Public Hearing Feb. 24 on Otter Tail County 2040 Transportation Plan

The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, in the Commission Room of the County Government Service Center, 520 West Fir Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN 56537, to take testimony on the draft Otter Tail County Long Range Transportation Plan (2040). "Citizens are invited to review and provide input on the draft Otter Tail County Long Range Transportation Plan (2040)," the county notice says.

The draft plan is framed to 2040 but pairs that horizon with an implementation schedule that lists "proposed road improvement projects through 2031." The notice spells out plan content in full: "Key elements of the Transportation Plan include: existing conditions; goals, objectives, and performance measures; future systems analysis; and an implementation plan with proposed road improvement projects through 2031." That juxtaposition of a 2040 planning horizon and a project list through 2031 is part of the material the Board will present and for which county staff say public input is sought.

The county’s notice states that public outreach has already taken place: "Although public and focus group meetings have been held during the planning process, the County will convene a public hearing to again seek citizen comments and input on the draft Transportation Plan." Written comments are explicitly invited in advance to the named point of contact: "Public comments relating to the draft Transportation Plan are welcome and encouraged. Written comments may be mailed or emailed to Jodi Teich, Otter Tail County Engineer, prior to the hearing. An opportunity for public comments will also be provided during the hearing." The notice itself does not include a mailing address or email for Jodi Teich in the quoted text.

A copy of the draft plan is available for viewing on the county’s website, according to the notice, though the public posting reproduced in local media did not include a direct link in the excerpt provided to news outlets. The county website navigation around the notice lists services and government headings that may help residents find the document online, including Roads & Transportation, Departments, Boards & Commissions, and News.

The County Board will consider public input prior to taking action on the Transportation Plan, the notice confirms: "The County Board will consider public input prior to taking action on the Transportation Plan." Residents who want to review the draft or submit written comment before the Feb. 24 hearing should contact the County Government Service Center in Fergus Falls or look for the Long Range Transportation Plan (2040) posting on the county website to obtain current access instructions and any staff contact details for Jodi Teich. Reporters and residents seeking the list of proposed road improvement projects through 2031 or the Board agenda packet for Feb. 24 should request copies from county administration or the county engineer’s office ahead of the hearing.