歪歪漫画

BEMIDJI 鈥� After surviving 20 years with a failing and dysfunctional HVAC system in the Great Northern Depot, the Beltrami County Historical Society will be seeking a grant to replace it. At a meeting of the Bemidji City Council on Tuesday, the city approved a 50% match for the grant of up to $145,000.

The historical society will be seeking a state grant with a request for $290,000 to replace its HVAC system, which was installed incorrectly when the city purchased and renovated the depot for the historical society鈥檚 use in 2000.

This has resulted in fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels within the building, which put its historical records and items at a higher risk of decay.

鈥淎rtifacts, photographs and archival papers require controlled conditions for proper preservation,鈥� wrote Emily Thabes, the historical society鈥檚 executive director in a letter to the city. 鈥淲ithout addressing the HVAC issues, our community鈥檚 history is at risk of accelerated degradation and disintegration.鈥�

In addition to helping with the preservation of the society鈥檚 collection, a new HVAC system would also improve energy efficiency and have financial benefits.

While the grant鈥檚 request is significant, Thabes expressed a positive outlook on the society鈥檚 chances of receiving it.

鈥淲e think there鈥檚 a high likelihood that we鈥檙e going to get it,鈥� she said.

The city council responded to the historical society鈥檚 request favorably. While the matching funds were not included in the budget for 2024, councilors were informed of several possibilities regarding grants and private funding that could support the request.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 wonderful to have an opportunity to get some grant funds and upkeep our buildings,鈥� said Ward 4 Councilor Emelie Rivera.

The council voted unanimously to support the request, providing the historical society with the support it needs to formally apply for the grant.

Other business addressed by the council included approving a special event permit for the Paul Bunyan Sled Dog Challenge, which would bring the race back to the city after several years of absence.

Scheduled to begin on Jan. 27, the race would take mushers and their dogs around Lake Bemidji.

There are some concerns, however, that there may not be enough snow to hold the race this year since it would require 16 inches of snowpack.

While these concerns exist, the organizers are pushing forward with the understanding that it may have to be delayed to 2025.

The council unanimously approved the permit and wished the organizers luck and good conditions.

During its meeting, the council also continued the process of organizing its planning and zoning authority, now that the Greater Bemidji Area Joint Planning Board has been dissolved.

This included agreeing to take on the airport鈥檚 zoning authority, which was formerly done by the JPB, with details of the arrangement to be negotiated in the next 60 days.

The council also approved committee and commission assignments for each councilor, based on the recommendations of Mayor Jorge Prince, though not without some debate.

Rivera noted that she felt underrepresented, but two attempts to provide her with additional committee assignments failed despite the support of Ward 1 Councilor Gwenia Fiskevold Gould.

Ultimately councilor assignments were approved as recommended in a 6-1 vote, with Rivera in opposition.