Around MN: Fighting blight and boosting bridges
Every day, MPR's Minnesota Today team highlights important stories throughout the state. Find more statewide news any time at www.minnesotatoday.org.
TOWNS STRUGGLE TO ADDRESS ABANDONED HOMES, BLIGHT
Two Harbors, like many towns across Minnesota, can't keep up with increasing urban blight. It's a tough cycle for local governments: foreclosures are up, the number of abandoned homes is increasing and fewer people are around to pay property taxes that support the enforcements of nuisance ordinances.
Meghan Koss is tired of dealing with a raccoon problem that stems from the abandoned house next to her home. The Lake County News Chronicle reports that the vacant home has been in a state of disrepair for four years. Two Harbors police are reportedly trying to contact the Duluth owner, but that only works in roughly half of the cases.
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Two Harbors Mayor Randy Bolen said he will look to neighboring Duluth for advice.
The City of Duluth used grant money to create a program that has fire fighters and a city attorney working together to identify problem properties and try to resolve ordinance violations. Last year, according to the Chronicle, the new program identified 400 problem properties in Duluth.
The City of Keewatin recently enacted a three-strikes blight ordinance.
There really doesn't seem to be a quick and easy way to address the problem of blight. Without additional support to cities, residents can pursue a civic case against violators that could result in enforcement or a lien against the property.
BRIDGE BOOSTERS UNITE
Senators from Minnesota and Wisconsin have introduced legislation to move forward on a new bridge over the St. Croix River near Stillwater. Sen. Amy Klobuchar says the bill was introduced Thursday night.
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker both supportthe project. Klobuchar says the bill includes a package of mitigation efforts to protect and promote the river by eliminating existing man-made structures, protecting river bluffs and ensuring public boat access. Klobuchar says she has been working closely with Republican Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann, who has introduced similar bipartisan legislation in the House.
BY THE NUMBERS
Number of "toxic hotspots" across the Great Lakes: 43
One such area is the St. Louis River estuary where the river broadens and enters Lake Superior. The Duluth News Tribune reports that scientists are rounding up smallmouth bass "help determine how widespread toxic chemicals have become" in the estuary.
