Thanks to everyone who joined us in Roscoe on Friday, October 3, for the Highway 23 Coalition Annual Meeting over the lunch hour at the Roadhouse Tavern. The room was full of members, partners, and new faces, all united around safer, more reliable travel along the Highway 23 corridor.
2025 Annual Meeting
After networking and lunch, Board Chair Luke Johnson called the annual business meeting to order. Members reviewed the 2024 Financial & Committee Reports, highlighting a strong marketing push, steady membership retention, and prudent budgeting that keeps the Coalition positioned for effective advocacy in 2025.
2025 Board Elections
Members then ratified the 2025 Board slate. Congratulations to:
- Heather Olson (Willmar Region, business) and Josh Schafer (Marshall Region, business), appointed to terms expiring June 2028.
- Roger Imdieke (Willmar Region, government), Bob Byrnes (Marshall Region, government), and Jake Bauerly (St. Cloud Region, business), elected to new terms running June 2025–June 2028.
Keynote and Guest Speakers
Speaker of the Minnesota House Representative Lisa Demuth delivered the keynote, underscoring bipartisan collaboration and the importance of sustained investment in transportation for safety, economic vitality, and quality of life across our communities.
Attendees also heard from Jean Wallace, MnDOT Deputy Commissioner and Chief Engineer, who shared updates on current and upcoming Highway 23 projects, and Ashley Hudson, AICP, Bolton & Menk Transportation Funding Practice Leader, who discussed ongoing funding opportunities supporting Coalition priorities.
2025 Priority Projects
The Coalition reaffirmed its 2025 Priority Projects:
- 4-Lane Extension SW of Willmar (Hwy 71 to Kandiyohi Co. Rd. 5)
- Preferred Route Study: Foley to I-35
- Preferred Route Study: Marshall to Granite Falls
These priorities build on tangible progress in recent years, from completed gap projects to safety and corridor studies, while targeting the next high-impact segments for improved capacity and safety.
Moving Forward
The Highway 23 Coalition continues to build momentum as a trusted voice for rural transportation advocacy. With more than 80 miles of completed four-lane highway and several priority projects underway, every milestone strengthens the corridor’s safety, accessibility, and economic vitality.
Your membership dollars make this progress possible. Every contribution helps fund advocacy, planning, and communication efforts that keep Highway 23 at the forefront of Minnesota’s transportation priorities. Now is the time to stay involved, renew your membership, share the message, and help drive the next phase of improvement for Highway 23.
