BEMIDJI — The
convened on Monday for a special committee meeting of the Bemidji Economic Development Authority followed by a regular council session.
Both meetings featured key discussions on local development, police department updates and infrastructure projects.
During the BEDA discussion, a public hearing was held on the proposed sale of Lot 3, Block 3 in the South Shore addition to Timothy W. Mrazek. The property, located in the Southeast Lake Bemidji Redevelopment Project Area, is intended for the development of a 32-unit residential building.
City Clerk Michelle Miller explained that the public hearing was part of the BEDA development process, allowing community members the opportunity to provide input before finalizing the sale.
However, no public testimony was offered, and the hearing was closed shortly after it began. The council unanimously approved the findings with no objections or input from the public.
The council also considered an amendment to the purchase agreement, extending the due diligence period by 185 days. This allows the buyer more time to complete necessary inspections, research or other preparatory steps before finalizing the sale of the property.
This extension adjusts the timeline for the sale to ensure all conditions are met before moving forward.
Police department updates
Following the BEDA meeting, a regular council meeting was held, with Bemidji Police Chief Mike Mastin swearing in new officers Dylan Russell and Benjamin Holt.
Mastin emphasized the challenges of recruiting officers in today’s climate, noting that “finding individuals who are willing to wear the badge has been tremendously difficult.”
Courtesy / Bemidji Police Department
Russell, a graduate of Bemidji High School, was pinned with his badge by his fiancée, Cassandra Rockers, before taking his oath.
Holt, who has volunteered with the department and worked as a parking enforcement officer, was also welcomed into the department and had his badge pinned on by his mother, Sue.
Mayor Jorge Prince addressed the new officers, saying, “Congratulations and thank you.”
City Engineer Sam Anderson presented updates on two key street improvement projects for 2025.
The first, City Project 25-01, focuses on the 2025 Street Renewal Program, marking the 16th year of the city’s street reconstruction efforts.
Anderson provided a detailed overview of the program’s history, noting that over the past 16 years, nearly 20 miles of streets have been reconstructed, with a total investment of over $31 million, including $11.8 million in federal and state funds.
The target streets include:
- Hannah Avenue NW from 30th Street NW to 600 feet north of 34th Street NW, which will serve as a detour route during the MnDOT State Highway 197 project in 2026.
- Norton Avenue NW from 12th Street NW to 15th Street NW, which has been the subject of several complaints about its current driving surface.
- 14th Street NW from Norton Avenue NW to Delton Avenue NW, connecting a section that was reconstructed in 2018.
- Taft Avenue NE and a portion of Mill Street NE, both of which are gravel streets that will be paved and improved with a turnaround for public safety and public works vehicles.
Courtesy / City of Bemidji
City Project 25-02 involves the reconstruction of Park Avenue NW between 15th Street NW and State Highway 197, a stretch that was selected through a competitive proposal process.
Courtesy / City of Bemidji
This is a state-aid-designated street, and improvements to it will also prepare neighboring local streets for future construction projects. The council approved a resolution to prepare a feasibility report for the project, which will be led by Moore Engineering with assistance from city staff.
The council approved both resolutions unanimously for the feasibility reports for City Projects 25-01 and 25-02, which will detail the proposed improvements, costs and assessments. The reports are expected to be completed and under council review by December 2024.
Ashley McKenzie is a news reporter at the Bemidji Pioneer with a focus on local government, crime and courts. She is originally from southern North Carolina.