Completed Chisholm Public Safety Building feted

CHISHOLM—There was an outpouring of appreciation and thanks at a dedication ceremony held Tuesday for the new Chisholm Public Safety Building.

A spirit of collaboration involving the City of Chisholm staff and elected officials, Federal government, Minnesota Legislature, and Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) brought the project, identified as a need in the community for decades, to its fruition.

“It happened,” former Chisholm Mayor John Champa could be heard saying as he admired the outside of the new building standing on the east side of Longyear Lake ahead of the ceremony on Tuesday. Champa estimated the need for a new firehall surfaced at least 20 years ago.

The new building replaces the current firehall/police building on Lake Street built in 1908 and provides a state-of-the-art facility with city police, fire and ambulance services all under one roof.

“It’s absolutely beautiful,” Chisholm Fire Chief Chris Masucci said before the ceremony started, adding that he’s gracious for all the hard work from city leaders, state, federal, and everybody who helped with the project. “It’s outstanding.”

Plans are for all three EMS departments to be moved in within a couple of weeks.

Chisholm Mayor Adam Lantz gave the welcome as well as acknowledging the completion of the new building as “a big milestone.”

Lantz thanked everyone involved in the project, including city staff and public works, everyone involved with securing funding, Adolfson and Peterson Construction (construction manager). Lantz made special mention of Chisholm City Administrator Stephanie Skraba for her dedication and commitment throughout the project.

Lantz recapped funding mechanisms that made the project possible, extending thanks and gratitude to those involved on behalf of the city.

Funding started with an initial contribution of $1.91 million in state bonding money.

“That was the momentum that we needed to get this project going,” Lantz told the audience.

It was followed by $3.5 million in Federal Congressional spending brought forth through the efforts of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Senator Tina Smith, he noted.

Support of $1 million was awarded from the IRRRB Board, and a final contribution of $3 million in state bonding championed by State Representative Dave Lislegard, was instrumental in bringing the project to completion, Lantz said.

Peter Makowski, Regional Outreach Director for Smith’s office, said the late Minnesota State Senator David Tomassoni “led the charge to get funding.”

“I know he’s flying around here somewhere with his hockey stick and his skates,” he said of Tomassoni, fondly remembered by many as a champion for Chisholm and the Range in the Legislature.

Makowski said it was a pleasure to work with the City of Chisholm and Sen. Klobuchar’s office to make the public safety building a reality.

In his speech, Makowski referenced some of the safety concerns that have plagued emergency responders at the more than a century old building on Lake Street.

“Now you don’t have to worry about the trucks falling through the floor,” Makowski told Chisholm Fire Chief Chris Masucci, referring to a hole discovered in the concrete floor in 2016, requiring the city to store its firefighting vehicles in one of the school district’s buildings while emergency repairs were made.

Makowski also referenced the narrow garage stalls and traffic concerns, saying they no longer have to worry about someone “picking off the corner of the building, or traffic jams while backing up the truck.”

“Chisholm has a great public safety community,” Makowski said, recognizing Police Chief Vern Manner, Masucci and Ambulance Director Tiffany Larson.

“You have done a wonderful job and it begins with the city council,” Makowski said.

Makowski said it was a pleasure to work with the City of Chisholm and Senator Klobuchar’s office on funding to make the public safety building a reality. He also talked about the nonpartisan nature of EMS.

“We’re all humans and make mistakes, have accidents, fires,” Makowski said.”I don’t think any of you have ever been to a Republican fire, or a Democrat fire, or an Independent fire,” Makowski added.

At a medical emergency, “you don’t ask what party they belong to or who they voted for, you’re just there to help,” he said. “And that’s what’s great about public safety.”

Rachel Loeffler-Kemp, Regional Outreach Director for Sen. Klobuchar’s Office, read a letter on her behalf as her schedule prevented her from attending the ceremony.

“I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the City of Chisholm for your leadership on this important project,” Klobuchar wrote. “I’m grateful for your hard work and commitment to excellence in public safety.”

“Improving public safety emergency infrastructure is important to ensuring the safety of the community,” she continued.

Klobuchar said she is proud to have worked with the city on the state-of-the-art facility that will house the city’s police department, fire department and ambulance under one roof.

In a visit back in 2022 Klobuchar said, “it was evident a new facility was critically needed.”

Having the EMS services under one roof and the upgrades will have a lifesaving impact on the residents of chisholm and across the region, she noted.

In closing Klobuchar said she looks forward to visiting the new building in person.

Lislegard said Tomassoni, one of his mentors, referred to Chisholm as “The Center of the Universe.”

While visiting Chisholm after being elected, Lislegard recalled he found a spirit of cooperation there.

“Chisholm is moving forward and it’s because of leadership,” Lislegard said.

While meeting with Skraba and former Mayor John Champa, Lislegard said Skraba’s passion and commitment to the project forward was evident.

Lislegard encouraged city leaders to continue to work together with its partners.

“Thank you for everything you do,” he said.

IRRRB Commissioner Ida Rukavina said she had an opportunity to tour the old firehall, while in a previous job.

“I know how long it took to get this building going,” Rukavina said.

Rukavina acknowledged that sometimes on the Range there’s an nostalgia about old buildings, and people get sad when old buildings no longer serve their purpose.

“But I think everyone is pretty happy that you’re going to move into a building that is going to keep up your needs,” Rukavina said.

Rukavina stressed that it’s not just one person who makes it happen, noting the cooperation involving the city, federal government, state government, it’s local government, and IRRRB.

In her speech Rukavina went on to explain that the IRRRB is “an unusual agency,” and its funding comes from mining production tax dollars that are paid in lieu of property taxes and reinvested in local communities.

“It’s really your money,” Rukavina said.

St. Louis County Commissioner Mike Jugovich, a former Chisholm Mayor said Chisholm City Engineer Jim Johnson reminded him on Tuesday about nine years ago that he and then Chisholm City Councilor Kevin Scaia approached Johnson and said, “We need to do something about a public safety building and start drawing up plans.”

Jugovich said he and Scaia told Johnson they planned to start working on funding mechanisms.

“It’s a great day,” Jugovich “The past, meets the present, meets the future,” Jugovich said.

“Serving the community, serving outlying communities, this facility is second to none,” he added.

Jugovich said after years of hearing stories about the old building, he’s looking forward to hearing stories on the new building and “how well this serves us.”

In closing Jugovich acknowledged former mayor John Champa who he said “carried the torch,” followed by Lantz, and former fire Chief Bob Brown, former Fire Chief Brad Anderson, Police Chief Vern Manner, Masucci, former and current city councilors, who he said “All understood this was going to be a heavy lift.”

Jugovich also stressed the importance of collaboration between the city, state, federal and IRRRB to bring projects to fruition, and said he’s looking forward to extending an invitation to his colleagues at the county board to tour the new public safety building in Chisholm.

Minnesota Senator Rob Farnsworth said hearing the speakers prior to himself, reminded of the saying, “many hands make light work.”

Farnsworth acknowledged there were many people involved in the project, including Champa, Tomassoni, Lislegard, former State Senator Julie Sandstede, and Chisholm City Councilors.

Farnsworth said he was “fortunate to introduce the bonding bill last year in the final hurdle on the Senate side.”

“Thank you for letting me be part of this,” Farnsworth said.

Law Enforcement Chaplain Steve Breitbarth said a few words and then gave a blessing.

A ribbon cutting and public tours of the new building followed.