Memorial to honor former Rep. David Dill passed by House, goes to Senate

An effort to honor former Rep. David Dill by establishing a multi-use trail in his name was approved Wednesday by the House, as it voted 125-0 to pass HF2528.

Sponsored by Rep. Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar), the bill would establish the David Dill Memorial Trail in northeastern Minnesota. It would appropriate $20,000 to design and erect signs adding Dill’s name to portions of several existing trails.

The bill now goes to the Senate where Sen. Tom Saxhaug (DFL-Grand Rapids) is the sponsor.

The David Dill Memorial Trail would originate in International Falls, proceed southeast through St. Louis County and terminate in Lake County at the intersection of the C.J. Ramstad/Northshore Trail. It would follow portions of the Arrowhead Trail, the Taconite Trail and the Tomahawk Trail, and run near the cities of Tower and Ely along its path.

“I’ve heard nothing but calls from snowmobile clubs in support of this,” said Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL-Intl. Falls), who won a December special election in District 3A to fill Dill’s seat. “It’s a testament to what Rep. Dill stood for in the snowmobile and ATV community.”

Money for the new signage would come from state accounts dedicated to ATV’s and snowmobiles, and the trail could be used year-round by power sports enthusiasts as well as bicyclists and hikers.

Dill passed away in August 2015 after a battle with cancer. He’d represented northeastern Minnesota since 2003 and often served on agriculture and environment committees during his seven House sessions, including chairing the House Environment and Natural Resources Policy Committee during the 2013-14 biennium.