In efforts to keep children safe plus earn an Eagle Scout Award, Seth Kellen constructed a chain link fence around a pond and battled controversy.
Kellen, 16, of Wadena built a chain link fence around a water retention pond at Tapley Park. The fences purpose is to keep children from going into the pond.
The Wadena City Council in March 2005 approved having a fence around the pond in a 3-2 vote. Parents and the parks board had requested the fence for childrens safety. Council members were concerned about the fence setting a precedent for other water bodies to be fenced.
Kellen assumed the responsibility of making the fence after Public Works Director Ron Bucholz talked to the Boy Scouts about the project.
Kellen thought it would work well for his Eagle Award project.
ADVERTISEMENT
While working on the project, he heard both sides of the controversy concerning the fence.
Someone even came up to me and said, Its ugly, Kellen said.
He also heard from supporters.
Others said it looks good and were glad it was up, Kellen said.
Kellen thinks the fence suits a purpose.
Its just more practical to have it up, he said.
Kellen and 15-20 volunteers put around 110 combined hours into the fence so far. They started the project at the end of the summer in 2005 and continued until the end of October. He still plans to add a gate so the city can mow the lawn between the pond and the fence.
To make the fence, Kellen and volunteers put in steel fence posts and wooden corner posts. They attached braces and fencing material.
ADVERTISEMENT
To Kellen, the hardest part was putting up the actual fence and connecting it to the poles.
A lot of people needed to hold up the chain link fencing or it would fall down, he said.
His dad, Mike Kellen, who made fences as teenager while working on a farm, helped teach him how to make the fence.
Although the project isnt completely finished, it was enough to help Kellen earn his Eagle Award. He and four other local Boy Scouts who are recent Eagle Award winners were honored at a banquet April 8 at St. Anns Parish Center.
The Eagle Award is the highest honor a Boy Scout can receive. Requirements to earn the award include earning merit badges, holding offices in the troop and having letters of recommendation.
Kellen plans to continue to be in Boy Scouts for as long as he can, until he is 18 years old.
