ST. PAUL 鈥� The attire of a city鈥檚 residents can complement its voice.
The city of Bemidji was no exception, as around 30 area residents donned their plaid apparel for Bemidji Day at the Capitol on Wednesday.
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Displaying their distinctive look among those with otherwise professional and business casual dress codes, the visit to St. Paul aimed to remind state legislators of Bemidji鈥檚 unique challenges, triumphs and opportunities for growth. Such reminders came from the Bemidji area鈥檚 eclectic mix of civic and business leaders and other stakeholders.
鈥淓veryone puts aside what their role is in the community and we鈥檙e all here together,鈥� Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Scott Turn said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e coming down to see how we can make Bemidji better and how we can work together as a community to do that.鈥�
The group split into several factions to meet with legislators from across the state. Divying up the group provided opportunities for representatives near and far to learn more about the Bemidji area鈥檚 profile and understand its needs once it's time to take a vote.
Among the most common themes throughout the day included finding solutions to issues related to housing, child care, unfunded mandates, permitting reform and Medicaid reimbursement.
Bemidjians also advocated on behalf of three funding requests, the first being a $4 million ask for design costs for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension鈥檚 regional facility expansion in Bemidji.
Such funding would allow the bureau to meet critical investigative and forensic testing services for all local law enforcement agencies north of St. Cloud up to the Canadian border by doubling the size of the facility.
Another request derived from Northern Township鈥檚 plans to install a sanitary sewer system along County State Highway 20 in the Lake Bemidji area. The project aims to address environmental concerns related to aging septic systems around Lake Bemidji.
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As part of a nine-county coalition, the third request would provide bonds to help Beltrami County pay for a $67 million project to implement a 鈥渉ub and spoke鈥� waste system. The county鈥檚 current unlined landfill is expected to close given the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency鈥檚 goal to close all unlined demolition landfills in the state.
Working across the aisle
Meeting with legislators across the political spectrum, Bemidjians met as a large group with Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL - Brooklyn Park, to voice their priorities and concerns in a question-and-answer format.
Ahead of a March 11 special election, Hortman spoke to the power-sharing agreement between the DFL and Republicans and elaborated on a potential 67-67 tie if a Democrat clinches the District 40B House seat.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really important that we figure out a way to work together because nobody can do anything without the other. You can鈥檛 convene the House without 68 members and you can鈥檛 pass a bill without 68 members,鈥� Hortman said. 鈥淔or those of us old-timers, this is a dream scenario.
鈥淲e wanted this situation where we鈥檇 have a chance to be tied because it gives people that impetus they need to really be bipartisan.鈥�
Working across the aisle was a common thread weaved throughout the day鈥檚 interactions.
鈥淚 hope they work together, both Republicans and Democrats. There are a lot of things that need to be solved and not just in Bemidji,鈥� Turn added. 鈥淲e have housing (issues), daycare, a lot of these things that we鈥檙e seeing statewide.鈥�
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Beyond the city鈥檚 day at the Capitol, Bemidji Mayor Jorge Prince encouraged all Capitol attendees to make their voices heard in any way they can.
鈥淚f they鈥檙e hearing this from us for the tenth, eleventh or twelfth time, so be it,鈥� Prince said. 鈥淭he more often we can get people in front of our state legislators, the better.鈥�
The Trust Project
