Director of Golf

Those people who are part of golf in Becker know that we have seen Jeremy Lupinek depart for a job with Ping Golf in Arizona. Although we wish Jeremy well in his new pirsuit he has left a large void to fill at Pebble Creek. Jeremy did a great job and will be missed. Upon learning of his decision the city immediately started the recruiting process. An advertisement was accomplished and the notice period for applications began. We received approximately 40 applications for the position and these were reviewed and scored to bring the most qualified applicants to the top of the list. After further review 6 candidates were brought in for interviews. After conducting these interviews the list was reduced to three candidates. The final interview was conducted with department heads and council members sitting on three panels for rounds of interviews. It was noted we had three very qualified candidates and any one of them would have done a great job. During this final selection process one of three candidates dropped out leaving the city with the choice of the two remaining candidates.

In the end the council chose Troy Malo, a PGA Professional presently working in Deer Run Golf Course in Victoria, MN. Troy's formal education includes a Bachelor on Business Administration with majors in marketings and management from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. He also has a PGA Professional Golf Management Graduate degree.

Troy's most recent experience has been with Deer Run where he has been working for the last 9 years. Prior to that he worked in various capacities at Baker National Golf Course for three years. His formal title at Deer Run was Business Manager/Assist Golf Professional. Troy brings a number of great ideas with him to improve operations and provide a fun, relaxed atmosphere.
He will be starting at Pebble Creek in mid-November. We welcome Troy Malo as a member of our community and look forward to his leadership at Pebble Creek Golf Course.

Progresive Decision of Cooperation

When we look to the future some of us think about family goals. Others think about job goals and how to be better at what we do. Still others think about accomplishing some task such as getting that degree. With the city and township a goal of working together was established. More specifically the City of Becker and Becker Township agreed to an Orderly Annexation Agreement.

So what's that? An agreement such as this can take a number of different forms but it generally provides for the terms and conditions under which the city can annex property from the township to become part of the city. In our instance the the agreement provides for all of Becker Township to someday become part of Becker. It also provides for the terms and conditions under which the city may annex. The agreement provides for a joint advisory planning board to review land use applications. When finally assembled this board will review applications and recommend actions to the township board for final action by them, rather than Sherburne County.

Accomplishing these tasks is not a minor matter. The township needed to develop a comprehensive land use plan. They will need to establish a zoning and subdivision ordinance. They will also need to take the final steps of removing county authority and establishing their own authority. They are effectively creating their own destiny while working with the city to plan for a better community of Becker.

The plan does not annex anything at this time. The plan doesn't change taxes. It does specify how annexations will occur and under what conditions. It clarifies the city can't annex by ordinance. Only through cooperation can the city annex. The Orderly Annexation Plan also effectively lets the communities of Monticello and Big Lake know in legal form that Becker Township is off limits for annexation. This too provides for addressing our own destiny.

We look forward to working with the township in a more proactive way. They have the best interests of the community at heart and want to move Becker in the right direction. We have an interest to not only do the same but also work towards the community of Becker moving in the same directions. This may be a historic decision but it really is a progressive decision of cooperation. I applaud and thank our political leaders for their foresight. They have made a responsible decision for the future of Becker.

Who will survive?

We’ve heard it a bunch of times. Why is the city letting all these exercise businesses into town?

When it comes to competition some business owners fell the city can and should restrict certain uses from occurring because there already are enough businesses providing that service. The city can’t and won’t regulate these activities. We have no authority to do that and it would really destroy the free market system that exists if we did. There are a lot of arguments to support a free market system. The majority of these arguments address the needs of the consumer but they also address the rights of a business person to establish a business.

In Becker we take pride in creating land uses that are functional and attractive but we have no control over the number of exercise facilities or restaurants that exist within a community. The market dictates what will be supported and what businesses will survive. The city only has authority over zoning matters. That being said if a “use” is permitted in a district the city has no authority over the establishment of it. If it is a conditional use we have review authority and the ability to control certain aspects of the development of the property. We can establish conditions on it but still have no say in whether the use should exist or not.

All this being said business people create the business climate and who operates what business. We hope they do their homework and understand the market place as we want to see their businesses survive and thrive. You as a consumer play a role in this by supporting the businesses you use. Perhaps there is room for all the exercise facilities and perhaps there isn’t. Your use or non use and some time will give us the answer to who will survive.

Zoning

I believe the majority of people understand we have zoning laws which address areas for specific land uses. The primary districts are commercial, residential and industrial zoning districts. Within these broader categories we may have subsets like single family or multiple family residential as examples.

What may not be as broadly known is that within each zoning district there are Permitted, Accessory and Conditional uses. Permitted uses seem obvious, a list of those activities that are permitted in that district. An accessory use is something that is used in conjunction with a permitted use. A detached garage or shed are examples found in a residential district. A Conditional Use is a use that is generally permitted with conditions attached. The conditions make the use acceptable within the district in which they are located.

In the area of commercial growth a good deal of land uses are conditional uses. They require a Conditional Use Permit. The zoning ordinance lists those types of businesses and business activities that require a permit. Application is made and the business activity is viewed from a zoning perspective to determine what conditions will make the business acceptable. Things like screened trash areas, lighting that doesn’t spill over to another property or even the need for fencing to separate uses are the types of concerns addressed. The permit then specifies what conditions are needed to make that use compatible.

The use (business) itself is not something we can regulate except to say that a use not authorized in a district, isn’t acceptable in that location. It can however be located in a district that allows that use. Use variances are not legal. This would be allowing a use otherwise prohibited in a district.

The use of zoning has long been seen as a means to protect property values but it also is a means to provide standards in development. It further defines the “common sense” in land use to help us all work together. It may have its detractors but zoning has been held by the courts as a reasonable use of police powers and brings order to our lives.