Dear Neighbor,
I attended two important meetings this week. On Monday the Legislative Aggregate Resource Task Force met in Farmington to examine the status of construction aggregate resources from a statewide perspective.
About 50 percent of the aggregates consumed in Minnesota go into publicly funded projects. Our highways, bridges, airport runways, hospitals, trails, and boat landings are just a few examples.
Minnesota’s Aggregate Mapping Program was established in 1984 and is still in progress. In our district mapping of Aitkin County is complete, Crow Wing County has not been mapped as yet. Knowing where aggregate resources are is important. Once a community builds over those resources, the cost for both private and taxpayer funded construction increases significantly for every mile aggregate materials have to be transported.
On Tuesday the Cuyuna Country State Recreational Area Advisory Committee met. This was our first meeting since approval of the $3.6 million bonding request to upgrade the recreation area. There was an excellent discussion about “what’s next.”
CCSRA Staff and DNR planners recently completed a first order survey that identifies specific features that have to be taken into account as detailed bike trails and other features are laid down in detailed construction plans.
It is a truly exciting time at CCSRA. We are now beyond the concept and general planning stage, and we have the necessary funding. Next is the detailed work of building trails and making the other necessary facility upgrades to support the significant increase in use the CCSRA will see.
Thank you to all in the local community and the CCSRA Staff who have made it possible to move this project forward.
A quick note on a Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting that will take place Monday July 31, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Appeldoorn’s Sunset Bay Resort in Isle (45401 Mille Lacs Pkwy).
Dr. Chris Vandergoot will meet with the advisory committee, independent of the DNR staff to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the current management approach. Vandergoot will lead an external review of the current process this fall. The public is welcome and 15 minutes are reserved at the end of the meeting for any comments and questions from citizens.
Enjoy the powerboat races on Serpent Lake at Crosby this weekend! Click here for more on that event.
Sincerely,
Dale