Otter Tail County Commission Overrides Approval For Grove Lake Campground

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (KVRR) — Otter Tail County Commissioners have voted against a proposed 25 Unit Campground.

It would have been on Grove Lake north of Pelican Rapids.

The commissioners unanimously rejected the proposal that was previously approved by the county planning commission.

“It’s a small lake. I don’t .. these people that have bought lakes, property out there already they didn’t intend to have twenty five more campers on that lake so I personally I got to feel we got to look out for those guys that already have the property,” said Commissioner Dan Bucholz.

Commissioner Wayne Johnson said that for many years, he’s been close with the family that wanted to build the campground, and believes that the proposal had not properly addressed the environment.

“This one’s messy, I’ll be honest. I’ve read that tape, I’ve listened to this thing. Frankly, I know Joe Clauson, I’ve known him and his family all my life you know. So I have nothing personal here, but it’s just a matter of for the resource and those kinds of things,” said Commissioner Wayne Johnson.

The biggest concerns that Johnson pointed out were based on the shallowness of the water and the environmental impact.

“Buffalo-Red Watershed District actually came in and put in an outlet and a control structure to get the water down. So, it’s down to a certain level approved by the DNR. The Buffalo-Red put that in and it can only rise so far, but that doesn’t mean it can go down so far,” said Johnson.

Other Commissioners agreed with Johnson and mentioned that if the campground was allowed to move forward, there would need to be an environmental review.
While many landowners in the area are happy about the decision, they are hoping things stay the way they are now.

We have contacted Clauson once again for a comment but received no response.