter requested by the city but did agree to sign it as long as MnDOT continued to work with the Chamber, but this was not fulfilled. 11/3/2025 City Council Special Meeting Minutes Page 2 Andrea Lamke, 714 5th Ave. NE, Brainerd, explained Baxter should not be a Minneapolis and people will go right past us. This project adversely affects our area. We need to keep our area beautiful and what it is. Ruth Holeck, 13225 Mission Park Drive, Merrifield, explained the design is not good and a cloverleaf design would be better. Terry Palmer, Backus, inquired if the design allows for double train track. The design will cause drivers confusion. Rob Vogt, 1710 Pine Street, has been a resident since 1991. The project is designed by people who don’t live here. At first, he didn’t like College Drive but does now. He explained he does not want to see a 30’ tall concrete wall. If the layout is too complicated, people will keep moving. He encouraged MnDOT to redesign the project. Mike Francis, 4186 Mapleton Road, explained people are addressing the concerns of the businesses but something needs to be done at the intersection. His wife was in an accident at this intersection. There needs to be more traffic enforcement as people run through the red lights. There are safety concerns with the nearby school. Mr. Francis is opposed to the design and he encourages the council to vote no. France Lemke, has been a resident for 11 years and drives school bus. The intersection is located too close to the railroad track. The trains could go through a tunnel and the intersection could be impacted if the railroad decides to construct a second track. If the intersection is moved to the north a cloverleaf design could be used. Jennifer Carnahan, Nashway Road., and Mayor of Nisswa, explained 371 is the gateway to our area and the decision will not just shape the area for tourists but also for small businesses. This project is alarming and is an example of how the government is not for the people. The council is urged to vote no and demand MnDOT go back to the drawing board. Jessie Dawson, 727 Park Street, Brainerd. Moved to the area eight years ago. The proposed project will create a nightmare to go to Fleet Farm, Costco, and Walmart. He spoke to some people from the cities, and they said if this project happens, they will never make a stop in Baxter. The roundabouts will add to the drive time. A better solution is needed for the people who live here, not for the people that visit four months out of the year. Mark Dockendorf, Cash Wise Liquor, 14312 Memorywood Drive, explained the project will harm businesses and losing Cub Foods has already done damage to business. There must be a better way. He suggested enforcing traffic laws first as the speed is too high. Mike Schmidt, 1178 Lysser Lane, Pillager, thanked the city council and the chamber. The businesses impacted by this project support the community. This project doesn’t support the community. The council should vote no. Angel Zierden, Breezy Point, explained MnDOT is following state statute with this project. If the project is not completed the money for this project will be returned and will go for another project. The council should vote yes to the project with access amendments. MnDOT should work with the businesses to add additional ways for access. If the overpass is not constructed, traffic will continue to put pressure on adjacent residential neighborhoods. The council should vote yes with access provisions. Unknown member of the audience explained they own a business on Golf Course Drive. The speaker explained the project looks like a vanity project of a drunk engineer. The council should vote no. This project divides the city. Nick Miller, 4771 Emily Road, asked the council to vote no on the project. The project is not needed by our community. When County Road 77 was under construction his Sherwood Forest restaurant was impacted by the project and could not pull the business back after construction. More north and south access is needed, such as 11/3/2025 City Council Special Meeting Minutes Page 3 Cypress Drive needs to be extended. Traffic needs to be slowed down. The intersection should not be constructed for Easter Sunday. Kirk Titus, 13156 Norway Drive, asked the council to vote no on the project. The city of Baxter is responsible for $5 million of the project cost and what is the benefit to the citizens. The proposed project is to get visitors through Baxter fast. Baxter could hire a traffic safety officer. On average only six trains per day go though Baxter. The Brainerd Dispatch conducted a poll on the project, and a majority of the respondents did not support the project. The council should vote no. David Quisberg, Brainerd resident and owner of Holiday. He explained his family has been a part of the community for over 40 years. His business depends on convenience. The construction will hurt his business and approximately 1/3 of his business comes from out-of-town customers. His employees could lose their jobs. The groups need to sit down and come up with a better solution. Future generations will pay for this project. The council should vote no. Sarah Kinkeade, Frandsen Bank, explained they disapprove of the design. This project will turn Baxter into a far north suburb. The proposed design is confusing. The construction will cause people to vacation elsewhere. Terry Palmer, Backus, explained his son lives in Mankato and he has to travel through eight roundabouts to get to work. This project can be designed differently. The council should vote no on the project. Brian Bernander, 13793 Kenwood Court, came into the building not knowing what the business feeling was to the project. This project will eliminate any extra spending in Baxter due to the design. Need to keep the Baxter area as it is. Tim Swanson, 14492 Grand Oaks Drive, has served on the Baxter Planning and Zoning Commission but is not speaking from this position and is a Chamber committee member. He respectfully asks the council to vote no on this project. Some businesses may not survive this project. MnDOT has not taken into consideration the comments received on the project. The project can be a $58 million dollar mistake. The council should vote not and take the time for a better solution. Mark Pickler, 6220 Highland Scenic Road, explained there are issues at the stoplights and this project will cause County Road 48 to become a throughfare nightmare. Drivers are running stop lights and driving on the roundabout on Isle Drive. The timing of the stop lights could be improved. He is not going to suggest the council vote yes or no, but traffic is a mess and traffic needs to move. Leah Boedigheimer, 11295 Leewood Lane, East Gull Lake, explained this project will impact family coming to visit. She explained that she is the president of the Wave Young Professional organization and there are a lot of business leaders in the room. The proposed project will impact young families and reduce the attractiveness to move to this area. Laura Victor, suggested the project be constructed with cloverleafs rather than roundabouts. She suggested people visit Seattle and see how they made quick and safe traffic improvements. She works with disabled clients and roundabouts scare her clients. A bridge over highway 210 and eliminate the roundabouts is a better option. PJ O’Brien, TCBX Trucking, explained a lot of elderly people will be trying to travel through the roundabouts to get to the new clinic. If a change is being made, it should be good for everyone. Jodi Malecha, 14538 Jewelwood Drive, explained the project reduces the ability to turn north on Clearwater Road. There is not enough vehicle stacking on Inglewood Drive to Highway 210. This project will impact a lot of people’s shopping patterns. 11/3/2025 City Council Special Meeting Minutes Page 4 Brian Moon, 415 Washington Street, explained this place has been home for the past 15 years. The project needs to be easy for people to use. The project does not provide adequate crossings for pedestrians. The council needs to keep the community safe and protect the growth of the community. Paul Augustinack, 13802 Cherrywood Drive, explained he is a lifelong resident and is a real estate agent. He has received phone calls from people inquiring if this project will impact property values. This project will hurt our businesses. The council needs to think long-term. We want to see Baxter continue to grow. Mike Hammer, 4907 Circle Pines Road, explained this project will be a big challenge and the city will look like Anoka after the project is completed. Baxter has tried to hold its up north look. Drivers are going to speed through Baxter and taxes are going to increase. Matt Steele, 23661 Fox Run Lane, Deerwood, explained he has seen comments that this project has been rushed, but is has been reviewed. Pedestrian safety feedback has been incorporated, and the layout was chosen to provide businesses with direct access. We have created a backage of local roads and the proposed project is overbuilt but don’t think the project should be denied. This is a highway so people can travel through. Baxter will continue to be a regional shopping center. Jessica Richau, Curated Closet, moved to the area in 2009. The community tends to be reactive rather than proactive. The more our local businesses thrive so does our community. Supporting local business is what makes Baxter special. Kate Watland Goenner, explained her family has invested in the area for over 60 years. People will continue to find the Baymont hotel but after getting to the hotel once they will not return. MnDOT needs to look at what impact this project will create for Woida Road. She heard there is a future plan for an overpass at Woida Road. The council should vote no on the project. Marisa Mills, owns various businesses in Baxter. Her family has been in the area since 1890 as is part of building up the community. This project looks like it is tearing down our community, and it is devastating and not what we stand form. We need to come together and ask you to join us as this project would change our community. The council needs to vote no. Lori Kohorst, East Gull Lake, explained she wants to be a small business owner in a small community. There needs to be a solution, but this solution is too complicated. This should be made into a corridor or commerce. Ruth Holeck, 13225 Mission Park Drive, Merrifield, inquired how many more minutes it will take a firetruck to get from one end to another. Doug Francis, 6354 Clearwater Road, explained the council has to make a decision and the people in attendance put the council in their position. He thinks the council has already made their decision on the project. Mark Korwin, Nisswa, explained he reviewed all five proposed designs and none of them really worked. He worked for MnDOT on many road projects and this design needs to change. Drivers are going to get lost and a different concept needs to be considered. The council should vote no. Matt Kilian, Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, if the MnDOT team can come up with this design, let’s encourage them to come up with something better. Frank Lempke, 5493 Barbeau Road, explained this is an elevated highway. Someone previously mentioned an overpass at Woida Road, under this concept the entire highway will be elevated, and it will divide the city. 11/3/2025 City Council Special Meeting Minutes Page 5 Yvette Campbell, Old National Bank, explained MnDOT heard our comments but did not listen. Voting no is to lose $58 million, but it is worth it. MnDOT needs to look at other options. This is our home, and we can do better. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING NEXT STEPS Mayor Olson thanked everyone for attending the meeting and for providing their comments. Mayor Olson explained the council now has 90 days to make a decision on the project. City Administrator Chapulis explained the council will make a decision in 90 days and until that time, the council will continue to accept public comments. ADJOURN MOTION by Council Member Tabatt, seconded by Council Member Lyscio to close the public hearing and to adjourn at 8:20 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Approved by: Respectfully submitted, _____________________________ Darrel Olson Kelly Steele Mayor Assistant City Administrator