International Falls Journal: Federal money moves IV sewer forward

The news about the inclusion of the Koochiching County project is good on all points, said Congressman Rick Nolan, who announced the funding. Nolan serves on the House Committee on Infrastructure, responsible for authority and over site of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“This $17 million project will provide good construction jobs in the area, help enhance tourism in the area which also is way to bolster the economy — it’s important to resorts and residents all along the lake,” he said. “It’s good for the lake, good for job creation, good for the environment and, good for the park, it’s good for private and public sector. It’s good all the way around.

County Commissioner Wade Pavleck couldn’t agree more.

“I’m pretty excited,” he said.

The funding fills a gap between $7.8 million in state bonding, $1 million legacy funding, local residents adding $3.5 million, and Koochiching County $430,000.

Pavleck has fought hard for federal money to be added to the project, which will benefit visitors to Minnesota’s only national park. With local and state money supporting the project, the only player not at the table was the federal government, he said.

His argument hit home with the state’ federal lawmakers.

“The only non-participant was the federal government,” Nolan said. “We’ve been pounding hard on the Army Corps of Engineers to includes this in their work plan.”

Just on Friday, a letter signed by U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Al Franken, and U.S. Reps. Nolan, Collin Peterson, Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison and Tim Walz sent a letter to the corps urging it to protect water quality in Voyageurs National Park by funding the money for the project.

The Island View project is a part of the larger Voyageurs National Park Clean Water Project, which aims to improve water quality by finding long-term wastewater treatment solutions.

Pavleck credited the VNP Clean Water Project Joint Powers board, made up of St. Louis and Koochiching county representatives and residents, of which he serves as chairman, along with local park and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources support. He also said the project may not have been funded with out the support of the state’s federal delegation.

Bill Carlson, VNP acting superintendent, said the park appreciates the work by the joint powers board “that helps protect the waters in Voyageurs National Park and will allow the gateway communities a greater chance for economic development. Representatives from Koochiching and St. Louis county boards, the DNR, along with representatives from each of the gateway communities of Crane Lake, Ash River, Kabetogama and Rainy Lake worked very hard over the past several years in acquiring the funding to complete current waste water projects.”

The Island View project is shovel ready, Pavleck said. A meeting with engineers to discuss right-of way acquisition is expected in the next couple weeks, he said.

The next step involves taking the project and its financial requirements to involved residents, who will pay assessments as part of the $3.5 million.

“Some may be opposed to it, but by and large there is pretty strong support,” Pavleck said. “It all comes down to money. We needed this (money) to keep costs affordable. Once we go over a certain point, we lose support.”

Construction may begin this summer, provided bid specifications go out and come back on time, Pavleck said.

Meanwhile, Pavleck said sewer solutions will be sought for the entire basin.

“This is not the end,” he said. “We hope to get the entire basin under managed systems. Clean water is one of our most precious resources. This doesn’t end here.”

He said the International Falls area and Rainy Lake is at the bottom of the system. “So, unless with clean up the entire basin, we have not accomplished our objectives.”