Month: November 2024

The Crookston School Board meets on Monday, November 25 at 5:00 p.m. in the Crookston High School Choir/Orchestra room. 

The consent agenda includes the approval of minutes from the meetings on October 28 and the special meeting on November 14, approval of current bills, and accepting the resignation of Meghan Jeffries as Special Education teacher at Crookston High School.

The main agenda includes approving the audit for 2023-24 and the settlement agreement with ICON Architectural Group. They will also be asked to approve the Post Issuance Compliance Policy, the Johnson Contrrols contract for three years, the approval of the Indian Education Compliance letter, and a revision to the Crookston High School Handbook regarding Post Secondary Education credits. 

The meeting will wrap up with reports from administrators. 

The post Crookston School Board meets on Monday, November 25 first appeared on KROX.

Benedictine Living Community – Crookston would like to say a huge thank you to Bremer Bank for their generous donation to our current project, much-needed updates to our assisted living apartments and skilled nursing rooms, improving comfort and care for our residents.

We’re also incredibly grateful for Bremer’s “Jeans for a Cause” program, where employees contribute by paying to wear jeans on Fridays, with the funds going toward local causes. It’s inspiring to see their commitment to making a difference in our community.

We are truly honored by Bremer’s support and the connection we share as we work together to strengthen our community.

Brad Brekken and Lydia Stephens from Bremer Bank are pictured below with Executive Director Lindsey Erdman and Foundation Development Director Cassie Rudie.

Lindsey Erdman, Brad Brekken, Lydia Stephens, Cassie Rudie

The post Bremer Bank donates to Benedictine Living Community-Crookston first appeared on KROX.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is proud of the work construction crews completed or advanced this season on nearly 240 road and bridge projects across the state that will improve safe travel and multi-mobility options. 

“Smoother pavement, updated infrastructure, new bike and pedestrian pathways – these are just some of the improvements we completed to help make travel safer for all Minnesotans,” said MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. “We thank travelers for their patience during the construction season because you are a key player in keeping work zones safe. And, as we’re planning for next year’s construction projects, we encourage you to stay tuned into traffic impacts anticipated for 2025 and plan ahead for your travels.”

An additional 54 projects focused on improving safety at railroad crossings, repairing seawalls and docks along our marine freight system, updating runways and other infrastructure at local airports, and improving transit centers statewide.

Major MnDOT projects completed or advanced in 2024

Twin Cities (MnDOT Metro District)

• Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis – Crews replaced hundreds of stone veneers, replaced mortar, and more. Work began in the spring of 2024 and will continue through 2026.
• I-494 in Edina, Bloomington, Richfield – Crews completed a new flyover bridge at the I-35W/I-494 interchange and opened it to motorists traveling from northbound I-35W to westbound I-494. Construction will continue in 2025.
• Highway 52 in Hampton – Crews completed this two-year project that resurfaced Highway 52 between County Road 42 in Rosemount and County Road 86 in Hampton to provide a smoother ride, improved drainage, and updated signs and guardrail.
• Highway 36 from I-35W in Roseville to Edgerton St. in Little Canada – Crews resurfaced nearly six miles of Highway 36, installed a new auxiliary lane from southbound I-35W to eastbound Highway 36, improved drainage and pedestrian/bicycle crossings and accessibility.
• Highway 51/Snelling Avenue, St. Paul – Construction projects on two stretches of Highway 51/Snelling Avenue in St. Paul enhanced safety, will help lessen congestion and improve pedestrian safety by installing a center median and left-turn lanes and more.

Northern Minnesota (MnDOT Districts 1 and 2)

• Highway 169 Chisholm to Mountain Iron – Crews resurfaced 16 miles of Highway 169 between Chisholm and Mountain Iron, and improved lighting and accessibility for pedestrians.
• Highway 61 Duluth to Two Harbors intersection improvements – Completed safety improvements at five intersections along Highway 61 between Duluth and Two Harbors, including turn lanes, a J-turn intersection, and improved lighting.
• Highway 11/313 Warroad reconstruction – Completed year one of a three-year project that will reconstruct or resurface Highways 11 and 313 through Warroad and improve safety and access. Crews will return in 2025 to complete the roundabout at Highway 11/313 and begin Highway 11 bridge construction.
• Highway 75, Perley – Completed the first year of a project to raise Highway 75 north and south of Perley and improve drainage, flood control and safety at the Highway 75/County Road 39 intersection.
• Highway 75 roundabout near Crookston – Completed a new roundabout to improve safety the Highway 75/County Road 21 intersection north of Crookston.

Central Minnesota (MnDOT Districts 3 and 4)

• Highway 169, Elk River – Completed a three-year Corridors of Commerce-funded project that converted three miles of Highway 169 through Elk River to a freeway. Crews constructed four new interchanges to improve traffic flow, safety, and capacity, freeway lanes, adjacent city roads and sidewalks, utilities, and underground infrastructure.
• Highways 10 and 23, St. Cloud – Crews completed the two-year Highway 10/Highway 23 interchange reconstruction project in east St. Cloud that also improved bridges and adjacent entrances.
• Highway 169, Aitkin – Completed a two-year project that reconstructed 11 miles of Highway 169 between Aitkin and north of Hassman. Crews also widened shoulders and replaced centerline culverts and box bridges.
• 11th Street underpass in Moorhead – Completed the first year of this three-year project to construct two underpasses under the BNSF rail lines in Moorhead.
• Highways 59 and 108 in Pelican Rapids – Completed year one of this two-year project to construct roundabouts at the junctions of Highway 59 and Highway 108, replacing city utilities downtown and starting work on the shared-use path. 
• Westbound I-94 Alexandria to Osakis – Completed 12 miles of concrete paving and replaced westbound bridges, guardrails, and more. Crews will return in 2025 to replace the eastbound bridges.

Southeast Minnesota (MnDOT District 6)

• Interstate 35, Faribault – Completed a two-year project that resurfaced I-35 lanes through Faribault and reconstructed or repaired I-35 ramps.
• Highway 14, Dodge Center to Byron – Completed a new J-turn intersection in Dodge County, resurfaced six miles of Highway 14, repaired areas at the interchange bridge in Kasson, and added a high-tension cable median barrier.
• I-90 Austin bridges – Started a three-year project through the I-90 corridor in Austin. By the end of 2024, two bridges will be replaced, and a third will be repaired.
• I-90/Highway 52 interchange reconstruction – Started a three-year project to replace two I-90 bridges, build a new flyover bridge and improve ramps. Work in year one included crossover lane construction, box culvert installation, and preparation of flyover bridge abutments.

Southwest Minnesota (MnDOT District 7 and District 8)

• Highway 23 from New London to Paynesville – Expanded 16 miles of Highway 23 to four lanes as part of a two-year Corridors of Commerce project.
• Interstate 90, Blue Earth to Highway 169 south of Wells – Completed a two-year project that resurfaced 20 miles of road, repaired bridges and culverts, improved lighting, and replaced pavement at two rest areas. The project also installed new “golden panels” on I-90 near Blue Earth in their original locations. The panels commemorate the 1978 completion of more than 3,000 miles of I-90.
• Highway 93, Henderson to Highway 169 – Completed the first year of a three-year project that will reconstruct and raise the highway approximately eight feet, putting it one foot above historic high-water events. Crews will also replace a bridge and construct an additional overflow bridge.
• Highway 4, Sherburn to St. James and St. James to Sleepy Eye – Crews will soon complete resurfacing approximately 50 miles of roadway, bridge replacements, bridge repairs, and drainage improvements.

The post MnDOT celebrates improved safety, mobility and smoother travel as the 2024 construction season ends first appeared on KROX.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is initiating updates to the Buffalo River State Park management plan to guide future development and operations.

The new management plan will set the direction for the park for the next 15 to 20 years. It will include recommendations for managing natural and cultural resources and providing recreational and interpretative opportunities to park visitors.

The DNR invites those interested in providing input to an open house on Monday, Dec. 9, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Minnesota State University Moorhead Regional Science Center, 663 164^th St. So., Glyndon.

DNR staff will provide information on natural and cultural resources, interpretation and recreation opportunities at the park. The public will have the opportunity to share some of their initial ideas on what they would like to see at the park in the future. There will also be information about the planning process, timeline and how to get involved.

Buffalo River State Park is located 14 miles east of Moorhead and sits along the winding Buffalo River. Many of its facilities were built by the Works Progress Administration in the late 1930s and early 1940s and are on the National Register of Historic Places. The native and restored prairie within the park and the adjoining Bluestem Prairie Scientific and Natural Area is judged to be one of the largest and best of the state’s prairie preserves. Visitors can enjoy riverside hiking trails through old-growth forests, with plenty of opportunities for picnicking, fishing, birding, and wildlife viewing throughout the park. For overnight visitors, there is a seasonal campground and group camp. 

For information, visit the park website (mndnr.gov/buffaloriver).

For information about the open house or management plan, contact Gratia Joice, principal planner, 651-259-5328 or gratia.joice@state.mn.us.

The post Minnesota DNR to hold open house on Buffalo River State Park management plan first appeared on KROX.