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Good morning!
I hope you are doing well, and that you took the opportunity to attend a National Night Out celebration last Tuesday. It was great to see so many community members organizing and volunteering to put on events for neighbors. Speaking of summer activities, the Douglas County Fair is underway this weekend! Check it out through Saturday for food, fun, and other activities.
Northstar Line Update
As you likely know, one major GOP priority this legislative session was tackling the rampant waste, fraud, and abuse in state government. The Northstar commuter rail is a prime example of waste. Built to connect the Twin Cities to Big Lake and reduce weekday traffic congestion, the project never met ridership projections, even before the pandemic. Since COVID-19, ridership has remained dismal.
In addition to its $320+ million construction cost, Northstar has an annual operating cost in the millions, draining taxpayer funds for an underused and inefficient transportation option.
Thanks to GOP efforts this session, led in large part by Rep. Koznick, this waste has been brought to light. Metro Transit has now announced plans to replace the commuter rail service with rapid transit buses along the route beginning in January 2026. While the initial price tag was steep, transitioning now is far better than continuing to pour money into this boondoggle or extending it to St. Cloud as once proposed.
Events
If you enjoy golf, check out the Osakis Silverstreaks' 26th Annual Golf Classic tomorrow, August 16th. Check out the link to register, and golf for a good cause! All proceeds benefit Osakis High School Athletics.
Get ready for the Pope County Farm Bureau’s free breakfast on Labor Day morning (Sept. 1st). They will have breakfast food, activities for kids, tours, and more. The event will be held at the Malecha Enterprises Farm located SE of Villard, MN.
Saturday, September 5th, is the 2nd Annual Osakis Pickleball Tournament. Check the link here to register, or for more information.
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