Nathan Bowe

1 day ago | dl-online.com | Nathan Bowe

DETROIT LAKES — The Becker County Board may or may not order an Environmental Assessment Worksheet be done on a proposed gravel pit near Big Cormorant and Big Pelican lakes — that decision will be made by commissioners next month. But either way, more information is needed before they decide the fate of the gravel mining permit, since the conditional use application and mining plan — approved by the County Planning Commission May 28 — are skimpy on a number of details.

4 days ago | dl-online.com | Nathan Bowe

DETROIT LAKES — A proposed joint powers system with Becker County would give participating townships a say in whether to allow cannabis operations in the township. Height of Land Township is interested in the idea, and would be the first township to join the joint powers agreement, if it is ultimately approved by the Becker County Board. It would be modeled on a subdivision zoning joint powers agreement currently in use between the county and six townships that surround Detroit Lakes.

1 week ago | dl-online.com | Nathan Bowe

DETROIT LAKES — Ian Andersen, who bicycled across Africa and North and South America, has narrowly escaped a bad situation in Iran, which has been under heavy aerial assault by Israel since June 13. @ridewithian “I can no longer protect you. If you’re stopped by police, I should just wave goodbye because there’s nothing I can do.” That’s what my guide Reza told me this morning. The borders are shut except apparently Iraq. We gotta get out—like, yesterday.

1 week ago | dl-online.com | Nathan Bowe

DETROIT LAKES — Home costs are high, interest rates are high, construction costs are high. And Detroit Lakes lost the ability to protect subdivision zoning in the two-mile radius around city limits. So what’s a growing city that needs more housing to do? The cost of building a new house is more than most middle-income people can afford — the city’s median income was about $62,000 in 2023, and the cost to build a moderate to higher-cost home is $375,000-plus.

1 week ago | dl-online.com | Nathan Bowe

DETROIT LAKES — A proposed gravel pit in the Cormorant-Pelican lakes area has been put on hold temporarily, after opponents filed a petition for review with the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, according to Becker County Planning and Zoning Administrator Kyle Vareberg. Through the petition, opponents aim to show there may be potential for significant environmental effects from the gravel-mining operation.