‘Buy bridge,’ local lawyer suggests

According to a local lawyer, purchasing the international bridge here is the best way to prevent increasing tolls and other problems.
“I hear through the grapevine that the new Customs facility may be bogged down for a period of time in federal bureaucracy,” Lawrence G. Phillips wrote in a letter to Mayor Glenn Witherspoon.
“Seeing how a simple project like that can be that difficult, a new bridge would probably be 100 times as difficult,” he noted.
“I wish to propose what I see to be a sensible alternative to the whole situation. It would prevent any further escalation in toll fees and be of an ultimate financial benefit to both Fort Frances and International Falls,” Phillips wrote.
“My proposal is that the Town of Fort Frances, the City of International Falls, the State of Minnesota, and the Province of Ontario purchase the [existing] concrete bridge from its respective owners.”
In his letter, Phillips said the cost of the bridge was about $3.5 million and probably would have depreciated over the past 19 years to much lower than that.
“. . . the only thing really to be purchased would be the lands,” he wrote. “A figure in the area of $1 million would seem to be reasonable.”
Phillips also noted that if no tolls were charged on the bridge, a Customs facility would not have to be provided by the owners. And the mills could retain their railway bridge and retain easements over the roadways that would be transferred.
“I do believe that such a scheme would immensely benefit the economies of both Fort Frances and International Falls, and encourage more joint projects between the U.S. and Canada,” he wrote.
“I would encourage you to take this up with council as I understand Boise Cascade and Abitibi may be receptive to this sort of scheme.”
In related news, Fort Frances CAO Bill Naturkach indicated to council during Monday night’s meeting that four building permits have been issued by the town for the construction of the new Customs facility.