Greetings District 10!
Happy Fall—Here are a few things happening in our community.
President Biden’s administration has extended its land border closure with Canada & Mexico for another 30 days—land border crossing restrictions to Canada which have been in place since March 2020, were set to expire September 21, 2021. Unfortunately, the restrictions on Canadians crossing into the United States for non-essential business will be extended until October 21, 2021, despite Canada reopening its border to vaccinated Americans on August 9, 2021. The land border closure extension was announced this week as the nation prepares to allow fully vaccinated air travelers into the country. In the meantime, thousands of unvaccinated illegal immigrants flood unchecked into the United States from Mexico, even as the Biden administration prevents vaccinated Canadians from entering the country and spending their money. This policy does not make any sense—and hurts Minnesota tourism!
Register for Virtual SMART Salting Training
The Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District will host a free workshop to help those in the county reduce salt usage while still maintaining safe paved surfaces. When snow & ice start to accumulate on area roads, parking lots & sidewalks, salt is often applied, which contains chloride, a water pollutant that often ends up in lakes, streams & rivers. It only takes 1 teaspoon of road salt to permanently pollute 5 gallons of water.
They are teaming up with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to offer a free workshop to help local contractors, homeowners, and operators reduce salt usage.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency SMART Salting Training is for:
- Property Managers
- Business Owners
- MS4 Permit Staff
- Environmental Professionals & Advocates
- Public Works Directors & Local Government Decision-Makers
- Individuals Interested in Learning more about Chloride
Learn how to protect your property from the damages of salt and increase cost savings. Registration is required. Funding for the training is provided by the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment for the Comprehensive Pine River Watershed Plan Funding.
Register online here: cwswcd.org or by calling 218-828-6197
Smart Salting Training
Date: Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Time: 9:00am – 1:30pm
Business After Hours—Brainerd Sesquicentennial Celebration
Celebrating 150 Years!
On September 19, 1871, the City of Brainerd began its storied history with a simple business transaction, a signed plat of land that was officially recorded a few days later. As the railroad industry boomed, the city’s businesses came together to form the Brainerd Board of Trade in 1882. That organization is now called the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce, and they’re still promoting community growth and prosperity today.
This week, I enjoyed speaking at the Chamber’s Special Business After Hours to celebrate the Sesquicentennial and honor 150 years of business in Brainerd. It is part of a week-long community celebration. The event included a time capsule to be opened 150 years in the future—which will be on Brainerd’s 300th anniversary in 2171. Please continue to support our local businesses!
Brainerd Rotary Club
This week, as the city of Brainerd celebrates its Sesquicentennial, the Brainerd Rotary Club hosted a Rotary Riverside Park Pavilion Dedication. Back in 2010, the Rotary Club purchased the 38-acre property and 1,400 feet of Mississippi River frontage located in the city of Brainerd for $35,000 and donated it to the City of Brainerd for use as a park. According to the Rotary Club, it is now the third-largest city park in Minnesota.
The Brainerd Rotary envisions it not being a highly developed park—they are working with Riverside Revitalization groups, governmental agencies, including the DNR and Nature Conversancy, to obtain grants and realize the “best fit” trail corridor to connect existing trail systems in the vicinity. Brainerd is eligible to apply and receive a federal park planning grants focused on planning a 7.5-mile Mississippi River natural trail through the park and across the Brainerd-Baxter area.
Thank you to the Brainerd Rotary Club Members for your hard work and congratulations to a vision coming to life!
Healthy Land, Healthy Lakes
The Mille Lacs Lake Watershed Management Group had a Healthy Land, Healthy Lake event sponsored by the Mille Lacs Lake Watershed Management Group, the Aitkin, Crow Wing, and Mille Lacs Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe DNR. I enjoyed the day and it was nice to see the progress and challenges of shoreland stewardship on Lake Mille Lacs and hear insights on policies that further important conversations.
Their focus was on: Minnesota native landscapes plant truck with native plants for our area shorelands & expert advice; lead tackle exchange (bring lead tackle & receive a nontoxic example); demo of CD3 (clean, drain, dry, disposal) unit for aquatic invasive species control.
Staying In Touch—It was a great pleasure meeting & participating in local events this week with the Aitkin-Carlton Farm Bureau, Brainerd Rotary Club, Minnesota Solid Waste Administrators Association Conference, Brainerd Chamber of Commerce, and the Mille Lacs Lake Watershed Management Group.
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Have a great start to your weekend!
As always please feel free to contact my office with any questions you might have. My office can be reached by phone at (651) 296-4913 or at sen.carrie.ruud@senate.mn.
Talk to you soon!
Carrie Ruud