Bimose Trail Open Forum

The Migizi trail near the Chippewa National Forest campground at Norway Beach
It was about 110 degrees warmer back in August when the Blandin Community Leadership Program (BCLP) grads first presented their idea for a paved hiking and biking trail from Eagleview School to the Max Mini store and beyond. However, Thursday night's bitter cold did not keep people away from hearing the research the Bimose (bi-moe-say) Trail Committee has accomplished since August.

To see a short video about the Mesabi Trail presented at the open forum click here. Itasca County Commissioner Lori Dowling attended the meeting and leant her insight to how the eastern Itasca County communities were able to construct their sections of the Mesabi Trail. Don and Mary Lukenbill from Northome graciously answered questions about the Northome Trail. Attendees suggested new questions for the Trail Committee to research before presenting suggested trail routes at the next open forum, scheduled for April. First, the Bemidji MN DOT office did the engineering for the Northome trail and the committee needs to find out if this can be done for the Bimose Trail too. Also, the Mesabi Trail is owned by the Iron Range Economic Development Authority which has levy authority to raise funds for its maintenance. Area residents want to know the advantages and disadvantages of having a single government entity own the trail, and of course want to know what it will do to their property tax bills.