Posted: 9/21/05
By Aaron Vehling
County commissioners, North Branch city officials and area residents met at the Sunrise Prairie Trail Sunday, Sept. 18, to thank U.S. Representative James Oberstar for his work in getting $7.1 million in federal funding for a new Hwy. 95 bridge over I-35. Mayor Gloria Karsky proclaimed it ìJim Oberstar Day.î
Oberstar, thrilled by the proclamation, gave the mayor a huge hug. ìYou people deserve this project,î Oberstar said. ìYou have been great advocates for this. Oberstar lamented the problems key county and city officials have had with Mn/DOT. If it were up to Mn/DOT, it would not be done for 15 years,î he said. ìThis project cries for completion.î
Oberstar is the ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He is widely seen as a key player in securing transportation projects. This sentiment persisted that morning.
Chisago County Commissioner Mike Robinson told Oberstar the county had been fighting for the highway construction money for awhile.
ìWithout you,î Robinson said, ìwe would never have gotten this done.î
Commissioner Lynn Schultz was equally grateful.
ìHaving people at your level is a great asset,î she said.
Commissioner Rick Olseen asked Oberstar about information he heard which suggested that some federal transportation spending would be suspended in order to pay for the Hurricane Katrina relief in the Gulf region.
Oberstar said he was not sure about that information.
ìI doubt there would be support for such an initiative,î he said.
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