Park Rapids City Council

The city of Park Rapids, population 4,145, is the county seat for Hubbard County.

Services provided by the city include law enforcement, fire protection, stormwater, sewer and water utilities, maintenance of streets, parks, and the public library, which is a member of the Kitchigami Regional Library System.

The city has a zoning ordinance; building permits are required and are available at city hall.

For businesses wishing to expand or locate in the Park Rapids area, assistance is provided through the Heartland Lakes Development Commission. The city also operates a municipal airport and liquor store.

City hall is located at 212 2nd St. W. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday. Call 218-7323163. The city’s website is ci.park-rapids. mn.us.

The Park Rapids Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. at city hall. Ryan Leckner is mayor, and council members are Liz Stone, Bob Wills, Tim Little and Joe Christensen.

Joe Carlson has been fire chief with the Park Rapids Fire Department (PRFD) since February 2022. He is supported in his duties by Chief 2 Ben Cumber and Chief 3 Bob Meier.

According to Carlson, the fire department currently has a full roster of 26 paid-on-call firefighters, protecting the city of Park Rapids and 10 townships – a 323-square-mile area whose population of roughly 10,500 balloons in the summer to as high as 25,000.

The PRFD has mutual aid agreements with the Bemidji, Carsonville, Detroit Lakes, Lake George, Menahga, Nevis and Wolf Lake fire departments. It has responded to an average of 118 fire calls per year during the past three years, setting a department record with 132 calls in 2022.

“We build a safer community through our commitment to protecting lives and property,” Carlson said of the department’s mission, adding that their motto is “Semper Paratus,” or always prepared. This year, the fire hall at 804 Park Ave. S. hosts an open house on Saturday, June 17. The department also provides on-site fire prevention education at the area schools, reaching 785 children from daycare through grade 4 in 2022.

Appel passes six-year mark as Park Rapids Police Chief

Police Chief Jeff Appel has served the city of Park Rapids since Oct. 17, 2016.

Prior to his appointment, Appel was a captain with the Savage Police Department with 17 years of law enforcement experience, seven of them in a supervisory role. He holds a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement.

Chief Appel is one of 13 sworn officers in the Park Rapids Police Department. Under his supervision are two patrol sergeants, one detective sergeant, eight patrol officers and a school resource officer. In addition, the department has one full-time administrative staff member and a K-9 officer.

“All staff with the Park Rapids Police Department are proud to serve the citizens of Park Rapids and those visiting our community,” Appel told the Enterprise. “Our goal is to serve each and every day by upholding the values in our mission statement: professionally providing excellent, community-oriented law enforcement services to the City of Park Rapids with the highest level of integrity while respecting the rights of all people in a courteous and dignified manner.”

The police department is located in the Public Safety Building at 1425 Fair Ave. and can be reached from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 237-2711. To file a report or make a complaint, call dispatch at 732-3331. If there is an emergency, dial 9-1-1.

Welcome to Nevis!

BY MAYOR JEANNE THOMPSON

Welcome to Nevis, home of the tiger muskie!

The swimming beach on beautiful Lake Belle Taine is popular all summer, along with biking on the beautiful Heartland Trail that goes right through downtown.

Stop at the new pollinator garden located near the visitor’s center, just off the trail.

Children will enjoy a visit to try out the new playground equipment at Muskie Park or Halverson Park just up the hill from the beach.

In the fall, come back to check out the beautiful colors along Paul Bunyan Drive north of town.

In the winter, there are hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile trails to explore.

Whatever the season, Nevis offers something fun for everyone! Go to the Nevis city website for more information on things to do in the area.

The lakeside village of Nevis is located on the east end of Belle Taine.

The Nevis City Council meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Nevis Administration Building.

The Nevis Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department and Public

Hubbard County sheriff’s deputy Josh Oswald provides police services to the city of Nevis.

He received his police training at Hibbing Community College, graduating in 2011.

Oswald has worked for the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office for 12 years and in Nevis for nine of those years.

“I take great passion in my job and enjoy every shift I work,” he said. “It’s a great community with great people.”

Oswald works closely with both the Nevis School District and the Akeley Police Department.

In addition to his regular patrols, Oswald also provides checks on seasonal residences during the winter months and checks in with elderly residents who do not have family nearby. Call 218-652-3866 to reach Oswald for non-emergency inquiries.

The Nevis Volunteer Fire Department protects the city of Nevis as well as Nevis, Crow Wing Lake, Mantrap and Thorpe townships. It also has mutual aid agreements with all fire departments in Hubbard County as well as the Menahga Fire Department, and an agreement with Minnesota DNR Forestry for wildland fires.

The department currently has 19 paid-on-call firefighters, including Fire Chief Josh Winter and Assistant Fire Chief Brent Nicklason, both appointed in January 2023.

“All of our members are Fire 1 and 2 certified as well as Emergency Medical Responder,” said Winter. “My goals as chief are to grow the department and to keep the department up to date with current tools and equipment. I want our department to be able to provide the best services that we can in our small, rural community.”

If interested in joining the department, stop by Nevis City Hall for an application or talk to any Nevis fireperson.