Help sought from Klobuchar’s office

by April ScheinohaReporter

Ben Lien received local leaders’ wish list Wednesday, May 24. Lien, a regional outreach director from Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s office, spoke with local leaders Wednesday, May 24 at the Carnegie Library in Thief River Falls.

That list includes a wish for funding to relocate the City of Thief River Falls’ drinking water intake pipe. Such a project is estimated to cost $20 million.

For years, city leaders have wanted to move the city’s water intake pipe that draws raw water from the river and eventually brings the water to the Water Treatment Plant, where it is treated to become the city’s drinking water. City leaders would like to install the new pipe upstream of the confluence of the Thief and Red Lake rivers. As part of that project, the city would also install a new powdered activated carbon feed system to treat the water.

Currently, the intake pipe is located on the east bank of the Red Lake River. The raw water is affected by varying levels of sediment in the Thief River. The issues are further compounded by discharges from the Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, Moose River, Mud River and a series of ditches installed for agricultural purposes.

The City of Thief River Falls would like to move the drinking water intake pipe about a mile farther into the Red Lake River, Mayor Brian Holmer said. He added that the city’s drinking water sometimes smells when it comes out of the tap. Holmer noted, despite the smell, nothing is wrong with the water.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is already planning to take sediment readings and sample contaminants in the river basin as part of a $160,000 study for the project.

The local wish list also includes funding for various improvements at the Thief River Falls Regional Airport. Manager Joe Hedrick provided an update on proposed improvements at the airport. That list includes possibly improving the terminal.

“We have the oldest terminal in the state, constructed in the 1970s,” said Hedrick, who noted there is an older airport that has had more modifications than the Thief River Falls Regional Airport.

Hedrick added that the Airport Authority is awaiting word on a supplemental grant request for a $270,000 study. That study would examine the existing terminal, passenger trends, interview all stakeholders, determine Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and determine security requirements.

The Airport Authority is also looking at extending the runway to 7,300 feet. Hedrick anticipated that the Airport Authority would also request an additional 700 feet to account for snowy and icy conditions. The latter request would have to go before the state.

If the runway were extended, Pennington County State Aid Highway 17 (commonly referred to as the airport road) and some navigational aids would need to be relocated. If the Airport Authority moves forward with the project, Hedrick anticipated it would be at least four years before the project commenced.

Hedrick also spoke in support of Essential Air Service, which provides subsidies to airlines for providing passenger air service to communities that would not otherwise have scheduled air service. Thief River Falls is among the airports for which EAS has been granted. Denver Air Connection receives EAS funding to provide air service here.

Hedrick indicated that a pilot shortage continues to impact the airline industry, especially in International Falls. The International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission has been told that SkyWest Airlines, which receives an EAS subsidy, wasn’t planning to bid on providing air service there in 2024 due to the pilot shortage. SkyWest provides air service to several other Minnesota cities. Hedrick encouraged legislators to look at the issue before it becomes a statewide problem.

Locally and elsewhere, housing has become an issue. City leaders have been in contact with developers. Steve Narverud, a member of the Thief River Falls City Council, said a Bemidji developer told city leaders that he would like to be involved in a housing project, but he is so busy in Bemidji and it wouldn’t be worth it to start a project here. Forty acres of undeveloped property are available in the city limits. Infrastructure has already been installed.

Hedrick encountered a similar problem when the Airport Authority sought a carpenter for its new cargo hangar. Noting it wasn’t a large project, Hedrick said the Airport Authority had to advertise for bids multiple times in order to secure a carpenter.

Inflation is also impacting housing development. Narverud said a developer planned a multi-family building, only to have prices increase from $700,000 to $1.2 million per door. The developer is still planning the development, but he has downgraded the amenities. However, he believed it may be constructed next year.

The housing shortage is impacting tourism in Thief River Falls. Amanda Hughes, executive director of Visit Thief River Falls, said temporary DigiKey workers and other temporary workers are staying at Thief River Falls hotels. Hotel staffing shortages are further complicating matters. “I’m in a position right now, ‘Visit Thief River Falls, but stay somewhere else,’” she said.

Visit Thief River Falls’ bottom line is impacted by the number of temporary workers staying at Thief River Falls hotels for durations spanning more than 30 days. At that time, the temporary workers are considered to be residents and lodging taxes aren’t applicable. As a result, Visit Thief River Falls doesn’t receive the 3% lodging tax in those instances.It also seems that fewer Canadians are traveling south to Thief River Falls. Holmer indicated that the Lancaster border crossing is only open until 6 p.m., limiting the amount of time that Manitobans may spend in the United States. He indicated that time was inconvenient for visitors.

Klobuchar’s office has been in contact with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection about border crossing hours in Lancaster. Lien said Klobuchar has sent a letter, seeking an 8 p.m. closure. He added that Klobuchar has been told staffing issues and a lack of visitor traffic led to the 6 p.m. closure.