Officials claim victory in Thompson wetland appeal
International Falls City Council will move forward with developing a comprehensive land use and wetland plan for the city.
The council agreed to move forward first by pursuing an offer by staff of the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources to provide help in developing the wetland part of the plan.
Falls Mayor Shawn Mason proposed the idea, saying the plan should include infrastructure needs of the city now and into the future. She said the plan must include information about what kind of roads will be needed where and when in the city.
Councilor Tim “Chopper” McBride said the plan must also include potential development along the Rainy River and the railroads. He also said he’s excited by the idea of BWSR paying a portion of the costs of the plan. McBride said BWSR staff said the plan could help identify potential places that could be developed for use as wetland mitigation credits for development within the city that impacts wetlands.
In related business, the council celebrated what some councilors and officials called a victory in the city’s struggle to implement the state’s Wetland Conservation Act.
The council was informed that BWSR rescinded a restoration order, and therefore a cease and desist order, issued to Thor Thompson, owner of Rainy Lake Marine on Highway 53. Thompson had appealed the order.
“It’s a victory for Thor and the city,” said McBride. “It’s a win for the little guy for a change.” McBride serves as the chairman of the city’s Technical Evaluation Panel, which administers the WCA for the city.
At issue was an order calling for wetland restoration on the Thompson property issued by Ryan Heinlein, a technician for the Koochiching Soil and Water Conservation District. That decision, and others, was in opposition to earlier decisions by a former district technician Tom Toratti about the Thompson property, according to city officials. Toratti had been scheduled to testify before the TEP panel on the Thompson case the same day the city was notified that the order had been rescinded.
Administrator Rod Otterness said the city will continue to have problems implementing the state’s wetland rules as long as local SWCD staff believe that wetland permits are needed to build on uplands in the county.
Meanwhile, McBride reported that plans to move forward with construction of a new Falls Memorial Hospital building off Keenan Drive may continue with the city’s guarantee of up to 4.7 acres of wetland mitigation credits.
McBride noted that Toratti has also considered this property and said it is not a wetland and was disrupted during its use as a farm and temporary housing camp for workers in the late 1980s. Toratti ruled the property is not in need of mitigation, city officials said. The guarantee of credits, however, allows the building plans to forward.
In other business Monday, the council heard about a plan to phase in development of city owned property along Rainy River for a Voyageur Heritage Center and headquarters for Voyageurs National Park.
Mason said $6.5 million sought in state funding is not likely to be awarded for the project this year, however, she said the project was designed so it could be phased in.
Phase I would include the headquarters, Irvin N. Anderson Amphitheater and trails. The heritage center would come at a later date.
“So the space would be a public venue from the start,” she said.
Mason said ground breaking on the project is tentatively set to coincide with the international tug of war between the sister cities of International Falls and Fort Frances July 3. Construction could start the end of August or first of September.
Mason said Bill Rieser, CEO of Ultimate Development, has indicated he wants to develop the AmericInn Lodge and Conference Center in unison with the city on adjacent property. Rieser is expected to meet with city officials and the media in April to provide more information about his plans.
Otterness said proposed development along the river by the U.S. Border Patrol, AmericInn and the city will provide construction jobs and a needed boost to the economy.
Falls News Notes
• The Falls Council Monday agreed to carry out a step in its strategic plan by inviting Koochiching County commissioners who represent portions of the city to attend council meetings. In related business, the council agreed to send a letter to the county boarding inviting commissioners to meet regularly with the city council to discuss common issues and opportunities. Mason said such meetings would strengthen the relationship between the two groups and allow for respect when disagreements arise.
• Attorney Joe Boyle told the council that a plan by Koochiching County officials to seek resolution on an issue regarding the rerouting of the northern entrance of Minnesota Highway 332 from a dispute resolution board needs a dispute to move forward. Boyle noted the council took no action on a request by county staff and state law calls for an actual dispute.
• Jenny Dougherty of the Small Business Development Center provided an update to the council on activities at the center.