The International Falls City Council Monday is scheduled to consider conducting a closed meeting to discuss possible litigation regarding a new alignment for Minnesota Highway 332.
The Falls City Council meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the council chambers at the Municipal Building.
A closed session on the issue at the April 21 council meeting resulted in a letter being sent to Tom Sorel, newly appointed commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The letter details the council’s understanding of decisions made by a MnDOT Dispute Resolution Board and urges Sorel not to accept the board’s recommendations “because they are not authorized by law.”
To take effect, Sorel must accept the board’s recommendations.
Councilors have said they want the reroute of Highway 332 to lead to a foreign trade zone east of International Falls. The road, they say, is crucial to spurring development at the FTZ. In addition, the council has agreed to vacate a portion of the road, the Burner Road, to Boise Inc. should the county agree to its desired route for Highway 332.
The city claims that the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s board should not have been convened April 11 because the city’s lack of action on a request by Koochiching County to change county state aid highway status on certain roads does not constitute a dispute.
The board also ruled against the city on other factors involved in the county moving the northern entrance of Highway 332.