NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DATE: April 21, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Dana Kazel, Communications Manager
Office: 218-725-5049 Cell: 218-591-2219
County Board votes on unique use for taconite tailings by-product, accepts more opioid settlement funds, and renews discussion on land use ordinance updates
The St. Louis County Board met in Hermantown on Tuesday, approving resolutions on a range of topics. Here is a recap of three notable actions:
The Board approved a $955,000 contract with Gee Asphalt Systems, Inc., out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa for bituminous seal coat projects on several county roads this summer. While seal coat projects are routinely used by St. Louis County Public Works to preserve road quality, this contract is unique because the company uses a taconite tailings by-product, crushed down and combined with oil as the seal. The taconite tailings by-product comes from Optimal Aggregates, Inc. of Gilbert.
The projects will begin in June at three locations: 4.5 miles of Maple Grove Road between Highway 2 and Canosia Road; and four miles of St. Louis River Road between Canosia Road and Midway Road. Additionally, in Greenwood Township, work will be done on 5.5 miles of County State Aid Highway 77 and County Road 929, from County Road 115 to the end of Moccasin Point.
The County Board also approved joining another nationwide agreement related to opioid settlement funds. The settlement involves six remaining defendants and will result in $36,000 for St. Louis County. The funds will be used for further opioid remediation efforts in the county.
Commissioners also discussed the need for further conversation regarding updating the county's Zoning Ordinance 62. Last week, the Board voted to send the ordinance back to the Planning Commission for further review after residents expressed concerns with two portions related to storage of inoperable vehicles and the classification of data centers.
Today, the Board requested that an amended resolution be put on the agenda for the May 5 meeting. The amended resolution removes any changes related to inoperable vehicles. It also directs the Planning Commission to develop a comprehensive Data Center Zoning Ordinance Amendment. This would allow the Board to vote on the remaining recommended updates, which had been written to provide better clarity on issues the Planning and Zoning Department often receive questions about.
The May 5 meeting will be held in the County Board Room at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth. The meeting will be livestreamed on the county's Facebook page for virtual viewing.
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