State Rep. David Dill, left, and State Sen. Tom Bakk meet with local officials Tuesday to discuss the new legislative session.
A little bit of St. Paul made its way to International Falls Tuesday when Borderland lawmakers met with local officials.
State Rep. David Dill and State Sen. Tom Bakk met with area officials Tuesday at the Koochiching County Courthouse for a belated, pre-legislative session review of local issues. The Minnesota Legislature reconvened on Jan. 6.
Among the issues addressed by the officials were wetland mitigation, rural health care, restoration at the Capitol, transportation and aquatic invasive species education.
Wetlands
County Board Chairman Wade Pavleck said Koochiching County has the largest repository of wetlands of any county in the lower 48 states, so wetland mitigation is a critical issue when it comes to development.
Currently, wetland mitigation has to occur in the same watershed, Dill said, which means if you disturb a wetland, you need to replace it in the same area. This is an issue for Koochiching County, because it makes it hard to replace a wetland, he said.
An upcoming bill Dill is involved with would allow wetland mitigation to occur outside of the watershed in which the wetland was disturbed, which affects everyone, he said.
“This affects someone who wants to build a garage,” Dill said. “This isn’t building a new mill, or building a new hospital or some small business. This is right down to your garage.”
This new process would set up areas in the state where wetlands could be created, Dill said. This would allow someone to simply pay a fee to mitigate wetlands for a project, he said, and the process would be complete.
Health care
All rural communities are dealing with bed shortages when it comes to nursing homes or assisted living, Dill said.
“There’s just this real need, and to wonder what it’s going to look like,” Dill said. “How are we going to deliver medical service to end-of-life in rural communities.”
Dill commended Koochiching County for its $1 million loan to the Littlefork Medical Center to pay for capital improvements at the facility, which will allow it to remain open and serving the community.
“That’s really important and a strong message,” Dill said. “I don’t know what the answer is, but I hope at some point we can figure it out.”
The long-term care industry is struggling as a whole, Bakk said, and officials are trying to figure out how to keep it afloat.
“It’s one of the bigger challenges we face as a state: what are we going to do with this aging, baby boom population, as they move into more need for health care,” Bakk said.
Capitol
Bakk, who serves as Senate Majority Leader, said the Legislature is at an exciting time in St. Paul, in the middle of a $240 million restoration of the Capitol building. The project has not been without its challenges, however.
“The biggest challenge in the Senate this year is probably not going to be the budget, it’s the logistics,” Bakk said.
Most of the Capitol is completely closed, Bakk said, and there are issues with public accessibility to officials.
“Suites that had one or two senators in them now have three or four,” Bakk said. “There are offices with not one chair for somebody in the public that’s coming to meet with you to sit.”
Bakk said he’s received a lot of criticism for authorizing the construction of a new Senate office building. However, he said if he hadn’t given the project the go-ahead, there wouldn’t be anywhere for the Senate offices to be after the Capitol renovations.
Now, when the legislative session ends in May, Bakk said, the Senate will have nowhere to go until the new office building is complete at the end of 2015.
“So we’ve got about a seven-month period here, and to tell you the truth, we can’t find anybody that will take us,” Bakk said.
Transportation
Transportation will be a “huge” issue in the current session, Bakk said, as the current infrastructure is “falling apart” all over the state. According to polls, he said, people overwhelmingly support improving roads and bridges. However, when a gas tax is proposed as a solution, the support dips dramatically.
“People want it fixed, but they’d rather not have to pay for it,” Bakk said.
Last week, the Senate introduced a “very aggressive” transportation project including transit and metro and rural roads, Bakk said. It would be difficult to apply part of the $1 billion budget surplus to transportation, and such an act would only be a “Band-Aid” on the issue, he said.
“Well, $200 million spread statewide’s not going to do a lot, and it’s only going to do it one time,” Bakk said. “So there’s no ongoing revenue there, it’s just kind of hobbling from one election cycle to the other.”
Because of this, Bakk said the Senate is going to “push hard” for a long-term solution to the transportation problem.
“It’s pretty important, and as all of you know, roads don’t fix themselves,” Bakk said.
AIS
County Commissioner Rob Ecklund mentioned a current law requiring all boat trailers entering Minnesota to display a sticker, which someone would receive after taking an online aquatic invasive species education course.
Ecklund said the program could cause a negative impact on the area’s tourism industry, and inquired about a bill which would repeal the law. Dill replied he has authored a bill repealing the current law.
“Even if the bill is repealed...it doesn’t mean we’re not doing something,” Dill said. “Plain and simple, we’ve got a $1 billion-plus problem.”
There are AIS like spiny waterfleas and rusty crayfish already in area waters like Namakan Lake, Dill said. The problem will only get worse without proper education on how to curttail the issue.
“It is not my intent not to have a program to educate people that own boats and motors and trailers,” Dill said. “We need it, we need it soon, but it needs to be done right.”
The bill was passed in 2011, Dill said, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources “jumped in” and created a program. However, stakeholders like resort owners and cabin owners were silent on the process. Now, he said, those same people are up in arms over a program designed to protect their waters.
“So, put some skin in the game, get in the middle of it, and let’s find a solution,” Dill said. “Rather than just throw darts at somebody standing against the wall.”
Ecklund said the county board doesn’t oppose AIS education, and has set up a program using funding from the last legislative session to educate people locally.
Even with a prevention program, Dill said, there’s still birds like loons or eagles that can spread AIS, and can’t be stopped.
“No matter what we do, we might not be able to circumvent this problem,” Dill said. “You’ve still got ways to transport these things, even with the best intentions of man.”
Kristine Lessard of Ranier finishes Saturday's 10-kilometer Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run. More than 90 runners competed in the 6.2-mile event.
Wyatt Vohler, front, and his brother, Mason, appear to enjoy themselves after winning a round of smoosh races last year.
This youngster gets a hand with turkey bowling.
Terry Randolph sizes up some chili he's judging at the chili cook-off Saturday at Backus Community Center.
Players battle for the ball during a boot hockey tournament game Saturday.
From left, Gizzard Girls Kalsie Briggs, Jenny Chivers-Wilson, Desiree Arnold and Kasi Joyce celebrate their smoosh race win against another team of Gizzard Girls.
Fresh snow made for some tricky turkey bowling during Icebox Days Saturday.
From left, Kaden Vohler and Jett Tomczak try their luck at smoosh racing.
Snow flurries Saturday afternoon doesn't stop players in the boot hockey tournament at the Eighth Street rink.
When Minnesotans have something to prove — they prove it.
Saturday’s 35th annual Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run and Icebox Days event went off as it does every year, and this year, gizzards didn’t necessarily freeze.
At race time, an air temperature of 26 degrees above zero had some people celebrating, while a few were almost embarrassed it was so “warm.”
“Minnesota runners are hardy and those who come from elsewhere have something to prove,” said International Falls Area Chamber President Faye Whitbeck on a Saturday morning interview with The Weather Channel. “Some (runners) even like to boast bare legs.”
Whitbeck explained the race has never been canceled, but only shortened in 1982 because of a -72 wind chill. The Weather Channel news anchor was noticeably shocked.
“We’re showing our Minnesota hardiness,” Whitbeck said. “We really don’t care about the weather...We have a lot of fun.”
And fun appeared to be had all weekend while the frozen festival was underway. From a moonlight snowshoe event at Voyageurs National Park to fireworks in International Falls’ Smokey Bear Park, the weekend was a success, Whitbeck said.
“Event holders invest more and more into what they offer the community,” she said of the weekend. “And I can tell you there are some exciting new ideas and improvements planned for the FYGBR, and a promise of some new energies to be infused. We really want the local community to feel more included, to participate more and take ownership of the celebration in their city – we’re working on that.”
Thursday
The Viking Bar on Third Street joined the festivities on Thursday, with Jim Woods taking first place in a buffalo wing eating contest at the bar.
Friday
The highlight of Friday night’s events was the moonlight snowshoeing at Voyageurs National Park. Justin Olson, VNP Rainy district interpreter, reported more than 100 people participate in the late-night excursion.
“Apparently, the warmer weather was pretty good incentive to come snowshoeing in the park,” Olson said. “We actually ran out of snowshoes this year.”
The 80 pairs of on-loan snowshoes were snapped up quickly, with latecomers still getting a chance to take a stroll around the Rainy Lake Visitor Center, and check out the campfire, Olson said. The event was a resounding success, and sparked an interest in the wintertime activities the park has to offer, he said.
“This is the single biggest event we’ve had in my time here, and probably in quite some time,” Olson said. “I think people are really excited to come back out and snowshoe or ski, or come to our Saturday ranger-led snowshoe hikes starting in February.”
Also on Friday, the Viking Bar hosted a can crushing contest, with Becky Nordeen taking the top prize.
Saturday
At the Viking Bar, competition again heated up during the annual smoosh racing events.
The kids strapped 2x4 planks of lumber to their shoes and raced against each other for ultimate bragging rights.
Anika Peterson and her younger sister, Juliet, of Minneapolis, finished in first place — just barely ahead of their competition.
Then it was the adults’ turn.
Tradition continued for Team Canada, which came out supporting its nation’s flag and colors complete with a cheerleader on the sidelines. The local Gizzard Girls were too much for the foursome and defeated the northern neighbors in the first round.
The championship smoosh came down to “gizz on gizz,” a team of veteran Gizzard Girl smooshers who took on a team of newbies. In the end, however, the vets couldn’t pull it off and the team of Kalsie Briggs, Kasi Joyce, Desiree Arnold and Jenny Chivers-Wilson claimed the trophy.
Also taking place at the Viking Bar on Saturday was the toilet seat toss. Jeremy Dockery won the contest's adult division, with Hunter Krantz taking it home in the kid's division.
Backus
While the snow and cold took hold over outdoor events Saturday, inside Backus Community Center participants in a chili cook-off let their recipes duke it out for the top prize.
Anyone could stop by the event, and with $6 could get a sample of all the chili varieties and judge for themselves which was the top dog. The Backus gymnasium was filled with taste testers taking notes while partaking in the different kinds of chili.
Taking first place in the competition was Teresa Rom, followed by a chili from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Peter Graham Post 2948, and taking third place was the Main Street Market.
Another Icebox Days favorite, turkey bowling, was in full swing Saturday afternoon outside Backus. The event allows bowlers to chuck a frozen Thanksgiving bird at a 10-pin setup, with strikes being rewarded with a cookie.
While adults had one shot to knock all the pins down, restrictions were loosened for younger bowlers who needed a hand hoisting the bird down the makeshift lane.
Sunday
Wrapping up the festivities on Sunday was the Bridge tournament at First Lutheran Church. Dolly Lemieux and Don Zucchiatti of Fort Frances took home the top prize, with Falls residents Marva Fairchild and Betty Ericson taking second place by a slim margin. In third place was Ralph and Kathy Awe.
Twelve pairs competed in the annual tournament, which has been a part of the Icebox Days festivities since the beginning.
Overall, it’s the uniqueness of Icebox Days that Whitbeck believes draws people back year after year.
“The originality and the audacity of the concept, and its history (makes the event so beloved by many),” she said. “It also happens at a time when cabin fever threatens our sanity a little bit. I’m sure this was part of the scene 35 years ago when a handful of originators sat around betting each other if a festival such as this, held during the dead of winter, come snow or come shine, could be sustained. Well, here we are, going strong.”
Ron
Wilcox
RANIER-The Ranier City Council believes it should have a say in a potential annexation agreement.
The pending agreement between the city of International Falls and Koochiching County pertains to the multimodal district, which is owned by International Falls, but not located in the city limits.
The council discussed the issue of an annexation agreement between the the Falls and the county containing language preventing the siting of an industrial waste facility on the location, which is adjacent to Second Creek.
At a Dec. 23 Koochiching County Board meeting, during which the annexation issue was tabled, Commissioner Wade Pavleck expressed concern the county board was acting too quickly on the annexation process. He maintained the board should hold a public hearing to gather citizen input before formally acting on the issue.
Thursday, Ranier City Administrator Sherril Gautreaux said citizens David Stavseth and Jeff Oveson, who live near Second Creek, have been vocal about the issue, and desire a “buffer zone” be included in the agreement in order to protect the waterway.
Gautreaux said when the language regarding the industrial waste facility is added to the agreement, the city of Ranier should be able to review the agreement.
“We should have a say on that,” Councilor Ron Wilcox said.
“We don't actually have a say,” Gautreaux responded. “But Wade is trying to give us a say.”
Ranier Mayor Dennis Wagner said the last meeting he attended on the issue included a large buffer zone for Second Creek. Gautreaux responded that the buffer zone isn't actually included in the language.
“That would ensure the, you know, the buffer zone,” Wagner said. “You know, what, trying to protect I guess, against what may come in the future.”
Gautreaux said the citizens in the area support development, but also want to make sure the annexation agreement contains language preventing pollution of Second Creek.
“We gotta be real careful not to offend our neighbors, but we also gotta protect the rights of the citizens and their wishes,” Wagner said. “We gotta make sure it is done, and done correctly.”
While the annexation agreement is between the city of International Falls and Koochiching County, Wagner said the city of Ranier should be involved as well.
“Quite honestly, we should be the third set of eyes on this,” Wagner said.
“Not only that, they should be notifying us to keep us informed,” Wilcox said. “That creek is ours, and it's been between the county and the city.”
Wagner credited the city and county for trying to keep Ranier involved in the process, but said the process has a lot of moving parts, so it's been difficult.
In other business, the council agreed to change the date of regular council meetings to the third Tuesday of each month. The meetings have been scheduled on the third Monday of each month for several years.
Councilor Tony Cole proposed the idea, explaining it's "very difficult" for him to make Monday meetings. He originally proposed meeting on Wednesday nights. “It's easier for us as a council group to meet on a Wednesday night because everybody is pretty much guaranteed to be in town on a Wednesday night,” Cole said.
Wilcox said long weekends make it difficult to have meetings on a Monday night as well, as people have to return to Ranier for the meeting.
“Not only that, most of your holidays are either Mondays or Fridays,” Wilcox said.
Gautreux mentioned the difficulty of people who had been used to coming to Monday meetings “for a hundred years” having the date changed suddenly.
“Adapt, or miss the meeting,” Wilcox said, chuckling.
Councilor Todd Coulombe said he's heard from citizens who want to attend multiple meetings in the area, but can't because they both meet on Mondays. The International Falls City Council regularly meets on Monday nights.
The council also:
- Designated Lyndon Larsen at the city attorney.
- Designated The Journal as the official city newspaper for publishing legal notices.
- Designated Bremer Bank, Border State Bank, and TruStar Federal Credit Union as city depositories.
- Approved Coulombe as acting mayor pro tempore.
