Lakes 2020 Forum

Highlights from the Lakes 2020 Forum
Presented by: IDC and JOBS 2020
September 10th, 2004
Sawmill Inn, Grand Rapids

Keynote Speaker:  Craig Pagel, State lobbyist for Minnesota Power, responsible for environmental and energy related issues. 

Panelists: John Chell, Executive Director of Arrowhead Regional Development Commission;  Peg Landin, owner operator Buckhorn Resort on Caribou Lake and Top-Notch Log Homes; and Carl Bergquist, owner of the Bergquist Company in Bigfork.

The Lakes 2020 forum held September 10, 2004 was the fourteenth in a series of IDC/Jobs 2020 forums.  The Lakes 2020 forum was held to promote collaboration between public and private sectors to effectively improve the management of the lakes and rivers in the Itasca area as a strategy for sustainable economic prosperity.  

Itasca County Commissioner Catherine McLynn, a member of the IDC/Jobs 2020 Lakes Action Team, introduced today’s program.  The Lakes 2020 Action Team determined that maintaining the high quality of water resources is critical to the local economy and that there is an urgent need for the community to work together for improved management of the area’s water resources. 

Keynote address: Clean Waters Impact on Jobs and Economic Development

Craig Pagel substituted as the keynote speaker for Keith Hanson of Minnesota Power who had to cancel in order to attend a funeral.  Craig and Keith had worked together to prepare today’s address.

The key criteria influencing business development are:

• Environment
• Ability for growth and development
• Availability of resources
• Tourism (A $10 billion a year industry is based on Minnesota’s water resources)

Impaired (polluted) waters trigger the need for a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and have a major impact on business.   
Total Maximum Daily Load is described as:

• Process which establishes a strategy to bring the impaired water body or watershed into compliance with water quality standards (which could take up to 8 to 13 years)
• Amount of a pollutant that a water body can assimilate and meet water quality standards and designated use

Itasca County’s 2004 Impaired Waters list includes 60 lakes, rivers and streams.  Among those are the Mississippi, Swan, Big Fork, Rum and Sunrise Rivers and Cut Foot Sioux, Ball Club, Sand, Round, Island, Pokegama, and Jessie Lakes. 

The significance of impaired waters and TMDL’s:

• No new or expanded discharges allowed until TMDL reduction strategy is established
• Restrictions are placed on residential development and any increased industrial and municipal capacity
• Placement of new or lower limits for existing facilities
• Impacts clean air policy and regulatory agenda
• Impacts land use policy
• Regional economic vitality and growth

Impaired waters can cause restrictions on residential development, increased industrial and municipal capacity and impervious surfaces.  This affects Blandin Paper Mill, the Grand Rapids Wastewater Treatment Plant, Polymet, Messabi Nugget as well as individual septic systems.

Craig Pagel outlined Minnesota Power’s activities to reduce water discharges, air emissions and mercury emissions.  Craig reminded the audience that everyone has a role in the restoration of impaired waters and that restoration must begin immediately to ensure environmental improvement and economic development.  A focus on pollution prevention needs to be maintained and local implementation is key.  Craig told the audience “The bottom line is that collectively we all have a need to work together to find acceptable environmental and business solutions.  Clean water and healthy environment are a shared responsibility.”

John Chell, ARDC

The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission has entered into a contract agreement with the South Central Itasca County Intergovernmental Planning Board (SCICIPB) to study wastewater treatment (Phase 1) in the SCICIPB  area.  The SCICIPB’s objective is to bring together representatives from units of government from the South Central Itasca County area to facilitate joint community-based land use and public facility planning within the members’ area.  The organization is comprised of units of government acting together under a joint planning district.  Current members are: Itasca County, City of Grand Rapids, Harris Township, School District 318, Arbo Township, City of LaPrairie and City of Cohasset.  The SCICIPB has identified “Lakes” as their first priority and the first issue regarding lakes to be wastewater treatment.  Partners in this asset management are IDC/Jobs 2020, Itasca County Soil and Water District, SEH Engineering and ARDC.

The wastewater initiative Phase 1 study will:

• Identify areas with existing wastewater management problems
• Identify areas with future wastewater problems
• Identify growth patterns
• Determine current wastewater infrastructure

John indicated that environment landscape qualities are key economic development enhancers.  He described three key economic development components:

• Natural resource based companies
• Home grown entrepreneurs
• Mobile entrepreneurs (critical growth areas have been identified as the east slope of the Rocky Mountains and the Brainerd area!)
  • Mobile entrepreneurs are looking for workforce, capital, broadband, social capital, and natural amenities.    No single community or entity can manage all of these components.  Partnerships are crucial. 
  • Management of natural resources is critical to our area and we need to create or preserve a comparative advantage.

Environmental issues that may affect economic development can be addressed by gathering data, planning and assessment, public dialogue, management and engineering.  Many times communities lack the necessary data to make decisions regarding environmental issues. 

Peg Landin, Buckhorn on Caribou

Peg Landin is the owner of Buckhorn Resort on Caribou Lake.  The resort and lake are known for the pristine clear water and beautiful surrounding environment.  The success of the resort depends on that environment.  However, the resort happens to be located near a gravel pit on Highway 38.  The noise and dust created at the pit during the summer months has had a negative impact on their business.  Peg described the compromise that her resort, other neighbors, contractors and county zoning have been able to work out with the owners of the gravel pit.  A berm was built in front of the gravel pit to help block visibility and reduce noise.  Trucks now enter and exit from the back end of the gravel pit rather than by Highway 38.   These factors do not eliminate the problem completely, but show that through good communication and cooperation, compromises can be reached.

Carl Bergquist, Bergquist Switch Companies

Bergquist Company Switch Division employs about 150 people at the manufacturing plant in Bigfork.  As testament to the fact that many entrepreneurs are here because they love the area and environment, Carl said he brought his business here because of Sand Lake.  Due to his love of fishing and respect for the environment, Carl became actively involved with the lake association and the DNR to improve the waters of Sand Lake and its stock of walleye.  Improvements were made to walleye spawning areas and the clarity of the water improved.  The Sand Lake Association and the DNR have teamed up on many other projects including walleye stocking programs for other lakes in Itasca County.

When asked if he would recommend this area to other entrepreneurs with business expansion or relocation goals, Carl’s answer was straightforward.  “I would introduce them [entrepreneurs] to Itasca County with some reservation.”  While he felt the Bergquist’s 150 employees were the “best”, they did have a problem with potential new employees passing a drug test and finding employees with a good ethic.

Jim Hoolihan, Chairman of IDC/Jobs 2020, provided wrap-up comments and observations.  Concluding from the comments and stories heard today and by the high attendance at the forum, lakes clearly play an integral role in our economic development.  We must be cognizant of our assets and work on the drawbacks – including work force development.