Dear Neighbor,
An important new project in our area is taking off! The National Loon Center Foundation (click here) is leading an effort to establish a loon center at Cross Lake, Minn.
The center would be dedicated to the survival and protection of the Common Loon. The center would serve as a focal point for restoration and protection of loon habitats, loon related research, and provide education and enhanced environmental recreational opportunities.
On June 9 the foundation announced completion of a feasibility study which indicated such a center is viable. That announcement was followed by a well-attended open house at Cross Lake which I, Rep. Heintzeman and U.S. Congressman Nolan attended. Dr. Jon Wefald, a Bay Lake resident, provided an enthusiastic and comprehensive presentation on this wonderful creature.
The Foundation will be making a presentation to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) on this project, asking for support from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. The LCCMR commission reviews projects that would enhance Minnesota's environment and natural resources and annually submits a recommendation on funding the most noteworthy projects.
The National Loon Center Foundation’s presentation is scheduled to take place at 10:10 a.m. on June 27 in Hearing Room 5 at the State Office Building in St. Paul and is open to the public. A detailed schedule of LCCMR presentations can be found at this link.
I attended the county board of commissioners meetings in Aitkin and Crow Wing this week. We discussed an important element in this year’s capital investment legislation which authorizes funding to establish 6 regional mental health treatment centers throughout Minnesota.
The Brainerd Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs committee invited me to their monthly session. They outlined their legislative priorities going forward. Getting Minnesota out of the top 10 highest taxing states, ensuring stable statewide wage, work and benefit related regulations and continuing to improve our transportation system were at the top of the list.
This week I was pleased to learn that the contract has been let for a major mill and overlay project on highway 210, from the north junction of highway 169/210 east to the city of McGregor. Work is scheduled to begin in the late July-early August time frame with completion by this fall.
To all fathers out there – Happy Father’s Day.
Sincerely,
Dale