Local officials travel to Washington D.C. to support park, area projects

Officials say last Wednesday’s Voyageurs National Park Day at the Capitol was, in some ways, symbolic of the changing relationship between the park and its gateway communities.

Representatives from Koochiching County, St. Louis County, the city of International Falls, the park, and the Voyageurs National Park Association traveled to Washington, D.C. to discuss the park with federal officials.

Falls Mayor Shawn Mason said that federal officials were relieved to see the group travel and speak as one unit, promoting the same goal.

“Personally, I’m proud of that accomplishment, too,” Mason said.

Monday night, she and Councilor Tim “Chopper” McBride recounted the trip to the International Falls City Council.

VNP Superintendent Mike Ward called the event a chance to “let the congressional delegates know the past is behind us now ... We’re all on the same page with what is best for the communities and the park.”

“Ten years to be on the same page would have been unheard of,” said Wade Pavleck, Koochiching County commissioner. In a note repeated by other local officials, Pavleck said former VNP superintendent Kate Miller and current superintendent Mike Ward were instrumental in bridging relations between the park and local governments.

“Ten years ago it was like the Sunnis and the Shiites, it never would have happened,” said International Falls City Councilor Tim “Chopper” McBride. “(Those feelings) are not gone, but it’s healing.”

McBride said that U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar had challenged community and park leaders years ago to find common ground and resolve lingering issues. McBride said that at one point during the meetings, Oberstar turned to him and said, “It happened, it worked.” The goal had been met.

The purpose of VNP Day at the Capitol was to update congressional delegates and their staffs on the successes and challenges in the park, and to discuss the importance of federal backing on certain projects.

Ward explained that it was “respectful” for the local contingent to visit D.C. to promote the park, rather than expect or wait for federal officials to visit Borderland.

“We’re not just sitting in Minnesota telling them what we need,” he said.

VNP Day included briefings with the representatives and staffs, followed by an evening event. The dinner was complete with a walleye fish fry, described by Mason as the type of shorelunch one would expect in Borderland.

And although Washington was abuzz with what is called “March madness” in the Capitol, the event was well attended by influential decision makers and their top staffs, local officials report.

“It was a busy day, a busy time in Washington,” said Andy Burmeister, who represented St. Louis County on the trip and helped set up the event. “It was not an easy thing to do. To get that many staff in one room speaks volumes.”

Burmeister works for Lockridge Grindal Mauen PLLP law firm out of Minneapolis and does work in Washington.

Oberstar has long been a proponent of the national park, and many say was influential in making the VNP Day happen.

“He came to talk about his love for the park,” Burmeister said.

Ward said there were four main topics on the park’s promotional agenda: a two-county clean water sewer project, VNPA land acquisition from willing sellers within the park boundaries, the Voyageurs Heritage Center and marketing group Destination VNP.

In addition to those cooperative agendas, members of the group were also able to meet with federal representatives on other topics of local concern.

For example, Pavleck spoke on behalf of the Renewable Energy Clean Air Project plasma gasification facility to seniors members of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s staff.

Pavleck proposed making RECAP a federal pilot project, noting that it fit with the president’s agenda of renewable energy projects. He said that making RECAP a pilot project would take some responsibility of the project off local taxpayers and government if it was federally funded.

“They were open to it ... and were willing to hear more,” Pavleck said.

Another project that Pavleck said he discussed with federal officials is the joint sewer project between Koochiching and St. Louis counties, the goal of which is to improve water quality in the nation’s only water-based park.

“I feel really good about it,” Pavleck said. “Clearly, this project has merit at the federal level. ... Clean water is critical in the park’s future.”

The project would extend sewer service to areas in the park basin currently not being served.

“The park is one to be cherished and protected for years to come,” Mason said, adding that the economic impact that the park provides neighboring communities such as the Falls is to be cultivated, as well.

McBride spoke about the North Koochiching Sanitary Sewer District. He said that one discussion flowed into the next and the information was well presented and well received.

Mason said that several federal officials were surprised that the port of Ranier is the second busiest rail port of entry in the United States (behind Detroit) and that a foreign trade zone was located in the area. Facts like these, she said, help promote and expand interest in the area.

Burmeister noted that several members of the congressional delegation were surprised to hear that Voyageurs is the nation’s only water-based park.

“It’s 100,000 fold what we got for what we spent,” McBride said, speaking of the cost of the event and travel compared to the contacts and information that was shared. “To be able to meet that kind of personnel and put a bug in their ear is priceless.”

Several members of the local group have already begun plans to hold a similar event next year.