The new bridge committee, a joint committee of International Falls and Fort Frances council members is expected to meet for the first time this month.
“It should be any time now, I would think it will be within the first two weeks of May,” noted Mayor Glenn Witherspoon, who will sit on the committee.
Joining the mayor on the committee will be Couns. Neil Kabel and Roy Avis and residents Paul Ryan, Aage Rude and Jane Gillon from Fort Frances and Couns. Brian Briggs, Terry Carew and Julie Melstrom as well as residents Earl Miller, Marc Windsness and Clint Chase from International Falls.
The two councils struck the committee to pursue the feasibility of building a new bridge after Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. and Boise Cascade changed the cost of bridge tolls.
“Initially all we’ll be able to do is try to assign people to contact people in upper levels of government to get involved and see where we can go,” noted Mayor Witherspoon. “As you can see, we’re in our infancy and we have a long way to go.”
Already the committee has had some difficulty getting off the ground.
They had delayed a first meeting while waiting for Minn. State representative Irv Anderson but will proceed without him because he has been too busy.
And International Falls Mayor Harry Swendson appears less enthusiastic than Mayor Witherspoon about the prospect of a new bridge.
“I think it’s premature to say one or both communities want that, this is a chance for dialogue,” said Mayor Swendson. “I think the purpose at this time is just to talk and see what ideas come out of there and see if there is an area out there the community wants to move toward.”
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
