Dear Neighbors,
The 2020 legislative session got started last week and the State Capitol is a flurry of activity. One of our largest responsibilities this year will be putting together a package of capital investments in state infrastructure, commonly referred to as “the bonding bill.” The House Capital Investment Committee toured the state last fall to look at potential projects, and as a member of the committee, I had an opportunity to see first-hand exactly how extensive the state’s infrastructure needs are. I’ll be advocating for a robust bonding bill to invest in assets like our higher education institutions, public safety facilities, clean water infrastructure, parks, trails, and various government buildings that might not gain news headlines, but are important to protect.
Here in our region, we have several priorities and I’ll be working to ensure they receive funding. One of the most significant is the Canisteo Mine Pit which is quickly eroding. In a best-case scenario, the pit will overflow in two years or so. In a worst-case scenario, the pit will breach sooner resulting in a public safety disaster with the loss of property, contamination of drinking water sources, and potentially putting lives in danger. Destruction of the adjacent rail line would limit the potential for any future economic development. Reconstruction of the tracks would come at a significant cost, if it they’d be rebuilt at all.
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To see the potential impact, one needs to look no further than the Hector Mine near Biwabik which breached in 2018. Water and sewer lines were severed, material was washed into the Embarrass River, and a section of the Mesabi Trail was destroyed. The Canisteo pit is under the jurisdiction of the state of Minnesota (specifically the DNR), so it’s the state’s responsibility to protect it. I’ll work to make sure a long-term water pumping solution is included in our capital investment bill.
The City of Chisholm’s Fire Station was constructed in 1910, and was designed for horse-drawn rescue equipment, not the 600-plus horsepower fire engines in service today. The station’s current concrete floor simply can’t hold the weight of a modern fire truck. Moreover, the facility is designed in a manner requiring traffic to stop in both directions when a truck pulls out. Citizens expect reasonable response times, and the city has put forth a solid proposal for a new public safety facility. Wastewater infrastructure is also a high priority, with projects ready to go in Floodwood, Buhl, and for the East Itasca Joint Sewer Board to update aging and failing treatment systems. Citizens in Floodwood experienced the consequences of aging infrastructure in 2018 when a control structure failed and as a result, wastewater was released into the ground.
The Hibbing Mine View is a one of a kind asset putting our region’s culture on display, but it needs to be relocated. Our Capital Investment Bill could invest in a new “Windows to the World” with spectacular 360-degree views of HibbTac operations while continuing the attraction’s annual $5 million annual impact to our local economy. Also important to our culture are activities like hockey and curling, and the Chet Tomassoni Ice Arena (which also pumps ice to the Chisholm Curling Club) needs a new ice plant. Especially as youth continue to spend more time in front of their screens instead of being active, these investments aren’t just important for our regional vitality, but provide opportunities to keep our young people moving.
While our final bonding bill needs to be sized responsibly, I don’t believe in artificial caps which limit our capacity. None of these projects will become less important and will only get more expensive the longer they go unaddressed. Especially in our rural communities with limited tax bases, without the state's help, many of these projects will never get off the ground, and ultimately, quality of life will suffer. This legislative session presents a moment of opportunity, and with low interest rates and a terrific state credit rating, we’re well positioned to get this done.
As always, I welcome your feedback on any issue. Please feel free to call or email me any time. It’s an honor to represent you at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Julie Sandstede
State Representative