The Bemidji City Council unanimously approved a partnership Wednesday with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to assess the extent of possible contamination in the lakebed along the south shore of Lake Bemidji.
The city has agreed to commit $18,700 or one-third of the total cost, whichever is less, for the assessment.
"I think this is a great start," Councilor Onen Markeson said, commending the DNR for its work to date on the project. "It's an effort on our part to show we're sincere about what we have said in the past."
Georgia Pacific's closure in 1999 opened an opportunity for redevelopment of Lake Bemidji's south shore, but based on the history of the property's industrial use, there has been concern from the city and community on what may be existing environmental issues, according to a report from the Headwaters Regional Development Commission.
Prompted by a comment from Councilor Nancy Erickson concerning the potential for the city to be faced with additional costs for cleanup, City Attorney Al Felix said for the record that the council's approval of the partnership and $18,700 expenditure is strictly for the assessment.
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"Cleanup is not only another aspect," Felix said. "But it's possibly a very expensive one."
Originally, Shorequest and the city of Bemidji planned to share the cost of the assessment. Shorequest later indicated that the development company might be interested in participating with cleanup, but it does not wish to help pay for the assessment, according to a memo from City Manager John Chattin.
The DNR has committed to funding two-thirds of the assessment and is proceeding with a $56,100 contract with Service Engineering Group.
