Wetlands, MnDOT commissioner decision at issue

International Falls City Council Monday heard that a new law approved by the Minnesota Legislature this session could aid the community in its handling of wetland issues in development.
City Administrator Rod Otterness said the bill had “real opportunities,” but added that rules must now be developed to implement the law.
The new law discusses permanent conservation easements which may be eligible for use as wetland replacement or mitigation credits.
In related business, the council voiced concern about the number of officials involved in a visit to property along Keenan Drive. The site has been proposed for construction of a new Falls Memorial Hospital. According to a list provided by Otterness, 20 officials, including three city officials, visited the site in an effort to determine wetland jurisdiction at the site.
Councilor Tim “Chopper” McBride noted that six officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers attended the visit. At least one of those officials was from Vicksburg, Miss.
Otterness said the handling of the visit “shows how outrageous their approach is of government as a service organization to residents and taxpayers.” He added that some officials were arrogant and exhibited an attitude of superiority during the visit. Otterness joked that, at least, the Falls International Airport benefited from the number of flights taken by the officials to visit the community.
Falls Councilor Gail Rognerud said the travel costs may have been enough to pay for any wetland mitigation credits that might be needed for the hospital project.
“Thousands, and thousands and thousands of dollars were spent on this,” McBride said.
In other business, the council discussed a letter from Tom Sorel, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation regarding a decision he made in April that said that Koochiching County may plan and construct a county state aid highway within the city limits without the city’s approval.
The letter sent by Sorel May 12 said that the decision has been withdrawn and that a new order of decision will be issued.
The city earlier this month filed a lawsuit against Sorel, saying that his decision is in violation of state law.s The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities and the League of Minnesota Cities has supported the city’s position.
Julie Skallman, a MnDOT official, told The Journal last week that the commissioner had asked her to “create an order in a form that has findings, conclusions and recommendations — facts and conclusions... What I am developing is the same recommendations that the (MnDOT Dispute Resolution) Board came to in a different format.”
Whether the commissioner will change his mind about the order “is up to him,” Skallman said.
Otterness, however, told the council that the transportation commissioner “has done a 180 on this.”
The commissioner got involved when the county sought a decision about establishing a county state aid high in relation to its plan to relocate the northern portion of U.S. Highway 332.
The council has said it wants the relocation of the highway to lead to a foreign trade zone. Should the road lead to the FTZ, the council has said it would agree to vacate a portion of the road known as the Burner Road to Boise Inc., as it has requested.
Boyle said Monday that the lawsuit is the best chance the city has to get a road to the FTZ, not damage businesses on U.S. Highway 53, and vacate the Burner Road.
In addition Monday, Otterness criticized a editorial in The Daily Journal May 9 regarding the issue.
In other business Monday, the council accepted a recommendation to hire Kelly Meyers as assistant building official. Meyers, who has served for about two years as a councilor, is expected to resign the position before taking the job. The council authorized advertising for candidates to fill the position. The position will start at $41,000 annually and is expected to increase to $45,000 upon completion of a certified building official — limited certification.
The council also was told by Mayor Shawn Mason that the city will get $3.94 million in local government aid in 2009 from the state. The amount represents $560,532 more than in 2008.