The Bemidji City Council took no action to remove downtown barricades, meaning they’ll get to stay throughout the summer. The barricades are already established around some downtown businesses, allowing them to expand outdoor seating into public rights-of-way such as parking spaces. Since the state and the city are still under peacetime states of emergency amid…
In addition to the Bemidji City Council’s planned discussion on Highway 197, the council will also discuss removing the barricades in downtown parking spaces. The barricades, in a similar vein to last year, were installed to allow downtown restaurants additional outdoor seating capacity. Now that Gov. Tim Walz has relaxed most of the indoor dining…
The Bemidji City Council will discuss the new Highway 197 corridor study during their meeting this evening, and the Beltrami County Board is slated to discuss it tomorrow afternoon during their work session. MnDOT and the Headwaters Regional Development Commission will hold a virtual open house on the study on May 24. Two years ago,…
The Beltrami County Highway department will soon begin roadside ditch spraying along county roads. Starting May 24, selective herbicides will be used that control brush and noxious weeds such as spotted knapweed, thistle, tansy, and wild parsnip. The herbicides reportedly allow grass to grow, but landowners who do not want spray adjacent to their property…
Cass Lake-Bena Schools will hold a special election today to fill a vacancy on the school board. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters in the Bena or Winnie Portage precinct may cast ballots at the Bena Community Center, with all other district voters polling at Pike Bay Town Hall in Cass…
The Beltrami County Board of Commissioners had a lively meeting Tuesday, which included a presentation from an organization known as “Respect Minnesota.” The work session agenda item was a pledge, with many other cities, counties, unions, industries, and Enbridge signing on. During the meeting, Chair of the Board Commissioner Reed Olson said he wished the…
A proposal for the city to sponsor fireworks this Memorial Day did not reach consensus during the Bemidji City Council meeting. The display, in celebration of Bemidji’s quasquicentennial, would have set the city back about $7,500. Ward 2’s Josh Peterson proposed the idea for a land-launch at the recently refinished Nymore Beach. Nancy Erickson, whose…
The Bemidji City Council will consider several items during their first meeting of May this Monday. The council will summarize the City Manager’s Performance Review, which was discussed in a closed meeting last week. The council will also consider awarding a quote for this year’s alley paving project, as well as consider a partnership and…
On Tuesday, the Beltrami County Board visited with state senators Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids) and Paul Utke (R-Park Rapids) on pieces of legislation that would hold counties like Beltrami harmless from Enbridge’s property tax lawsuit. County Administrator Tom Barry said the property valuation was performed by the state Assessor’s office. The county then entered these…
The Bemidji Area School Board unanimously passed a measure that would reduce the budget for licensed staff by about $1.6 million. Human Resources director Jordan Hickman said these reductions were due to budgetary shortfalls, licensure issues, shifting enrollments and the COVID-19 pandemic. A number of the reductions are related to the closure of Central Elementary,…
