SPICER — Patrons of Melvin’s on the Lake in Spicer have six more weeks to enjoy the lakefront restaurant before it will close for the winter season.

Owner Dave Baker says the restaurant will close around November 1 and will reopen next spring sometime between the middle of April and beginning of May.

“We’ve made the decision to close for the winter. The reason is to lose less money.” he said Friday. “It was a difficult decision, we have very good employees that we don’t want to lose over the winter.”

The decision comes after another great summer for the restaurant, he said. A cloud of uncertainty has loomed over Melvin’s all summer as Baker and his wife had announced that rising property taxes, competition and maintenance costs may force them to close the restaurant or sell the property. They will continue to look for other possibilities to stabilize the operation, Baker said.

The plan is to close the restaurant and hunker down for the winter.

They will be doing some work on the place, including plumbing the outdoor bar to meet Department of Health code for serving drinks, some light remodeling and work in the kitchen to help with efficiency.

Baker said they are considering opening for winter events such as Winter Fest, the Polar Plunge, and the Frozen 5K.

“Melvin’s is more than a business for my wife and me,” he said.

“It’s a community place. If we can open up and staff it properly, we will open for those events.”

Baker expresses gratitude for the encouragement and support from his patrons.

“We are coming off another good summer. We are thankful for all the people who supported us,” he said. “We have some happy people around here. For now, Melvin’s may be spared.”

WILLMAR — A proposal to replace individual septic systems around Diamond Lake with a common collection and treatment system will be discussed with lakeshore owners Saturday morning in Atwater.

A similar informational meeting will be held in August with property owners who live on Nest, George and Henderson lakes near Spicer to discuss a sewer proposal for residents there.

The meetings follow final approval by the Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners this spring to link residents on Lake Florida, located west of Spicer, into the Green Lake Sanitary Sewer and Water District system.

Construction of the sewer collection system around Lake Florida and installation of the main lines to the district’s system is under way and will be completed next year. In the case of Lake Florida, the residents pursued the project and asked the county to do it.

Now the county is offering access to the Green Lake Sanitary Sewer and Water District treatment plant, which currently serves New London and Spicer, to other nearby residential lakes.

Hooking into the system is one way for residents to solve individual sewage problems as well as preserve water quality of their lakes, said Kandiyohi County Public Works Director Gary Danielson.

It can be a better option than storage tanks and mound systems that can take up precious space in small, low-lying lake lots.

It’s estimated that 75 percent of the current septic systems around the area lakes were built before 1996. “There’s a 100 percent chance that they wouldn’t comply with today’s standards,” said Danielson.

That doesn’t mean the systems are necessarily “failing” which Danielson said includes sewage coming to the surface or backing up into homes. But, he said, septic systems “could pollute groundwater for the next 50 years and not fail.”

Information about the cost of the projects and how the system will look and work will be presented at the meetings and should help residents make an educated decision on whether the sewer system is a good investment for themselves and their lakes, he said.

“We’re making an opportunity available and seeing how people react to it,” said Danielson.

A positive response could trigger advancement of the proposals and construction that could begin in 2007.

If there’s a strong negative reaction, the projects likely won’t fly.

“We’re not going to shove it down anybody’s throats,” said Commissioner Dennis Peterson. “We’re not in that business.”

Peterson, who lives on Henderson Lake and attended their recent lake association meeting, said a preliminary straw vote there showed unanimous support for getting more information about the system. “They were definitely interested,” Peterson said.

His conversation with residents on neighboring George Lake also indicates a strong interest in the proposal.

Danielson said there is “pretty solid interest” in the Diamond Lake proposal.

Judy Christensen, president of the Diamond Lake Area Recreational Association, said everyone is “looking forward” to Saturday’s 9 a.m. meeting at the Atwater Community Center to get details of the proposal.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Christensen. The proposal was discussed last year at the association’s annual meeting and now people are ready to “make a decision so we can get on with life here.”

Following the meeting, the association will send information and a paper ballot in the mail to get members’ opinions on the project. Those opinions will determine the lake association’s official stance and what response they will give to the County Board. The results of the opinion poll will be announced at the association’s annual meeting in mid-August.

Although it’s not an official County Board meeting, it’s expected that all of the county commissioners will attend the Saturday meeting in Atwater to hear residents’ questions and concerns firsthand, said County Administrator Wayne Thompson.

While the environment plays a major role in the decision-making process, so does money.

Depending on which route is chosen, it would cost anywhere from $5.1 to $5.6 million to bring the service to the 350 residential lots on Diamond Lake.

For the 420 lots on the other three lakes it would cost about $7.2 million to install the individual low-pressure lines. Those residents would also pay for a share of the main lines that are being installed through the area as part of the Lake Florida project.

Obtaining low-interest state loans with a 1 to 2 percent interest rate can help make the project more affordable and appealing, said Danielson.

Because the Green Lake Sanitary Sewer and Water District treatment facility is not now operating at full capacity, Danielson said it can handle the extra flow from the lakes. The additional customers would help the facility generate additional revenue.

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Caution urged during bridge installation on Green Lake
West Central Tribune - 06/14/2006

WILLMAR — Installation of a pedestrian bridge next week on Kandiyohi County Road 4 on the east side of Green Lake could cause traffic problems for local drivers that must use the road.

The Kandiyohi County Public Works Department office in Willmar is urging motorists to use caution, be aware of the construction activities and slow down for their safety, and the safety of the workers as construction continues.

The project, which is a joint effort between the county and the Department of Natural Resources, is expected to begin next week — weather permitting.

The rest of the project, including paving of the trail, should be done by the first part of July.

Avidigm and its CEO ordered to pay Bankwest $875,623
Cari Quam
West Central Tribune - 05/16/2006

A judgment has been made in a civil case against the company that proposed building a 13-story condominium in Spicer.

Avidigm Capital Group and its chief executive officer, Steven J. Mattson, have been ordered by a Hennepin County District Court judge to pay Bankwest $875,623, according to an order signed on March 30. The amount accrues interest until it’s paid in full.

A hearing was scheduled for the case Monday, but it was cancelled. The court awarded Bankwest a judgment on count one of the complaint against Avidigm and Mattson, who were in default on loan payments, but dismissed “without prejudice” the counts of fraud, fraudulent nondisclosure and conversion, according to Judge George McGunnigle’s order.

The dismissal does not prevent Bankwest from objecting on the grounds of fraud or conversion to any attempt by Avidigm or Mattson to get out of the judgment, according to the order.

Avidigm and Mattson had not paid any part of the monetary award by Monday afternoon, said Peter Mikhail, an attorney for Bankwest.

Avidigm Capital Group had proposed last year building a 13-story condo in Spicer on property west of state Highway 23 where a grain elevator is now. The Spicer Planning and Zoning Commission rejected its request for a height variance in November.

The company was also planning to develop two conservation subdivisions northeast of Spicer on Calhoun Lake in Irving Township, but those properties were ordered seized by McGunnigle shortly after Bankwest filed its complaint against Avidigm, Mattson and four other parties.

Bankwest alleged in a complaint that Avidigm and Mattson made misrepresentations in connection with five loans the bank granted the company last year.

Avidigm had purchased five foreclosed properties last year in the Twin Cities area with money borrowed from Bankwest, according to the complaint. Avidigm was to sell the properties if they were not redeemed by the property owner or creditor, the complaint said.

If they were redeemed, that money was to be paid directly to Bankwest, according to the complaint. The properties were redeemed in each case, but Bankwest was not paid those funds, according to the complaint. Mattson requested extensions on the loans, which were granted, and told the bank the properties were still in the foreclosure process, the complaint said.

The principal balance of the loans was not paid, although interest on some of the loans was paid, according to the complaint.

Mikhail said he thinks Bankwest is pleased with the order but is not satisfied that it has not been paid yet.

The West Central Tribune attempted to contact Mattson at his Avidigm office number, but the number was not working. Mattson’s home phone number is not listed.

The attorney representing Avidigm and Mattson who signed the order for final judgment, Joseph Dicker, said he no longer represents Avidigm and said he couldn’t speak about the case. He referred the West Central Tribune to another attorney. A message left with him was not returned by Monday afternoon.

No judgment has been made related to counts against the four other defendants, Mikhail said, which include two individuals, a law firm and a mortgage company.

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SPICER — A committee that wants to build a center to house the National Guard airplane that was recovered from Green Lake last year will operate under the city of Spicer.

The council approved Wednesday having the committee work under the city and instructed the committee to look into grant possibilities for the building.

A Cessna L-19 “Birddog” that crashed into Green Lake in 1958 was discovered in 2004. Last summer, it was brought up from the lake and is being refurbished.

The Experimental Aircraft Association is storing the plane in a hangar at the Willmar Municipal Airport. About 75 percent of the plane has been dismantled. The association’s goal is to refurbish the plane in the next one to two years and then fly it to air shows throughout the country for a year. It would then be put on display in Spicer.

The committee, which includes city and American Legion representatives, has proposed constructing the building on the northwest corner of state Highway 23 and Kandiyohi County Road 10. That land is currently owned by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Spicer is requesting it be turned back to the city.

The building would be near the Glacial Lakes State Trail and serve as an information center and museum as well as a place to display the plane and honor members of the armed forces, including the pilot who died in the plane crash.

Capt. Richard P. Carey, 36, of Willmar was flying the plane when it went down in dense fog on Oct. 15, 1958, in Green Lake. Carey’s body was recovered a couple weeks after the crash, but the plane wasn’t discovered until July 3, 2004, by a fisherman.

Many people had searched for it over the years and one man claimed to have found it in 1996.

The committee met this week and came up with a vision and requests from the city. The committee asked that the city own the building since it would be on city-owned land, that it serve as the sponsor for grants and that it budget annually for the maintenance costs of the center and grounds.

“We would like to be operating under the umbrella of the city,” said Jean Spaulding, Spicer Economic Development Authority director.

Councilman Ron Schneider asked who owns the plane.

Spaulding said based on the letters the Legion received from federal and state agencies, it’s the committee’s interpretation that the Legion owns it. She said it may be appropriate for the city to own the plane once it’s on display.

Schneider said maintaining a plane so that it can be flown is expensive.

Spaulding said she didn’t know if anyone would fly the plane again after that first year.

Councilman Terry Holmquist asked for estimated costs of maintaining the airplane.

The city has already approved establishing a fund to accept donations for the building project.

Also at the meeting, the council agreed to participate in an educational campaign with the Middle Fork of the Crow River Watershed District.

The watershed district is asking people not to put grass clippings in the streets or in storm drains because it adds phosphorus to area waterways, said Ann Latham, representing the district. Excessive phosphorus levels can create algae in the water, according to the district.

The district is proposing airing a radio spot, including a message about grass clipping on water and sewer bill statements and establishing a committee to create an information sheet that would be distributed.

Latham did not request money from the city for the campaign. She also plans to get the cities of New London, Belgrade and Atwater involved.

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SPICER — Informational meetings about a plan to purchase the Melvin’s on the Lake restaurant have been set.

The meetings are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, and on May 27 and May 28 at Melvin’s in Spicer.

Dave Laursen of Spicer has proposed forming an ownership group to purchase the restaurant, which is on Green Lake. He figures he needs to raise $2.5 million to buy the property, do some remodeling and have a reserve fund. He has proposed selling membership units at $1,000 a piece.

Melvin’s owner Dave Baker announced earlier this year that rising property taxes, costs and competition have forced him to consider selling the property and closing the restaurant by summer’s end. He has said, however, that he would like to keep a restaurant on the lake.

Laursen announced in a press release last week that response to his proposal has been “overwhelming.” A steering committee has been formed to work on the plan, he said. The committee members are Laursen, Kelly and Sheri TerWisscha, John Crossen, Linsey Kubesh, Carey Crump and Justin Paffrath.

“I am absolutely thrilled and excited with the response. People have thanked me for taking the initiative, offered their help and pledged to purchase membership units,” Laursen said.

Baker said last week that nothing has been finalized regarding the sale of the property. He said Laursen’s proposal seems to be getting a lot of attention. He also said he’s been talking to other people interested in the property.

The proposed ownership group can be contacted at davidlaursen@aol.com or by calling (320) 346-2264.

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SPICER — A proposed recreational vehicle park in Spicer is being required to go through an environmental review process.

The project requires an environmental assessment worksheet, which has been drafted and will now be reviewed by about 35 agencies during a 30-day comment period, said Jim Solheid, city planning and zoning administrator. The worksheet will be published in the state Environmental Quality Board Monitor. A public hearing also will be held on the worksheet.

Westrich LLP, which is owned by two Spicer developers, is proposing a seasonal 84-lot RV park on West Woodcock Lake, north of the Prairie Meadows Learning Center. The developers had originally proposed more than 100 lots, but recently found out they could build only 84 lots.

The environmental assessment worksheet is required by the state because the proposal exceeds 50 sites. The worksheet screens a project’s potential environmental effects.

The Spicer City Council approved sending the worksheet on to the appropriate reviewing agencies. After the 30-day review, the city Planning and Zoning Commission will make a recommendation to the council about the worksheet. The council will decide whether to approve it, Solheid said.

Westrich had applied for a conditional use permit for the park. The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed it last month, but decided to delay making a recommendation until it received more feedback on the project from the state Department of Natural Resources.

Because of the environmental review, the commission will not make a decision on the park’s permit application until late June, according to a letter from Dennis Baker, commission chairman.

Along with the 84 RV sites, Westrich plans to include in the park 60 garage units, 84 storage units, overflow parking and outdoor boat parking, a recreation area, pool, restrooms, playground and storm shelter. The park would use city water and sewer.

The park would form an L-shape around the New London-Spicer School District property on the west and north. A 24-foot gravel road would connect Kandiyohi County Road 10 to 71st Street.

The development would increase storm water runoff, which would be stored onsite and infiltrated into existing drainage facilities, according to the environmental assessment worksheet.

Westrich, which is owned by Dean Westre and Earl Rich, is paying for the environmental assessment worksheet costs.

Solheid also told the council that an informational session on planning and zoning enforcement will take place during the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting at 5 p.m. next Wednesday. Attorneys who specialize in zoning will be there to answer questions.

In other business, the council:

- Agreed to contribute $185 to the Green Lake Property Owners Association to spray for tent caterpillars. Spraying will take place a few days before Memorial Day weekend.

- Established a fund for donations to and grants for beautification committee projects. A meeting is being held at 7 p.m. today at the Dethlefs Center to review city beautification goals.

One of the committee’s first projects will be putting 15 hanging flower baskets downtown.

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