Chief Administrative Law Judge Richard C. Luis released his ruling Thursday approving annexation of nearby lands to the city of Ranier.
Luis’ order approves Ranier’s petition to annex French and Jameson additions, Three Points North and Brennan’s Beach, along with a foreign trade zone.
The city of International Falls had a competing petition, which was denied by Luis, that sought the FTZ and land where a road to it could be built.
The ruling excludes areas to the south of French Addition and the foreign trade zone, separated from those areas by wetlands. This area includes the “Moonlight Rock” landfill and few rural residences. This area will remain unincorporated land.
“(I’m) just very pleased with the ruling,” Ranier Mayor Ed Oerichbauer said Friday. “It allows Ranier to move forward.”
Former International Falls City Attorney Joe Boyle, who represented the city in this matter, released a statement Friday describing “ignored crucial material” regarding Ranier funding for the FTZ and road concerns.
“Obviously the Administrative Law Judge decided to ignore the petition of the International Falls City Council who has the ability and resources to develop the foreign trade zone just as they have developed the river front,” Boyle wrote.
For a complete story, see Wednesday’s edition of The Journal.
