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Babbitt cleaned house at the recently concluded Legislative session in St. Paul.
Babbitt will receive nearly $2 million in funding for the city, the school district and the local snowmobile club.
The 2024 Legislative session will be remembered as a major success for the Iron Range according to Senator Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown), who worked to deliver major budget and policy wins bringing millions of dollars in public works projects, community development and investments for local infrastructure and schools that will create jobs and ensure communities throughout the region can thrive.
“This year’s legislative session was a major success for the Northland, with millions of dollars secured for area needs and critical policy reforms that will grow our economy and help our communities thrive,” said Hauschild. “As your senator, I’m laser focused on delivering tangible results, and I’m proud to say that we accomplished that and more this year.”
Rep. Roger Skraba (R-Ely) said the last two years have been a whirlwind with the DFL in control of all three levels of state government.
“While there was a lot that happened these last two years that I did not support and voted against, I am pleased that Sen. Hauschild and myself were able to cut through the noise and work together to secure several major victories for our region.
“Making sure that we can provide assistance for our local ambulance services so that they can continue operations was a top priority this year,” said Skraba. “I am so grateful that we were able to get this across the finish line and make sure that folks in our area know that when they dial 911, they can depend on emergency services arriving in a timely manner.”
EMS Funding:
One of the top priorities in this session was addressing the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) crisis in Minnesota. This culminated in the passage of an EMS reform and aid package that included $30 million in new funding and important policy changes for statewide EMS.
This new EMS aid will go to the following local ambulance services: Ely Area Ambulance Service EMS: $264,384.12 City of Hoyt Lakes EMS: $163,447.74 City of Orr EMS: $160,177.98 City of Tower EMS: $123,957.03 City of Cook EMS: $114,140.94 Babbitt Ambulance Service: $106,790.39 Iron Range Sprint Medic Support - $3 million “The challenges facing Minnesota’s EMS is life or death for people living in rural communities, and we needed to take immediate action this year to address this crisis,” said Hauchild. “This package delivers aid that can help right now, and these policy changes will help stabilize EMS in the short-term. I remain committed to securing the long-term funding needed to permanently fix this issue, and I look forward to getting that done in the 2025 Legislative session.”
On the last night of the legislative session, the Legislature passed an omnibus tax bill that included Hauschild’s mineral article provision, which increases the maximum taconite homestead credit to $515, a nearly 60% increase in property tax relief. Over 35,000 families on the Iron Range will receive a higher credit worth about $7.05 million in property tax relief beginning in 2025.
The tax bill also included funding for a number of area infrastructure and public works projects including:
• City of Babbitt - $1,700,000 – ADA compliance, park, and ice arena renovations.
•BabbittATV/SnowmobileClub$25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
• City of Tower - $3 million for water infrastructure.
• Buyck Volunteer Fire Department - $950,000 for a new fire hall and training center.
• Voyageur Snowmobile/Voyageurs ATV - $750,000 for a joint maintenance facility in Orr.
• Northland Learning Center $2,080,000 for a new facility and the Alternative Learning Center.
• St. Louis County - $2.1 million for the Canyon Integrated Solid Waste Management Campus.
• Hoyt Lakes - $500,000 for the demolition of the closed public school in Hoyt Lakes.
• St. Louis County Schools #2142 - $600,000 for South Ridge School & Babbitt/Tower
• Mesabi Trail - $500,000 for the Aurora to Hoyt Lakes Spur.
• Pioneer Mine Historical Site in Ely - $50,000 for maintenance and displays.
• Ely School District - $5,250,000 for baseball field updates and athletic facilities
• Lake Vermilion Cultural Center - $100,000 to renovate the historical facility in Tower.
• Bois Forte Band of Chippewa - $50,000 to the for-food shelf expenses.
• Northwoods Friends of the Arts in Cook - $25,000 for facility upgrades and programs.
• Veterans on the Lake in Ely - $400,000 for housing facility replacement.
• Prospector Loop ATV - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
• International Wolf Center $1.332 million.
Skraba said he was glad to see how many projects in his area received “Even though a bonding bill did not pass this year, we were still able to find a creative way to make sure many local, public infrastructure projects could receive funding. I am proud that we could get this work done despite the dynamics that made this legislative session especially difficult,” said Skraba.
“Keeping resources on the core Iron Range was my focus this Legislative session. For too long, we’ve seen Taconite proceeds leave the very communities and region they are produced in, but now we’re giving them back directly in property tax relief and investments in our core Range communities,” said Hauschild. “This minerals article is a generational opportunity that will help strengthen the Iron Range and improve the quality of life for those that call this great place home.”
Property tax relief:
funding.
St. Louis County Sheriff Ross Litman last week recognized the life saving responses of citizens, law enforcement, other first responders and 911 emergency communications specialists as he presented 911 Lifesaver Awards to the people involved in three separate incidents. The awards are given each year as part of National Telecommunicator’s Week, and were presented during today’s County Board meeting in Duluth.
Among those honored are a team of people who came together to save the life of six-year-old Caleb Simmonsen, who nearly drowned in Lake Ore-Be-Gone in Gilbert last July. William Bronk, a former lifeguard and swim instructor happened to be at the beach and noticed the boy floating motionless in waist deep water. Bronk quickly brought the boy to shore where he was met by a Jennifer Benedict, who happens to be a former paramedic. She immediately started CPR. Meanwhile, another woman, Renae Krmpotich, who had just arrived at the beach to pick up her sons, saw the commotion and ran to help with the CPR. Shortly after the calls to 911 were placed, Gilbert Police Chief Ty Techar arrived on scene to assist with life-saving efforts while Lt. Tom Smith and Officer Kevin Greene secured the scene for the Virginia Ambulance and the North Air Care helicopter that had also been dispatched. Upon their arrival Virginia Fire Department Paramedics Ross Gramling, Elizabeth Smith, and Jon Carlson, confirmed that Caleb had a pulse but was not yet breathing effectively. After transferring Caleb into the Virginia ambulance, paramedics continued to treat Caleb, and through their continued efforts, they were able to watch as Caleb began to breathe on his own. Also assisting in this incident were the Gilbert Fire Department and First Responders, St Louis County Sheriff’s Office, and North Memorial Air Care Air Ambulance.
The second award was presented to a Hermantown man and his dog, as well as an off-duty sheriff’s deputy, who together saved an elderly couple from a house fire in May of 2018. Mick Aspin said it was his dog, Dolly, who first noticed the smoke and flames coming from the attached garage on their neighbor’s home. When Aspin went looking for the dog, he saw what was going on and went over to help. At the same time, an off-duty (now retired) St. Louis County Sheriff’s Deputy, Mark Phinney, happened to to be driving by and stopped. The men first tried finding an unlocked door. When that didn’t work, Aspin tried kicking in the front door. The noise was enough to get the attention of the homeowner, Ron Skenzich, who’d been unaware of the fire. As Phinney called 911, Aspin was able to help both Ron and his wife, Pat, who’d fallen inside, to get safely out of the house. He then went back inside to rescue the Skenzich’s dog, Toby. The home was destroyed in the fire, but the Skenzichs and their dog all escaped without injury.
The third award was given to 911 Emergency Communications Specialist Carmen Kimball, and to Paul Ochs of Grand Lake Township. Ochs had called 911 in March of last year after his wife, Mari, collapsed and stopped breathing. Kimball provided Ochs with instructions by phone - to position Mari on her back and how to provide CPR. This continued for 10 minutes while waiting for first responders to arrive. Kimball even assisted with counting so that Ochs could maintain the necessary rate of compressions. Sadly, Mari Ochs passed away the next day. But thanks to the teamwork of Paul Ochs and Carmen Kimball, Mari’s loved ones had time to gather at her side. Additionally, her organs were able to be donated, saving the lives of others.
For Kimball, this is the third time she’s been honored for her ability to provide CPR instructions to people who have called 911.
Since 1993, St. Louis County has recognized the efforts of those individuals who have worked together, often risking their own safety, to save others.
