March 7, 2025
At the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) Board meeting on Feb. 25 in St. Paul, Sen. Justin Eichorn of Grand Rapids was elected chair, and Rep. Roger Skraba of Ely was elected vice chair.
Eichorn represents District 6 and has been a member of the board since 2017.
“I look forward to continuing to serve our northern Minnesota communities as the IRRR Board chair,” Eichorn said. “Making sure every dollar is reinvested to benefit our region is my top priority.”
Skraba represents District 3A and has been a member of the board since 2023.
"It is an honor to be chosen by my colleagues for this position," said Skraba. "I am eager to continue our important work in the IRRR service area."
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The IRRR Board consists of the state senators and representatives elected from state senatorial or house districts in which one-third or more of the residents reside within the agency's service area. One additional state senator is appointed by the majority leader of the senate.
"I am confident that under the leadership of Sen. Eichorn, the board will continue to support strategic investments that drive economic growth and enhance the quality of life in northeastern Minnesota," said IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina.
Eichorn and Skraba serve with the following board members:
- Sen. Grant Hauschild, District 3.
- Rep. Ben Davis, District 6A.
- Sen. Robert Farnsworth, District 7.
- Rep. Spencer Igo, District 7A.
- Rep. Cal Warwas, District 7B.
- Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, District 59.
Pictured above right is Sen. Justin Eichorn. Pictured above left is Rep. Roger Skraba.
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 The Hibbing Public Utilities Commission (HPUC) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Feb. 28, marking the start of a major water infrastructure project scheduled to be completed within two months. IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina spoke at the event. IRRR provided $3 million in legislative revenue bond proceeds* to support the project.
Nearly one mile of water main will be fixed to ensure reliable and steady water flow to the residents of Hibbing, specifically in the area from 41st Street to West Wegener Road. The current water main is 30-inch cast iron pipe that is 58 years old and heavily corroded, making it brittle and vulnerable to breaks. HPUC will use a technique called “slip lining” to replace the old pipe, which is a trenchless repair method. A new, smaller diameter pipe will be inserted inside the existing, damaged water main, restoring its structural integrity and repairing any leaks.
The method eliminates the excavation of the entire water main and is less expensive, creating costs savings to the city and residents.
Luke Peterson, HPUC's general manager, explained that he expects the new method to last longer than cast iron pipes. Mine blasts occurring routinely on the Iron Range can shake the ground and be a contributing factor to water main breaks. The new method is anticipated to withstand over time. Peterson complimented the IRRR and area lawmakers for steering the effort to support Hibbing’s infrastructure project with Taconite Production Tax proceeds.
Rukavina shared, “Funding for this project was paid for by revenue bonds issued by the agency as required by Minerals Tax legislation enacted by the 2024 Minnesota legislature. The revenue bonds will be repaid by the agency through Taconite Production Tax proceeds paid by Minnesota’s mining industry, which finances all projects supported by the agency. The production tax is a major source of revenue to the region’s counties, communities and school districts. This money generated from mining here, stays here. It stays right where the impacts from mining occur.”
*In the 2024 Minnesota legislative session, the Mineral Article Legislation/2024 Tax Omnibus Bill was enacted, requiring IRRR to issue revenue bonds to finance up to 81 identified projects across the Taconite Assistance Area.
Northeastern Minnesota had a strong presence at the 2025 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) International Convention, held March 2–5 in Toronto. As the world's premier event for the mineral exploration industry, PDAC attracts over 27,000 attendees, 1,100 exhibitors and 700 presenters from more than 135 countries, providing a vital platform for networking, collaboration and industry insights.
IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina, along with agency staff and members of the Minnesota Minerals Coordinating Committee, represented the region at the Minnesota booth, fostering valuable connections and promoting the state's mining potential.
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A highlight of the convention was the Mining in Minnesota reception on March 4, which brought together industry professionals to discuss the future of mining in the state. The event was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Minnesota Power.
Minnesota’s active participation at PDAC underscores its commitment to responsible mineral development and its role as a key player in the global mining industry.
Pictured above right at the PDAC conference are Arik Forsman, Minnesota Power; Heather Arends, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Jason Janisch, IRRR; Jenna Lehti, NewRange Copper Nickel; Kevin R. Dupuis, Sr., Indigenous Business Advisors and former Fond du Lac chairman; and Commissioner Ida Rukavina, IRRR.
Pictured above left are Arik Forsman, Minnesota Power; Robert Moyer, Bois Forte Tribal Council; Commissioner Ida Rukavina, IRRR; and Baxter Hunt, U.S. Consul General, Toronto.
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Starting last October, the city of Eveleth began installing advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) to support 1,400 drinking water meters for all residential and commercial properties. The technology allows for the direct transmission of water use data between the point of consumption and the utility. AMI enables meter reading in real time and improves accuracy and reliability of the meter reading process. The new system will bring greater convenience to home and business owners, and it will give the city more accurate water usage which improves billing, leak detection and water resource management.
IRRR supported the project with a $180,000 Community Infrastructure grant. The city used the grant as local leverage to apply for additional funding from Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (MPFA). The city was notified last week that their application was successful. MPFA awarded Eveleth a $779,946 low interest loan at 1.928% from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The loan will help Eveleth finance the project over 20 years and save $83,741.
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“Our city’s aging metering system has become problematic and costly to maintain,” said Jerry Rosati, Eveleth public works manager. “The new AMI system will provide our community with reliable infrastructure and the ability to identify leaks on residential and commercial utility accounts, ultimately saving us time and money.”
Email Chris Ismil or call him at 218-735-3010 for Public Works grant information.
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IRRR provided two area trail clubs $25,000 each in legislative revenue bond proceeds* to support equipment acquisition and the clubs’ volunteer efforts that keep area trails in good riding condition.
The Babbitt ATV & Snowmobile Club purchased a Ski-Doo Skandic LE snowmobile, a utility trailer and bulk diesel fuel, giving the volunteer organization the ability to better pack miles of trails located on low lying swamp areas. The trails are utilized by several hundreds of snowmobilers each week, and the new equipment helps the freezing process and improves the sight lines for added safety. (Pictured are the new Ski-Doo Skandic LE snowmobile and utility trailer.)
The Babbitt Club maintains 60 miles of trails that are used by local riders and tourists traveling among the Ely, Tower, Aurora, Virginia and North Shore areas. According to the club, the Cenex gas station in Babbitt recorded nearly 3,000 sled fuel fills last season, which was considered a low snow season. The riders may also spend money at local restaurants and hotels.
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Club Vice President Gary Warlof explained that a key to keep tourists returning to the region is having the ability to efficiently maintain snowmobile trails that provide not only beautiful scenery, but also smooth, safe trails for families to ride.
Heading southwest to Chisholm, Northern Traxx ATV Club maintains 37 miles of off-highway ATV trails in the Chisholm, Hibbing and Side Lake areas. The club recently paid off a loan on their Komatsu Dozer. The savings from the loan payoff enables the Club to reinvest their money and time into trail maintenance. (Pictured is the Komatsu Dozer at work.)
*In the 2024 Minnesota legislative session, the Mineral Article Legislation/2024 Tax Omnibus Bill was enacted, requiring IRRR to issue revenue bonds to finance up to 81 identified projects across the Taconite Assistance Area.
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Minnesota’s sixth annual Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Conference will take place on March 20-21 at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center in Virginia. This event brings together business leaders, economic development professionals, decision-makers and community advocates to strengthen the connections and support systems necessary for entrepreneurial success.
A highlight of this year’s conference will be a keynote address by IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina. With a wealth of experience in economic and community development, particularly in rural and mining communities, she will share insights on economic resilience in northeastern Minnesota.
Register for the conference.
The conference is led by the University of Minnesota Extension’s Community Development Department, in collaboration with Minnesota’s Small Business Development Centers, Rethos, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, IgniteMN, the Virginia Economic Development Authority and several other organizations.
This event serves as a valuable opportunity for community stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions, share best practices and build networks that support entrepreneurial growth across Minnesota.
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The upcoming Iron Range Brownfields and Land Redevelopment Conference promises to be an essential gathering for professionals engaged in land reuse and environmental revitalization. This half-day event, scheduled for Thursday, April 3, will take place at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center in Virginia from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. An optional tour of a brownfield site will follow.
"The Iron Range has a unique concentration and history of brownfields and land redevelopment. This event is a chance to re-engage communities on the challenges and opportunities presented by our unique geography and land-use history," said Paul Peltier, executive director, Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS). "By presenting the challenges and opportunities through active, relevant case studies, our local leaders can build a network and make more informed decisions as they seek technical assistance and funding to move housing, commercial and industrial projects forward."
Attendees will have the opportunity to explore brownfield redevelopment through regional case studies and gain valuable insights for future projects. The conference will bring together a diverse group of participants, including government officials at all levels, elected leaders, economic development professionals, developers, environmental consultants, lenders, legislative staff, remediation experts and others interested in learning more about brownfields and land redevelopment.
View the conference agenda.
The event is free to attend, but registration is required. A light breakfast and snacks will be provided. The deadline to register is March 20.
Register for the conference.
Contact KeKe Stephenson at keke.stephenson@state.mn.us with any registration questions.
This conference is made possible by RAMS, IRRR and the Iron Trail Motors Event Center. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and network with industry leaders focused on sustainable land redevelopment!
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Giants Ridge in Biwabik has been recognized with nominations in eight categories in the Minnesota’s Best Readers’ Choice contest. This prestigious honor highlights its excellence as a premier recreation destination in Minnesota.
Each year, the Minnesota’s Best awards, presented by The Minnesota Star Tribune, celebrate the top businesses, attractions and services across the state. From restaurants and breweries to retail shops and health care providers, these awards recognize the local favorites that make Minnesota shine. Winners are chosen by Minnesotans through an annual voting process, ensuring that the results truly reflect the best of what our state has to offer.
Supporters are encouraged to help Giants Ridge maintain its title as Minnesota’s #1 Recreation Area by casting votes daily. Voting is open until March 12.
Vote for Giants Ridge.
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