Baxter Mayor Talks Camp Vanasek, Drought, and More from August 17 Council Meeting

(BAXTER, MN) — The city of Baxter held its second regular council meeting of the month of August on Tuesday. To hear about what was discussed, we had our usual conversation with Mayor Darrel Olson.

Olson began by mentioning that the city was still in discussion about the road work projects coming to Knollwood Drive and railroad crossings along Highway 210 within the next two years.

Something that has also been in the works for a while has been the possibility of instituting a “quiet zone” for trains passing through the city, especially during overnight hours. Olson said the city commissioned a study for such a zone, a necessary step in the process.

With regard to other projects, Olson acknowledged that ongoing drought conditions have presented wrinkles that had not been foreseen, but that projects were still moving forward with the proper adjustments.

Olson briefly mentioned an upcoming partnership between the YMCA and Camp Vanasek, and wrapped up by discussing the city’s recent purchase of the Camp Vanasek property from Crow Wing County, what it means, and why the council felt that the city of Baxter was the ideal buyer.

We thank Darrel Olson for his time. The city of Baxter will hold its next regular council meeting on September 7. Our full interview with Olson, in which he further discusses the partnership between the YMCA and Camp Vanasek as well as other miscellaneous business, may be found below.