Improving the viability of Rainy River Community College and increasing city’s share of local government aid top the priorities of Borderland’s state legislators.

Rep. Tom Anzelc and Sen. Tom Saxhaug met with the International Falls City Council Monday to hear council input prior to the 2009 Minnesota Legislature convening Jan. 6.

“The Toms,” as they have become known locally, are scheduled to meet today with the Koochiching County Board. By Monday evening, the two had already heard from representatives of the Falls school district, Falls Memorial Hospital, International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, and the International Falls Good Samaritan Center.

Saxhaug and Anzelc told councilors that money issues in the upcoming session will be sensitive as the state faces a huge budget deficit they estimate at $2 billion to $4 billion.

Anzelc told the council to expect “shifts and accounting gimmicks,” but he said he would cross the DFL Party line to seek compromise on a budget bill the governor will sign.

Saxhaug told the council the pair would fight hard to protect the LGA recently won back after it was cut in 2003 by the governor to balance that year’s budget deficit.

Anzelc said the two legislators are working behind the scenes to improve the stability of Rainy River Community College. The pair will attempt to “tweak” the college funding formula to take money from healthy financial institutions for ailing colleges, noted Anzelc.

Mayor Shawn Mason said she shared their priorities and asked if any action would be sought that would aid Borderland in expanding development while at the same time meeting requirements of state and federal wetland rules.

The pair of legislators explained that federal wetland laws are posing challenges to the expansion plans for Falls Memorial Hospital. They urged the council to contact its federal delegation for help.

A slight change made to the state’s wetland rules was met with great opposition, Anzelc noted, saying he now realizes how difficult it would be achieve real changes. That earlier change to the law allows wetland credits to be purchased within the same watershed they are used, Anzelc noted.

Meanwhile, Councilor Paul Eklund urged the legislators to continue to support expanding lanes and adding improvements to U.S. Highway 53, as well as looking for funding for a road to a foreign trade zone in the area.

Councilor Tim “Chopper” McBride asked the legislators to watch closely any new bills dealing with shoreland or wetland rules, and urged them to support a push to develop club hockey at RRCC.

In other business, the council heard from Jerry Jensen, Falls ambulance and fire chief, that more information is being gathered on the actual costs to add advanced life support to the area’s ambulance service.

Information provided by a consulting firm to a study group and task force was not complete, he noted. After more information is gained, Jensen said the proposal will be brought to the Koochiching County Board for input on creating a funding mechanism for the service.

The council approved a joint agreement between the county and five other cities to establish the Koochiching Community Development Association. After one year, the agreement will be revisited.

Mason, who represents International Falls on the KCDA, said applications for financial assistance from the group have already been received.