March 27, 2018
Legislative Alert
ISSUE:
In 2015/2016 the MN DNR made up a special budget shortfall by lowering the funding levels for aquatic invasive species grants. In 2017, facing another budget shortfall, the MN DNR zeroed out the AIS grant program entirely.
Rep. Sand Laymen has introduced HF 3798 in the House, and Senator Carrie Rudd has introduced SF 3531 which would restore $400,000.00 to the local DNR Aquatic Invasive Species Grant program.
The Legislative Committee urges you to contact your elected officials to encourage their support of this funding. You may find out how to reach your legislator at www.house.leg.state.mn.us. You do not need to be a resident of MN to contact the legislators above simply state that you are a property owner who cares!
To voice support for their bills:
Sandy Layman: Email: rep.sandy.layman@house.mn 651-296-4936
Carrie Rudd: Email: sen.carrie.rudd@senate.mn 651-296-4913
BACKGROUND:
These grants are critical to local efforts to keep the public waterways usable for everyone in the state. Lake Associations already contribute millions of dollars to fund AIS education, inspection, and management projects to protect the public waters. This work is having an impact and benefits everyone in Minnesota be they direct users of our lakes and rivers, businesses dependent on healthy lake and river ecosystems, or even people who drink water or pay property taxes. Zebra mussels can damage water plant infrastructure and drive up costs for everyone.
Studies have shown that aquatic invasive species can lower property tax base, raising costs for everyone in the taxing district.
March 9, 2018
Highway 371 Backus to Hackensack 2018 construction project open house set for March 20
St. Cloud, Minn. – Backus and Hackensack area businesses and residents are invited to attend an open house about a major road project that will reconstruct Highway 371 between Backus and Hackensack in 2018. Highway 371 will be closed to through traffic for several weeks during the project.
The public open house will be held Tuesday, March 20, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Cass County Land Department building, 218 Washburn Ave., in Backus.
Open house attendees will be able to learn details about the project including the work to be performed, schedule, traffic plans and more. A project layout will be on display, and MnDOT staff will be available to answer questions and take comments on the project. No presentation is planned, and guests are invited to arrive any time.
“We’ll need to close the road so crews can complete the job as quickly as possible, and still deliver the highest quality product possible,” said Matt Indihar, MnDOT Project Manager. “This open house is a great opportunity for everyone to get specific questions answered, especially those who live within the work zone.”
The project will begin in August, and be completed in October. The detour will begin after the Labor Day holiday weekend in September.
The project will reconstruct Highway 371 between Highway 87 in Backus and Cass County Road 40 in Hackensack, replace underground pipes and make other improvements while Highway 371 is closed. When complete, the project will result in a smoother ride with a long-life pavement along 7.5 miles of Highway 371, extend the life of the roadway and improve drainage in the area.
To request an ASL or foreign language interpreter, call 651-366-4720. To request other reasonable accommodations, call 651-366-4718; the Minnesota Relay service toll-free at 1-800-627-3529 (TTY, Voice or ASCII) or 711, or email your request to adarequest.dot@state.mn.us.
For more project information and the latest updates, visit mndot.gov/d3/2018/h371/ .
For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org.
January 3, 2018
Burglary call results in 5 arrests; 2 charged
See article from the Brainerd Dispatch here.