The Beltrami County Board of Commissioners adopted a memorandum of understanding with the Red Lake Nation for the Child Welfare initiative. The initiative will transition the county’s fiscal responsibility to Red Lake for certain child welfare services. This was current administrator Kay Mack’s last meeting in her role, as she is retiring this week, and…
The Bemidji City Council discussed potential utility rate increases during their work session Monday. During the meeting, City Finance Director Ron Eischens noted that since the city received over $10 million in bonding from the state, the utility rate increases are much more palatable than they otherwise could have been, especially with the new water…
Beltrami County and Greater Bemidji are announcing a new grant program for businesses forced to shut down by Gov. Tim Walz’s latest executive orders. According to a release, the funding is part of the CARES Act funding allocated to the county. Restaurants, fitness centers, entertainment venues and other small businesses may apply for grants up…
The Bemidji Public Affairs Committee gave the green light for Neilson Reise’s COVID reopening plan during their meeting Monday. Parks director Marcia Larson said that some of the challenges her department will face with the reopening is finding enough staff. There will be 30 minutes in between groups, with no more than 22 people allowed…
Bemidji’s Public Affairs Committee is set to meet Monday to discuss the Neilson Reise COVID preparedness plan. This has been a topic of some contention in recent City Council meetings. During the Sept. 14 meeting, the council directed staff to prepare this plan. The governor’s latest COVID-19 restrictions, as outlined in the executive order 20-99,…
Election turnout in Minnesota was quite good, at 80 percent for this general election. Generally, the state averages around 75 percent voter turnout. In Bemidji, Ward 1 had an 84 percent turnout, Ward 2, 81 percent, Ward 3’s two precincts had an 85 and 91 percent turnout, ward 4, 89 percent, and ward 5, 90…
The bulk of Monday’s Bemidji City Council meeting was on the proposed police advisory committee. Bemidji Police Chief Mike Mastin gave a presentation, where he touched on themes such as the many hours of training his officers receive, well beyond the state’s minimum requirements, the 12 complaints against officers received over the last five years,…
The Bemidji City Council is set to meet virtually this Monday. Items on the agenda include two reports: one from Bemidji Parks and Recreation’s Jamie Anderson, and one from Bemidji Police Chief Mike Mastin on the Police Advisory Board. Other items include a special event permit consideration for the Night We Light Un-parade, claims submitted…
The Beltrami County License Center will be closed for motor vehicle and driver’s license services on Thursday, Nov. 12 and Friday, Nov. 13 in preparations of a new computer licensing system. Services are planned to resume on Monday, Nov.16. DNR & Vitals Services will not be affected by this closure.
The unofficial results from the general election are in, with 100 percent of precincts within the city of Bemidji reporting. In the Bemidji Mayoral Contest, Jorge Prince leads with 3,919 votes, compared to Michael Meehlhause’s 2,617 votes. In the City of Bemidji Charter Amendment, where voters were asked if the mayoral term should change to…
