WAITE PARK, MN – The Highway 23 Coalition held the 2022 Annual Membership Meeting. It was on Friday, March 25, 2022 at the Park Event Center in Waite Park, Minnesota. The current count of attendance was over 90 attendees, members, and nonmembers, the EDC will confirm final numbers soon.
The Annual Membership Meeting kicked off at noon with introduction and a welcome address by Rick Miller, the Mayor of Waite Park. The Highway 23 Coalition Board Chairwoman, Donna Boonstra, then called the meeting to order. We discussed 2021 financial wrap up and membership reports that were given by Donn Winckler, Highway 23 Coalition Treasurer.
Highway 23 Coalition 2022 Mission
The Highway 23 Coalition is a bipartisan organization who promotes the safety, mobility and growth of the cities within the corridor. Our mission is to have a 4-Lane Highway 23 from Duluth, Minnesota/Superior, Wisconsin to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. During the Annual Membership Meeting, chair Boonstra gave an update on the priority projects for the year. The priority projects focus on two four-lane studies: the feasibility study between Foley and Milaca and the other extension study between Green Valley and Marshall. The 2022 Ancillary Projects include the following:
- Highway Reconstruction from Pipestone to Russell
- J-Turn at Bel Clare Dr. in Waite Park
- Intersection Safety Improvements at Hwy 9 and 23 in New London
Guest Speakers at Annual Membership Meeting
Nicole Flegler, General Manager, Loves #842
Nicole is the General Manager of the Loves #842, the new truck stop that will be built at the intersection of Highway 23 and Highway 94.
Government Speakers
Nancy Daubenberger, MnDot Interim Commissioner
Highway 23 Coalition is working with MnDOT District 8 and District 3 Representatives amongst others with the support of Interim Comissioner Nancy Daubernberger's office for the Highway 23 North Gap project.
Chuck Ackman, Outreach Director for U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
As a bipartisan organization, The Highway 23 Coalition is grateful to have support from many different government entities. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar herself was unable to join, however, we welcomed her Official Speaker to the meeting to share more.
Governor Tim Walz
Gap Projects
The North Gap and South Gap projects are exciting discussion pieces that were highlighted during the Annual Membership Meeting. With the North Gap project starting this spring, the members of the Highway 23 Coalition want to extend an invite out to the public for the North Gap Open House. The North Gap Open House will take place on April 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Roadside Tavern Banquet Hall in Roscoe.
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