tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73028455317706590002011-09-03T08:57:31.605-05:00Reflections on Life in Bemidji, MinnesotaBemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.comBlogger1141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-62186415180224980802010-12-06T23:16:00.000-06:002010-12-06T23:16:35.586-06:00

Anthony and Julie at home. "This wind is really messing with my over-the-air TV. #digitalnotalwaysbetter". That's the tweet that was picked up by a NY Times writer and became a story in today's (12-6-10) edition. Last year, Julie and her husband Anthony got married, bought a house and signed up for cable at an introductory rate at the State Fair. When the offer expired and the price went up,

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-76062379409923364032010-11-29T22:54:00.001-06:002010-11-29T22:54:50.797-06:00

How many council members does it take to change a light bulb? Seven. One to change the bulb and six to recall how great the old light bulb was. Change. It’s not easy. A new mayor and two new council members will almost assuredly mean some changes for how the Bemidji city council conducts meetings and carries out business. Here are my ideas for some changes. Agenda One change I will promote (

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-56897236180170898562010-11-16T22:48:00.000-06:002010-11-16T22:48:43.978-06:00

Wondering how the bean counting at city hall is stacking up? The city has had the budget solutions bean counter game on loan from the League of Minnesota Cities since the first of the month. I wrote about it in this post "Be a City Bean Counter". Players get six beans to distribute among 8 budget choices. Here are the results from the “City Bean Counter.” Police 93 Clean Water 61 Parks &

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-60053533733573815342010-11-08T22:05:00.000-06:002010-11-08T22:05:01.692-06:00

Thank you. Thank you. I've been elected to city council. Thanks to everyone for their support and votes. I'm pretty excited about that, but have to say that the budget challenges and the changes coming at the state and federal levels could make the job a bit more difficult. Or at least a bit different. State Capitol Local Government Aid 2011 is a budget year and Minnesota has a huge hole to

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-41399379528749962482010-11-01T22:08:00.000-05:002010-11-01T22:08:46.911-05:00

Going to city hall to vote or pay a bill? Take time to play the “Be a City Bean Counter” game. It’s your chance to tell the city how you would like the city budget spent. The setup includes eight receptacles labeled to represent various city services. Your job is to choose where to spend your beans. Just one catch; you only get six beans. What is most important to you? Or, put another way;

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-89093224719892263522010-10-31T22:51:00.000-05:002010-10-31T22:51:30.484-05:00

“I’d like it to stay the way it is.” Bemidji, that is. That was the sentiment I heard while door knocking this week. It’s a sentiment that is shared by many citizens in Bemidji. The reality is that Bemidji is a regional center whether we want it to be or not. Wishing it could stay like it is today won’t help us keep what’s best about Bemidji. What we should be doing is looking to the future and

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-11201976227535118882010-10-24T22:18:00.000-05:002010-10-24T22:18:50.228-05:00

Tired of the phone calls, the door knocking, the radio and newspaper ads? It’s almost over! The last week of the campaign is upon us, but city council candidates still have two more forums this week. Wednesday the Committee for an Informed Electorate (CIE) hosts Ward 2 and Ward 4 candidates at 6:00pm at city hall. This forum will be televised on Channel 2. On Thursday, BSU Student Senate hosts

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-91960874292837524382010-10-13T22:42:00.000-05:002010-10-13T22:42:09.215-05:00

More than a year ago (September 2009), the city council authorized a neighborhood study to address the tide of homes transitioning from owner-occupied to rentals. At the time, there was a sense of urgency about the issue and the council even considered a rental registration moratorium.  That idea was nixed in favor of the study.  However, a consultant was not under contract to conduct the study

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-35655264347543664842010-10-09T22:42:00.000-05:002010-10-09T22:42:36.819-05:00

Sunday's special date, 10.10.10 has prompted many to plan special events.  My husband and I were invited to the neighbor's outdoor wedding, but we have a prior commitment. We will be attending our son's wedding out of town. They had their first date on 10.10.07 and have been planning for this date since they got engaged. I am looking forward to an outdoor wedding with the immediate family. In

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-2162718280866372792010-10-07T23:28:00.000-05:002010-10-07T23:28:41.918-05:00

Old Bemidji High School Sometimes preserving history is like trying to find a special place for Grandma's collection of salt and pepper shakers, everybody adores it, but nobody wants to put it on the mantle.  Well, this family keepsake is a lot bigger than one of Grandma's collections. This one is in many pieces, stands about 16 or more feet high and weighs more than a ton of--well, let's just

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-13033408640797373212010-10-07T00:06:00.000-05:002010-10-07T00:06:25.096-05:00

Village of Hope "How would you describe the impact nonprofits have on the city of Bemidji and the surrounding area? Do you have a sense of how may people our homeless shelter and our food shelf serve in a year?" There were eleven non-profit directors present when candidates for city government met with them for a discussion last Friday. the event was organized by Community Resource

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-30424563891637070462010-10-04T23:21:00.000-05:002010-10-04T23:21:54.668-05:00

 Sooner or later we will all be tired of hearing and reading about the candidates. Before that happens, take time to read the local candidates' responses to questions posed by the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce.  They are posted on the Chamber's website.  For Bemidji residents, they give some insight into what to expect from council candidates if elected, including me. Take a look at the city

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-48321534892854748582010-09-29T23:00:00.000-05:002010-09-29T23:00:20.630-05:00

When I ran into a friend downtown today, I was about to ask if I could put a campaign sign in his yard, but when he saw me, he blurted out, "Hey, I just voted for you!" He is going to Arizona for the winter and voted absentee today. With thirty-three days left before the election on November 2nd, I am spending a lot of time door knocking, putting up signs and meeting voters. In addition to

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-14350533558888992412010-09-26T23:42:00.000-05:002010-09-26T23:42:20.139-05:00

Two city bridges--one existing and one hoped for--are getting attention according to this week's city newsletter. The city engineer reports that City staff, representatives from the DNR and MnDOT, and the design consultant met on September 15 to review the status of the Paul Bunyan Trail bridge plans. The bridge has been included in Bemidji's state and federal bonding wish lists for several years

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-76430552418815341912010-08-29T23:51:00.000-05:002010-08-29T23:51:29.671-05:00

Bemidji's art community is alive and well. Just take a walk around downtown and view all of the impressive artwork on the Sculpture Walk. And the not-so-impressive artwork. Does the city need help selecting and placing art in public spaces? Some citizens are proposing a new Arts Commission to help the city avoid the problem that arose when public art was removed from the sculpture walk.  It was

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-82108942645681808922010-08-26T23:42:00.000-05:002010-08-26T23:42:37.860-05:00

Summer's slipping away and I haven't blogged much at all.  Maybe a couple of times. Well, summer is almost gone--it's September next week (aack!) and it's time to get back in the habit of blogging on a regular basis. I like blogging because it gives me a way of sharing my opinion (everybody's got one), highlighting the good things happening in the city (I see lots of great things), or venting on

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-21927034013518866232010-07-19T23:46:00.001-05:002010-07-19T23:47:35.173-05:00

What's the solution to the problem businesses are having with loitering in the bus shelters downtown?  The Bemidji City Council voted on Monday to leave the bus shelters in place at 4th and Beltrami downtown--for now, at least. The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) had requested they be removed and, while not mentioned in the DDA's request, the assumed reason is because the shelters have

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-43659591101514074572010-06-25T15:56:00.000-05:002010-06-25T15:56:10.515-05:00

The Mayor came armed with a big idea to Monday's city council meeting. (Bemidji Pioneer report) Unfortunately, his suggestion, to eliminate staff support for some city commissions and committees is misguided at best and self-serving at worst. First of all, it is the manager's job to decide where and how staff should be used. According to the charter, the city manager ". . .shall direct and

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-67599804645613778922010-06-20T22:44:00.000-05:002010-06-20T22:44:06.087-05:00

What do you get when you put a talented mosaic artist together with a master terrazzo floor installer? You get spectacular terrazzo floor art.  That is what is being created during the next couple months at the Bemidji Regional Event Center.  Barbara Keith (above) is the artist who designed the floor. Al is the master installer (he's Italian; apparently all the best are).  Together they chose

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-59900946711628040992010-06-02T08:34:00.000-05:002010-06-02T08:34:54.917-05:00

Is it me or JD? As many of you know, I filed for election to Ward 4 of the Bemidji City Council against the incumbent. This article in The Pioneer outlines all of the local races and notes that Ward 4 is the only one that won't go to a primary. It is interesting that two other candidates from Ward 4 chose to file for the at-large position. One of them, Byron Rock, told me that he thought

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-25529415465291395122010-03-13T21:33:00.004-06:002010-03-13T21:41:18.188-06:00

Do you ever feel like there is so much going on in Bemidji that it is hard to keep up? ME TOO! Here are some really cool things that are happening in Bemidji thanks to volunteers (and paid staff) who are stepping up and making our community better. Active Living “Active Living is a way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines.” This initiative is funded by a contract with

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-14786591419995045252010-03-12T23:17:00.000-06:002010-03-12T23:17:23.682-06:00

If the city can't assess the Northern Township properties that will benefit from city sewer and water utilities, they can apparently charge a connection fee equal to the proposed assessment. You may recall that annexation has been delayed for two years in order to settle the Birchmont Drive assessment process. Northern Twp is in the process of re-assessing all the affected properties because of a

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-32569134546533392692010-03-12T22:04:00.001-06:002010-03-12T22:05:26.302-06:00

Crowds are not beating down the doors of city hall to sign up for the volunteer spots available with the city.  There are still two volunteer commission spots open: one on the Charter Commission, and most recently, a spot on the Joint Planning Commission (JPC) came open. I blogged about volunteer opportunities last month. On Monday, the council will approve an appointment to the HPC. And now a

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-32925132832533284182010-03-08T22:49:00.001-06:002010-03-08T22:50:39.933-06:00

The Edgewater Group representative, Rich Siegert will make his case for an amendment to the South Shore Planned Unit Development to the Greater Bemidji Area Joint Planning Board when they meet on Wednesday, March 10.  The meeting is at 6:00pm at City Hall.  This is Siegert's third appearance before the JPB, after having presented twice in February. His application would allow him to build a new

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-63148087199640042022010-03-07T23:11:00.002-06:002010-03-07T23:28:25.055-06:00

 (Governor Pawlenty)  City finance director Ron Eischens, outlines the need for LGA (Local Government Aid) in this week's city newsletter.  He and the Mayor will deliver the city's case to the Governor during Bemidji Day at the Capitol on Tuesday. According to Eischens, "Compared to all cities in Minnesota, Bemidji’s tax rate is below the average and also lower than similar sized cities. Bemidji’

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-2900075809447273172010-03-01T21:34:00.000-06:002010-03-01T21:34:39.436-06:00

The former County Fairgrounds is for sale. While perusing the legal ads Sunday (2/28), I came across the County's advertisement for bids for (what remains of) the former County Fairgrounds. The 16.4 acre parcel is located south of Target and the Westridge Development. I am not sure why the County has decided to put it on the market at this time, but if it sells, the City is in line to receive

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-8598251614380663442010-02-24T13:48:00.005-06:002010-02-24T13:52:17.386-06:00

Maybe its a sign of the times that the Chamber has not been able to fill the bus that will deliver enthusiastic Bemidjians to the state capitol on Tuesday, March 9th. There is still room on the bus for Bemidji Day at the Capitol, in fact only about 40 people are signed up. Could it be that the dismal state of the state's finances and the lack of any optimism coming out of St. Paul has soured

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-37771741478125684242010-02-23T20:35:00.001-06:002010-02-23T20:39:22.644-06:00

A little less here and a bit less there, pretty soon you've got a recipe for a budget reduction, right?  Unfortunately, it is going to take more that a bit here and there to find  $600,000 that is expected to be cut from the City's 2010 budget.  Word is that City department heads have been asked to recommend cuts of 10% on their budgets. Not sure if there was any mention of revenue enhancements--

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-29451843767771920372010-02-22T14:38:00.003-06:002010-02-22T14:40:48.221-06:00

Governor Pawlenty has proposed cutting LGA (local government aid) to cities by $250 million, including cuts to Bemidji of $581,323 in 2010 and $302,000 in 2011. That means we have to make immediate reductions to the city budget. But putting the brakes on the city’s budget is like trying to stop a Toyota. The tax levy has already been set and can’t be changed, so budget adjustments must come in

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-47987313603748048202010-02-17T18:32:00.003-06:002010-02-17T18:39:50.091-06:00

While most readers were focused on the Governor's State of the State address in last Friday's (2/12/10) Star Tribune, I was interested in another story that addressed development along the St. Croix River. The Minnesota supreme Court sided with the City of Lakeland and the property owner in a variance request that had been approved by the city. The MN DNR had opposed the variance request.

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-38341481263862347022010-02-11T23:29:00.002-06:002010-02-11T23:32:16.889-06:00

Political intrigue, old buildings, and architectural features--I'm not talking about the latest Dan Brown novel. It's what you might encounter by volunteering with the City of Bemidji. There are several openings on City of Bemidji committees and Commissions. In all cases interested citizens should submit a letter of interest to the city clerk by email cityclerk@ci.bemidji.mn.us. Current

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-638946967445705642010-02-06T17:45:00.001-06:002010-02-06T17:48:56.093-06:00

In the words of Matthew Lesko, TV pitchman, "You would be crazy to miss this opportunity." Here are some real funding sources that I found to pass on to you. COMMUNITY GARDEN: Fiskars Project Orange Thumb Grant Program Community groups are invited to apply for the 2010 Fiskars Project Orange Thumb Grant Program. Fiskars, a leading manufacturer of scissors and garden tools, will award grants

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-68896613838497841222010-02-06T16:33:00.003-06:002010-02-06T16:40:02.803-06:00

The local group that is working to fund the Bemidji Skate Park has entered a contest to receive $25,000 from the Pepsi Refresh Everything competition. Lead by Nate Dorr, the group has already raised $150,000 toward their goal to build a world class skate venue in Bemidji City Park. Winners are based on the online voting results. You can vote for Bemidji's projet here. Bemidji's application is

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-13899050652519785452010-02-05T23:59:00.000-06:002010-02-05T23:59:03.890-06:00

A war of words between the City of Bemidji and Tim Pawlenty continued with more comments on the Governor's radio show Friday morning. The exchange began last week when the Governor blasted Bemidji for raising the levy to offset the Governor's LGA cuts. The Mayor's response in The Pioneer and the Star Tribune corrected inaccuracies in Pawlenty's comments and explained the increase. But that

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-28606591106833625252010-02-05T22:39:00.000-06:002010-02-05T22:39:37.122-06:00

What sculpture subject should be chosen to represent Bemidji? About 10 2-foot-tall sculptures will be manufactured and then given to local artists to decorate before they are placed throughout the city. The poll is at The Bemidji Pioneer. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the question. Voting ends Saturday, February 6th! Here's the vote as of 2-05-10: Results Votes beaver 108 (31.2%)

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-79873784955613656732010-01-20T19:35:00.002-06:002010-01-20T19:43:34.871-06:00

This is the time of year when the Mayor gives the state of the city address (The Pioneer recap) and “looking back” stories appear in newspapers and blogs; But I’d rather look forward to 2010. Is 2010 the year that this statue in Library Park is replaced?  A committee has been working on it. Five more things to watch in 2010. 1.    Annexation—a done deal? The City council has voted to move

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-13834937137312018502010-01-08T23:11:00.000-06:002010-01-08T23:11:40.033-06:00

Broomball anyone? Find out about the new broomball league that starts Monday, January 10th plus many other Parks department activities and events in this week's City newsletter.  The newsletter is chock-full of information including year-end reports from the building and police departments, an update on a meeting with a convention hotel developer and an announcement of a visioning/planning

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-41000077643522079902010-01-06T15:52:00.000-06:002010-01-06T15:53:11.847-06:00

Got an idea to improve the community? Pepsi is giving away up to 32 grants a month ranging in size from $5,000 to $250,000 for a total of up to $1.3 million per month. We're looking for people, businesses, and non-profits with ideas that will have a positive impact. Look around your community and think about how you want to change it. Anyone can submit an idea online at Refresh Everything.

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-5002828463276818432010-01-03T23:11:00.000-06:002010-01-03T23:15:12.712-06:00

MinnIndy is reporting that the proprietors of First Avenue in Minneapolis are launching a protest against the proposed merger of giant show promoter Live Nation and giant ticket seller Ticketmaster.  Opponents are afraid that the merger will mean increased ticket prices for the acts that Live Nation promotes. If the fears are realized, it could mean higher prices for shows at the BREC, which is

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-40392113075686875632010-01-03T22:34:00.000-06:002010-01-03T22:34:07.095-06:00

December 31, 2009 marked the last day of the Community Development office in Bemidji City Hall. My job was eliminated and I now join the other 175,000 unemployed workers that are currently drawing unemployment benefits in Minnesota. The City Council eliminated the 2010 budget for my position in a surprise move (and I believe outside the authority vested in them by the Charter) during a work

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-6353556668027771772009-11-22T20:26:00.000-06:002009-11-22T21:55:11.667-06:00

In this week's newsletter, the city finance director explains how laying off one employee will impact next year's budget. He also gives an overview of the changes made since the budget was presented on August 10th and the levy was adopted on September 14th. A broader explanation of the city's budget will be presented at the Truth in Taxation hearing at 7:00pm on Monday, December 7th. The

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-38400179746016468122009-11-18T18:04:00.000-06:002009-11-18T19:42:23.730-06:00

It's a week away! Black Friday. Buy Nothing Day. Whatever you call it, the best part of the day after Thanksgiving is not the fabulous sales or the satisfaction of boycotting the sales or even the turkey leftovers. Its the First City of Lights parade in Bemidji.Thousands of people converge on the downtown to watch the parade and celebrate the lighting of the downtown and trees in Paul Bunyan

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-87332182862506332332009-11-01T18:50:00.000-06:002009-11-01T22:15:26.196-06:00

"Thank's for the map you sent last week. Can you get me an airphoto of another location downtown?" That's the question I got the other day at work and I was happy to make the map, but along with the new map, I sent the directions for do-it-yourself mapping available for Bemidji and Beltrami County.Since Google Earth hit the web in 2004, people have been fascinated with zooming around the globe,

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-86343118425718937452009-11-01T17:32:00.000-06:002009-11-01T18:49:37.755-06:00

This week's newsletter has updates from the City Manager, Finance Director, Waste Water Treatment Facility, and Parks Director. Meetings this week include a Council meeting on Monday, a Park & Trail Commission meeting on Tuesday, and a Joint Planning Board Meeting on Wednesday. The Tuesday Parks meeting is an opportunity for citizens to share ideas for a new city park on 30th Street.Ever wonder

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-41335949416002267372009-10-29T20:44:00.000-05:002009-10-29T22:33:02.954-05:00

How do you plan for welcoming 900 new residents in one fell swoop? How about an informational letter and an invitation to your house? I'm not talking about the pipeline crews that have descended on the city. It's the estimated 900 people that live in the first orderly annexation area.The Bemidji city council recently voted to to exercise their authority and annex the first tier of properties

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-87818044454772657472009-10-24T22:11:00.000-05:002009-10-25T16:03:53.071-05:00

Recycling and reducing waste, biking instead of driving, starting a community garden--individuals shared what they are doing to make a difference at a meeting to discuss sustainability in Bemidji. About two dozen people attended the forum on Wednesday and everyone agreed that we all have a role in making the community more sustainable. Personally, I don't really think of myself as "green." I

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-77040678871564633812009-10-24T21:25:00.001-05:002009-10-24T22:11:21.145-05:00

Time to check out this week's edition of the City of Bemidji weekly newsletter. The most interesting bit is the Bemidji Library update. (I'm not kidding!) Internet public use at the Library has almost doubled in the last two years and they served 23,000 more customers by September this year than during the first nine months in 2007. Also making the newsletter this week is an update from the

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-2836072263333004862009-10-18T22:48:00.000-05:002009-10-18T23:00:56.377-05:00

This week's newsletter includes an announcement for training for citizen planners. It's sponsored by the MN Chapter of the APA and just $25 for a half-day workshop on October 29th. There is also an update from Enbridge on the pipeline construction, a bit on the Census Complete Count Committee and an announcement for family friendly Halloween event at Diamond Point Park. Check it out here (PDF).

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-34844442087948941922009-10-18T21:10:00.001-05:002009-10-18T23:01:23.433-05:00

Sustainability. What does it mean? Depends on who you ask. Increasing walking and biking? Conserving natural areas? Reducing waste? Supporting local foods? If you have some ideas on community sustainability, the Bemidji Sustainability Committee invites to share them at a forum planned for Wednesday, October 21st at 7:00 pm at Bemidji City Hall, 317 4th St. NW.The City of Bemidji has talked about

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-86460669843911408472009-10-05T22:04:00.000-05:002009-10-05T22:38:39.528-05:00

If you've got a spare room for a couple of months, a volunteer dentist needs a place to stay. The Northern Dental Access Center Bemidji, is a non-profit, community agency that provides basic dental services to people enrolled in Minnesota Health Care Plans, including Medical Assistance, Minnesota Care, General Assistance Medical Care, etc. They rely on volunteer dentists to deliver some care.

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-36552766551721838572009-10-02T23:44:00.001-05:002009-10-03T00:00:07.683-05:00

Every Friday, you can get updates on what is happening at the City of Bemidji when you read the online Weekly Newsletter. This week's newsletter has updates from the City Manager, City Engineer, Parks Director and yours truly. The most interesting bits this week are pictures of the osprey nest at City Park that is being relocated to accommodate the park upgrade. Although they did not have to

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-67306799082392755162009-10-02T08:12:00.000-05:002009-10-02T08:12:00.106-05:00

Dream it. Design it. Ride it! Bring your boards and ideas for a workshop session with professional skateboarder and lead skate park designer Kanten Russell. The session will be held October 6, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at the City Public Works Facility – 1351 5th Street NW.This workshop gives skaters and interested parties the opportunity to talk to the Skate Park Architect, and provide input for the

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-15724687547140145052009-10-02T02:01:00.000-05:002009-10-02T02:01:03.502-05:00

Non-profits provide great benefit to our communities and this study by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy quantifies their impact. The comprehensive study of 15 Minnesota non-profits shows that for every dollar that foundations invest in the organizing and advocacy work of non-profits, there is a return on investment of $138 for communities.The report went on to say that

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-58551476059533305282009-10-01T20:46:00.001-05:002009-10-01T21:17:22.835-05:00

Changes are coming for the huge expanse of asphalt at the Pamida site in downtown Bemidji. The property has been subdivided into two parcels and the north 2/3 of the site will be redeveloped with a 2-storefront building. I'm not sure of the timeline for the redevelopment, but the Joint Planning office has received a preliminary plan for a structure on the site. At first blush, the site plan

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-71334713602448223052009-09-13T22:25:00.000-05:002009-09-13T22:42:45.638-05:00

Get an update on the environmental clean-up at the event center, a list of the recently inspected rental units in Bemidji and the construction activity report for the month. It's all in this week's city manager's newsletter, available on the city of Bemidji's website.

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-59914142283622490192009-08-19T20:09:00.000-05:002009-08-19T20:09:00.182-05:00

Have you ever noticed the terrazzo floor inside the entrance at the Bemidji high school? The design was installed as part of the public art that was included in the publicly financed building. The Bemidji Regional Event Center will have a public art component too. A committee of artists has been working with the City's consultant, Forecast Public Art to define where the art can be incorporated

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-92013674941877589912009-08-18T19:54:00.000-05:002009-08-18T22:05:24.127-05:00

So-- there are so many other things to do in summer than work at the computer. Besides the usual summer fun, here's a pictorial of some of the things that are keeping me from blogging.A wedding to plan!Moving my son's family into a new houseKeeping track of my soon-to-be 85 year-old DadTwins gameFirst grandbaby--a beautiful teeny tiny girl!Small town celebrations--Big Falls 4th of JulyBobby

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-76439011810521048432009-08-05T21:59:00.000-05:002009-08-05T22:40:20.786-05:00

Learn about activities in the City parks, a request for development proposals for the South Shore and former MnDOT sites and upgrades underway at the Waste Water Treatment Facility in this week's newsletter. The newsletter is a mix of news and information from department heads who contribute updates, a list of upcoming meetings and various correspondence and sundry announcements.

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-85088870503070809162009-07-19T22:34:00.000-05:002009-07-19T23:13:57.451-05:00

A letter in Sunday's Pioneer by a local Realtor had some valid arguments against the rental moratorium proposed by the Bemidji City Council. The Ordinance, which puts a 12-month moratorium on new rental registrations, will have a second reading on Monday night. The public hearing will provide citizens an opportunity to weigh in on the measure. The local Realtor Association invited City Council

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-58256850072988161632009-07-19T21:20:00.000-05:002009-07-19T22:33:43.265-05:00

The Carnegie Library is 100 years old this year. Built in 1909, the building has served as the public library, county welfare office, music school, art center and more. It is owned by the City and is the centerpiece of Library Park. Hundreds of people were in the park this weekend to attend Art in the Park. Too bad most of them have never been inside the Carnegie building. The reward for

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-80268027718902947452009-07-17T22:48:00.000-05:002009-07-18T00:20:40.545-05:00

A friend emailed me last week and asked for tips on entering her knitting at the fair. I am no expert, but I have entered flower arrangements the last two years and have had a bit of beginner's luck.The first year I entered, I won the Bertha Johnson Best First Time Entrant award ($30) and last year in addition to winning 6 ribbons, I won the best of show for my arrangement of orange and yellow

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-70713023619813727632009-07-07T22:33:00.000-05:002009-07-07T22:48:02.328-05:00

Segways on state trails? Should the two-wheeled personal chariot be allowed on paved state trails? DNR wants an opinion from the State Attorney General.A list of potential candidates for governor (30, Yikes!!) updated July 7th.Lists of Minnesota blogs at City Pages, Bemidji Community Internet, and at Minnesota.com Is yours missing? Add it.

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-36843721174556230112009-07-03T20:14:00.000-05:002009-07-03T21:11:47.919-05:00

If you ever wished for a way to keep rental properties off your block, you might get your wish. The city council will take up a discussion on the number of rentals in Bemidji neighborhoods at their regular meeting on Monday at 7:00. The council originally requested a moratorium on new rental registrations in order to study the idea. They'll see that ordinance Monday, but will also be presented

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-63223255218875621542009-07-03T19:16:00.000-05:002009-07-03T20:14:13.253-05:00

The City Council will consider a rental density ordinance on Monday; new park programs started this week--something for kids and adults in city parks; and a traveling Skate Park demo on July 4 will give locals a chance to try out ramps and rails. Read about these bits in this week's newsletter.

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-60372594518487004842009-06-20T17:32:00.000-05:002009-06-20T17:32:00.392-05:00

It won't happen for another 285 days, give or take, but the Census Bureau has been gearing up locally for the 2010 Census for some months already. They have hired local managers and City staff have met with them at least twice. The Census has rented office space in Hill's office building on 5th Street (near the Veteran's Clinic) and they will be hiring about 50 people in the Bemidji area.This

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-41314781193329951442009-06-19T16:55:00.000-05:002009-06-19T17:23:11.027-05:00

This week's newsletter has several bits about the south shore of Lake Bemidji and event center site. They include a second update on environmental cleanup; announcement of a substantial donation by Ottertail Power Company for the utility service: and information about the selection of an operations firm to manage the event center (VenuWorks and Global Spectrum).Check it out at this link to

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-39407281820857877552009-06-14T13:13:00.000-05:002009-06-14T14:53:52.875-05:00

Five total lanes: four driving lanes (two in each direction) and one center turn lane; and zero painted crosswalks on nearly a mile of street in the city. That's the design that will be in front of the City Council on Monday night.The Minnesota Department of Transportation will reconstruct Trunk Highway 197 in Bemidji from Lueken's Village Foods south to US Highway 71 in 2010. MnDOT owns and

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-47793828134864180942009-06-12T02:05:00.000-05:002009-06-11T23:24:09.659-05:00

The governor cut it last year and he plans to cut it even more in 2010-2011. No, not his hair. Everybody's talking about LGA (Local Government Aid), but can anyone really explain it? Why do some cities get it and others don't? Why do cities need it?LGA goes to cities with a low tax base. In Bemidji, only about 49% of the properties in the city are taxable. With 51% tax-exempt, we thank LGA

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-18171007096052850852009-06-11T22:10:00.000-05:002009-06-11T22:23:24.461-05:00

Here's something to check out. Paul Bunyan TV has installed a webcam on the First Street water tower and pointed it at the construction of the Bemidji Regional Event Center. You can access the video at this PBTV web page. This picture of the construction site was taken today from today's video.

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-60624134866895529792009-06-03T22:46:00.000-05:002009-06-03T22:56:13.111-05:00

If you live on the east side of Lake Bemidji and normally use First Street to get into town, you may want to attend the informational meeting on Thursday evening. City of Bemidji and Kraus Anderson staff will be on hand on Thursday, June 4 at 6:00pm in the Chambers of City Hall to give an update on the event center construction project and answer questions. Information about the construction

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-23232909046153337242009-06-01T02:10:00.000-05:002009-06-01T02:10:00.829-05:00

The Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the annual legislative wrap-up on Tuesday, June 2 at 5:30pm at City Hall. Area legislators from Districts 2 and 4 are invited. The lawmakers will give their take on this year's session and answer questions from the audience. What do you want to ask your representative?

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-63217515604049469842009-05-31T14:08:00.001-05:002009-05-31T14:56:07.486-05:00

This week's newsletter includes a letter from the Mayor to Governor Pawlenty enumerating the steps the City of Bemidji has taken to respond to Pawlenty's December 2008 unallotment and options to further respond to anticipated reductions in Local Government Aid payments. The list of additional options is pretty short -- 2 items. You will also find updates on the event center, the library

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-60380345041472520302009-05-25T22:49:00.000-05:002009-05-25T23:12:58.635-05:00

This weekend is the kickoff of the summer tourism season for Bemidji and if this year is like most others, Paul and Babe will have their pictures taken with thousands of visitors a month.We know that Bemidji is the true home of Paul and Babe and we’ll defend our claim to the iconic folk heroes to anyone who will listen. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop towns from Washington to Maine, including

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-56619632395020499812009-05-15T21:48:00.000-05:002009-05-16T08:51:29.509-05:00

Inventors alert! Need $10,000 to get that idea off the ground? Want to be an entrepreneur? Four entrepreneurs got help from the IDEA competition this week when they were announced as winners in a contest to assist promising entrepreneurs.The Northwest Minnesota Foundation’s 2009 Regional Summit at U of M Crookston Tuesday was an “innovation celebration” that included the announcement of the

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-88498578106105938332009-05-15T21:28:00.000-05:002009-05-15T21:47:56.614-05:00

What's new? This week's newsletter has a bit about the reception for the 2009-10 sculpture walk pieces (Saturday at 5:00pm) and a recap of activity at the local waste water treatment facility. Did you know that the City does field application of bio-solids from the WWTF? Check it out at this link to the City Manager's weekly newsletter. The newsletter is a mix of information from department

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-4321283673969084472009-05-13T21:15:00.000-05:002009-05-13T23:28:39.744-05:00

Everyone has their own take on what makes a great community and there are dozens of sites dedicated to listing the ingredients for success, but what attributes should rise to the top of the list?Blogger BemidjiMike has a post about "Reshaping the Urban Centers . . ." that refers to three articles in Forbes magazine. One of the articles posits that. . . for urban centers to grow and be successful

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-26727750749031913892009-05-08T21:40:00.000-05:002009-05-08T21:50:05.819-05:00

Unfolding the earth. This is cool.Hat tip to Urban Cartography for the link.

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-13310751254006923512009-05-08T18:41:00.000-05:002009-05-08T19:04:39.688-05:00

What's new? A great recap of what has been "unearthed" during the excavation of the event center site on the south shore of Lake Bemidji (would you believe a '67 Chevy?); info on an upcoming citizen planners training opportunity in Bemidji; an update on building permits and rental inspections in the city; and a flyer for the Bike Bemidji event on May 16. Check it out at this link to the City

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-7601895853228236602009-05-08T08:03:00.000-05:002009-05-08T18:40:45.300-05:00

One of the most interesting sessions I attended at the national conference of the American Planning Association last month was Mixed Use Suburban Redevelopment Projects, which was a tour of three redevelopment projects in the MSP metro that utilized current or former industrial sites. I was interested in the session because we are planning a mixed use development for the South Shore, which is a

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-19163886388260622742009-05-04T20:50:00.000-05:002009-05-04T23:11:47.116-05:00

I was gone last week taking in the American Planning Association national conference in Minneapolis. "Sustainability" and "Green" were common themes of the conference sessions followed closely by "Walkability."The City has been working at making the Bemidji more walkable and bikeable through the Active Living project and it will take continued community support to make it a priority for the

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-51551168692992861122009-05-04T20:33:00.000-05:002009-05-04T20:49:45.698-05:00

Live in the City of Bemidji? Want to have a say in development activity? Like to get paid $50 a month? There is an opening for a City resident on the Joint Planning Commission. In an effort to spread the word about this "volunteer" opportunity, we've had an ad in the Bemidji Pioneer the past week. The JPC is a twelve-member board charged with long range planning and reviewing planning cases for

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-5315364286083469422009-05-04T20:07:00.001-05:002009-05-04T20:33:18.374-05:00

For inquiring minds who want to know what's happening at the City of Bemidji, check out this link to the City Manager's weekly newsletter. The newsletter is a mix of information from department heads who contribute updates, a list of upcoming meetings and various correspondence and sundry announcements.This week the City Engineer gives an overview of his department's current projects. Also,

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-1401318980878875382009-04-25T02:01:00.000-05:002009-04-25T02:01:00.870-05:00

By Tab, The Calgary SunIf you missed the Earth Day events on Wednesday, there is still time to take part in celebrating the earth.The Eco Expo, organized by the Headwaters Earth Day Committee will be held Saturday 10-4 at the Paul Bunyan Mall. Guest speakers will begin at 11 AM and include Mayor Richard Lehmann, BSU Sustainability Coordiantor, Erika Bailey Johnson, Rural Renewable Energy

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-91606790885419672192009-04-23T22:59:00.000-05:002009-04-24T22:08:50.020-05:00

To stripe or not to stripe. That is the question. Should Irvine Ave. from Third Street to 23rd Street have painted bike lanes on each side? The street is being reconstructed and the question about how to stripe the traffic lanes after it is paved has been raised.Last year, Irvine was restriped with three lanes: a center turn lane and two driving lanes, one in each direction. Parking was also

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-80644583989284726442009-04-23T22:24:00.000-05:002009-04-23T22:55:00.313-05:00

Yesterday I wrote about Robert Putnam's research on how mobility (moving a lot) affects civic engagement. He concluded that high mobility tends to decrease participation in community. Well, if that's true, a blurb from the New York Times in the Star Tribune today was good news for civic engagement: "Americans Stayed Put Last Year." According to the report, "fewer Americans moved in 2008 than in

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-69057276408078433712009-04-23T02:02:00.000-05:002009-04-23T22:51:39.651-05:00

How to build social capital is captured in a list that I recently received in my email inbox. It is titled "150 Things You Can Do to Build Social Capital" and originated from Better Together, an initiative of the Saguaro Seminar on Civic Engagement in America at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. I thought of it today as I read in The Pioneer about Jon Staff, a junior majoring in

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-16628920529301163232009-04-20T21:08:00.000-05:002009-04-22T21:11:09.704-05:00

At Monday's (4/20/09) Bemidji City Council meeting, Ryan Schwingler, Bemidji State University Student Senate Co-President read a Resolution the Student Senate had passed. It asked the Council to review the City's ban on skateboards and rollerblades in the city and especially on university property. His request got a somewhat cool response.That could be because Chapter 24, Subsection 24-52 of

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-6286743829573176012009-04-19T19:14:00.000-05:002009-04-19T23:29:58.027-05:00

Programs must be cut. Choices must be made. It's budget time and State and local governments, struggling to set their budgets in times of declining revenues, are turning to fees-for-service to fill the gap.The trend to finance government with user fees has been growing as more politicians adopt an attitude of "no new taxes," preferring instead to make those that use a service it pay for it. Are

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-77729195278104077992009-04-12T22:13:00.000-05:002009-04-12T22:50:47.281-05:00

An article in the Star Tribune today (Sunday 4/12) highlighted the new process that Congress is using to help constituents learn about "earmark" requests. Representatives are listing their requests and have a form online for "constituent inspired funding." (This is not the stimulus money, but requests for the 2010 regular budget.)At least two Republican Congressional members, Bachman and Kline,

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-84672697329830438072009-04-12T20:52:00.000-05:002009-04-12T22:53:30.583-05:00

Tyler Estates FloodingStaff will be meeting with Beryl Wernberg, Beltrami County Emergency Management Director, on Monday to discuss a variety of issues related to the flooding in Tyler Estates. We will be looking at response coordination but also want to find out more about what part FEMA may play. We are also coordinating a meeting with the county, township, SWCD, DNR, Steve Hill, and others

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-40118964910107715312009-04-07T02:01:00.000-05:002009-04-06T22:58:00.348-05:00

On February 2nd I planted three Hyacinth bulbs and they have been blooming for about a week. Every time I walk past them I get a whiff of their sweet fragrance and a reminder of the springtime smells that we are beginning to enjoy.I have crocus bulbs growing under the snow -- white, purple, and lavender -- and with any luck, I will get to see their blooms in the next few weeks, before the

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-65458332267621005732009-04-06T22:46:00.000-05:002009-04-06T22:56:29.299-05:00

The problem with blogging is that it is relentless. One has to do it on a regular basis to expect readers to come back. Nobody wants to go to a blog and see old news. So, if you visited this week and were disappointed here is my apology (and my excuse.)Sorry I have not posted for more than a week. I have been helping to move my (84 year old) Dad to a new apartment. It was quite a chore and

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-90705850949633748202009-03-29T21:14:00.000-05:002009-03-29T23:23:10.757-05:00

Times are tough. And according to Non-profit leaders, times are really tough for them. Non-profit executive directors are in a never ending quest for funding and are finding local government partnerships to be changing or ending all together.In addition to contracting with non-profits for services, Beltrami County has a grant program funded by timber sales and distributed through a competitive

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-80159185041257914542009-03-22T21:44:00.000-05:002009-03-22T23:20:33.834-05:00

No one likes to be told that they are doing a bad job. And we know that praise works better than put downs as a motivator. Unfortunately, negative remarks seem to tumble out easily, while the positive get stuck. And once the negativity begins, it’s easy to “pile on” with a laundry list of every complaint we have.A perennial target of complaints is government and locally, the City of Bemidji

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-9411127405308705002009-03-15T21:03:00.000-05:002009-03-15T23:57:53.683-05:00

DEED Grant ApplicationThe City submitted an application to DEED for the Redevelopment Grant program at the end of January and they are currently being reviewed. the City provided additional information on our project this week. The City’s application seeks funding for streets and utilities to serve the commercial development portion of the South Shore redevelopment area. We have requested

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-38176540749808078382009-03-12T01:05:00.000-05:002009-03-11T23:10:01.823-05:00

Out of sight, out of mind might not be how you would characterize your long distance relationship, but when talking about our Legislators, it could be an appropriate adage. But staying in touch with what is happening at the State Capitol is actually pretty easy.Sometimes they even come to us. Members of the House and Senate finance committees were in Bemidji recently to take comment from the

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-54636945005081574832009-03-08T21:50:00.000-05:002009-03-08T22:31:30.243-05:00

There are a lot of odd characters hanging out on Bemidji’s downtown corners. They arrive in June and stay for about a year, braving the elements and posing for tourists. The most famous is Patton on the corner of Third and Minnesota, but he is not necessarily the most popular sculpture.The Sculpture Walk is just one way that the downtown arts scene brings people into downtown and gives them a

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-30571325128692322202009-03-02T22:15:00.000-06:002009-03-03T21:23:46.119-06:00

There might not be free lunch, but there are a lot of free lunchtime seminars--if you can find them. One of the benefits of living in a regional center for education, health care, recreation, and government is that we have a lot of subject matter experts (SMEs). If you pay attention, you can find a SME giving a free lecture or seminar every week. Here are some noontime events that are coming up

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-37765224538902764672009-03-01T14:01:00.000-06:002009-03-01T23:59:52.935-06:00

"Gardening, forever. Housework, whenever." That's the motto that hung in my Mom's house. She was a dedicated gardener whose artistic side made her gardens unique. The deluge of seed catalogs (Gurneys, Johnnys, Jungs) in my mailbox and this story and video about a front yard garden in last week's Star Tribune make me want to get out the graph paper and start laying out a new garden, just like

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302845531770659000.post-10298125054577155022009-03-01T13:39:00.000-06:002009-03-01T23:56:07.489-06:00

In case you missed it, "Saving Babe" a documentary chronicling the history and renovation of the iconic Blue Ox on Bemidji's waterfront, will be rebroadcast on Lakeland Public Television on 3/8 at 11:30 pm, 3/10 at 8:30 pm, and 3/14 at 2:30 pm.

Bemidji Bitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751876979903263948noreply@blogger.com0