Thankfully, none of the political chaos defining Minnesota at the moment was on display Monday in Ely.
Literally moments after fraud scandal bedeviled Gov. Tim Walz confirmed he would end his bid for a third term in office, state lawmakers, Congressional aides and area elected officials gathered for the annual legislative meeting convened by the Community Development Joint Powers Board.
There was none of the animus that divides so many on the political scene, and (gasp) Democrats, Republicans and independents were all at the same table - talking about coordinated efforts to improve our way of life in northeastern Minnesota.
To be sure, there were people of differing political persuasions at the table and in the room at the Grand Ely Lodge, but those differences didn’t stop any of them from having civil, meaningful conversations about issues of joint interest.
Certainly, one theme that was prevalent was a common interest - a desire to ensure that tax dollars generated locally remain in northeastern Minnesota and that the region gets its fair share of state dollars.
Both State Sen. Grant Hauschild (D) and State Rep. Roger Skraba (R) were united on several fronts - from preserving local government aid for entities such as the city of Ely and making sure our nursing homes and ambulance services have enough funding to stay afloat.
Schools were also a hot topic, and the legislators made it clear that they will continue to work on efforts to reverse early-2000s legislation that sent some seasonal recreational property tax dollars south, instead of to local school districts.
Skraba duly noted that 43 percent of the properties in his vast legislative district are second homes or seasonal recreational parcels, while Paul Peltier, executive director of the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools, lamented that areas such as Ely are a playground for the rest of the state.
Putting aside one’s feelings about Walz, copper-nickel mining or even how local tourism taxes should be spent, getting our fair share is a topic where all of us can unite.
The school tax issue, if resolved, could bring badly needed dollars to the Ely district.
More consistency in LGA distributions, particularly an inflationary clause, will help the city of Ely’s budget picture immensely.
Streamlined, common-sense permitting reform would cut through the red tape of bureaucracy and make it easier for mining operations on the Iron Range.
Those are some of the bread-and-butter issues of the day, and it was heartening to see those at the forefront Monday in Ely, rather than the polarizing topics where views are almost hopelessly locked in.
Our leaders can’t and shouldn’t agree on everything, but by focusing on matters that unite rather than divide, they are making headway and could soon make real progress on matters that really matter.
Isn’t that what government should be all about?
