Senator Saxhaug Appointed to IRRRB and LSOHC

Senator Saxhaug Appointed to IRRRB and LSOHC

With the 2011 session picking up speed, Senator Tom Saxhaug has been appointed to the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board.  The IRRRB is funded by a production tax on taconite the mining companies pay and is used to develop new jobs and businesses and to help pay for Iron Range infrastructure improvements.  Saxhaug emphasizes that the agency is integral to economic development in Northern Minnesota and this will continue to allow him to work on projects that will bring jobs to the Iron Range.  As Minnesota continues to emerge from the Great Recession and the mines in northern Minnesota are all back at full production, this appointment will be very important in making sure the taconite revenue is used to create economic activities that are crucial to the region.
As a key member of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Saxhaug was also appointed to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.  This Council is responsible for providing funding recommendations to the legislature for projects the Outdoor Heritage Fund focuses on that will preserve our natural resources. Saxhaug's appointment to this council will help ensure that northern Minnesota's forests will have a strong voice in the decisions to enhance the habitat of our region for generations to come.

Forests for the Future

One of the first recommendations made by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council and passed by the Legislature was the Upper Mississippi Forest Project, an 187,277 acre conservation easement.  This easement, finalized in 2010, is a combination of forestland and wetlands owned by UPM/Blandin.  It will remain in private ownership for the purposes of property taxes and timber harvesting, can never be developed and will also be kept open to the public for outdoor recreational activities.  The easement cost $44 million with $9.75 million coming from private donors and is one of the 10 largest conservation easements in the Nation.  The Upper Mississippi Forest project will be one of the signature projects that the people of Minnesota wanted when they voted for the Dedicated Funding Amendment in 2008.
Senator Saxhaug had the pleasure of visiting with Veterans from Itasca County during their day on the hill at the State Capitol.
Pictured left to right are: Randy Carlson, Wayne Patras, Bob Fogle, Senator Tom Saxhaug, Dale Matteson, Dave Valtinson and Marv Ott.
Next edition:  A look at the Governor's budget and a brief history of recent revenue increases in the state.

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council is Seeking New Board Members

     The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council is currently accepting applications from individuals wishing to serve on its Board of Directors.  There are currently openings for the following two Board positions:  an At-Large representative and a Student Ad-Hoc representative.

     ARAC offers grant support and technical assistance to individual artists and non-profit arts organizations who reside in the seven counties which make up the Arrowhead Region:  Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis.

     ARAC is looking for individuals with knowledge of various art forms and perspectives.  Active artists working in all disciplines; artists from communities of color; arts supporters/collectors; or individuals with knowledge of the regional arts community and arts organizations are encouraged to apply.

    ARAC's Board meets the third Thursday of each month except August and December.  Council members serve as panelists to award project based funding to regional non-profit arts organizations and artists.  Board members also assess the art needs in the region and develop programs that stimulate the regional arts community.  Council members serve as volunteers, but are paid a mileage reimbursement for attending meetings.  A board term is three years and a Board member may serve two consecutive terms.  Serving on the Board gives an individual the opportunity to learn about arts activities in the region; to increase their knowledge of grant writing and the review process; to network with other artists and arts professionals; and to have input into matters that affect arts funding in the region.

    ARAC is the primary funding source for artists and arts organizations in northeastern Minnesota, awarding over a half a million dollars in grant support last year.  ARAC administers six grant programs for regional non-profit arts organizations and three grant programs for regional artists.  ARAC also administers The Artist Fund, a Duluth based, regional non-profit which offers financial assistance to artists confronted with a career-threatening emergency and a medical reimbursement program.

    ARAC's programs are made possible through funding from the Minnesota State Legislature; the Arts and Cultural Heritage fund as appropriated by the State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008; The McKnight Foundation; and the Artist Fund.  ARAC presents the Arrowhead Arts Awards, which annually recognize an outstanding regional artist and arts advocate.  The ARAC staff provides free grant writing workshops and technical assistance to regional artists and arts organizations and ARAC works in partnership with the Minnesota State Arts Board and the other eleven Regional Arts Councils to promote the arts throughout Minnesota.

    The deadline for submitting an application is Friday, February 25, 2011.  The available At-Large term runs from May 1, 2011 to June 30, 2014.  The Student Ad-Hoc position runs from May 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012.  Interested individuals may contact the ARAC office at info@aracouncil.org; 218-722-0952 or 800-569-8134 for more information about Board responsibilities, the Council and its programs, and to receive an application form.  A Board application form can be downloaded from the ARAC web site:  www.aracouncil.org