JULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER ALONG WITH MAARJA HEWITT.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

MAARJA: THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR HAS AN AMBITIOUS PLAN TO IMPROVE THE CAMPUS AREA OF SUPERIOR, WITH MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS SIGNED ON.

JULIE: THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY BOARD IS SET TO VOTE ON THE 2024 PROPERTY TAX LEVY NEXT WEEK.

WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT HOMEOWNERS CAN EXPECT.

MAARJA: AND AARON BROWN IS OUR GUEST THIS WEEK FOR VOICES OF THE REGION, WITH AN UPDATE ON THE POTENTIAL SALE OF U.S. STEEL.

JULIE: THOSE STORIES AND THE HEADLINES, COMING UP NEXT ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH," THANKS FOR WATCHING.

MAARJA HEWITT IS IN FOR DENNY THIS WEEK.

WELCOME BACK MAARJA, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

MAARJA: IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE HERE.

JULIE: IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU BACK ON TV.

MAARJA: IT'S FUN TO HAVE DEEPER CONVERSATIONS.

JULIE: LET'S BEGIN NOW WITH THE HEADLINES.

MAARJA: THANKS, JULIE.

MINNESOTA'S FIRST DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT WAS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK.

ERIN DUPREE WILL LEAD THE OFFICE, AS MINNESOTA ESTABLISHES AND REGULATES THE NEW ADULT-USE CANNABIS MARKET.

DUPREE HAS WORKED IN THE HEMP AND CANNABIS INDUSTRY AND HAS 20 YEARS OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE.

JULIE: IN WISCONSIN, DEMOCRAT LEADERS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TODAY TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN THE BADGER STATE.

SENATE DEMOCRAT LEADER MELISSA AGARD AND REPRESENTATIVE DARREN MADISON TOUTED THE MEASURE, SAYING IT WAS TIME FOR WISCONSIN TO JOIN 38 OTHER STATES THAT HAVE LEGALIZED CANNABIS.

UNDER THE BILL, ANYONE 21 AND OVER COULD POSSESS MARIJUANA, AND A PERSON OF ANY AGE COULD POSSESS IT FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES.

MAARJA: ST. LUKE'S CELEBRATED THE GRAND OPENING OF ST. LUKE'S PLAZA IN MOOSE LAKE THURSDAY.

THE FORMER SHOPKO STORE IS NOW HOME TO NORTHERN LAKES SURGERY CENTER, LAKE AREA THERAPY SERVICES AND ST. LUKE'S DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING.

ST. LUKE'S INVESTED $8.5 MILLION TO REMODEL THE FACILITY, WHICH PROVIDES CONVENIENT CARE FOR PEOPLE IN THE MOOSE LAKE AREA.

JULIE: AND THIS MAY BE A PEAK WEEKEND FOR FALL COLOR VIEWING IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

THE MINNESOTA DNR'S "FALL COLOR FINDER" SHOWS AREAS OF THE NORTHLAND AT 50-PERCENT OF PEAK, PLEASING THOSE OF US WHO PREFER TO SEE A LITTLE GREEN AMONG THE AUTUMN LEAVES.

SOME OF THE BEST AREAS TO SEE FALL COLORS THIS WEEKEND ARE AT ITASCA STATE PARK NEAR BEMIDJI AND GRAND PORTAGE STATE PARK ON THE NORTH SHORE.

MAARJA: THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SUPERIOR IS WORKING WITH MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO DEVELOP SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT BUILDING PROJECTS.

THOSE PROJECTS WOULD NOT ONLY ENHANCE CAMPUS LIFE, THEY WILL PROVIDE MORE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THE "SUPERIOR PLAN" IS RENEE WACHTER, THE CHANCELLOR OF UW-SUPERIOR.

AND MARK PAPKO IS A BOARD MEMBER WITH THE SUPERIOR AMATEUR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

AS WE MENTIONED, THIS IS AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT.

WHAT WAS THE CATALYST?

RENEE: IT HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS.

KIND OF LIKE THE THOUGHT IN THE SPRING -- THAW IN THE SPRING, IT STARTED WITH MASTER PLANS, LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

WE WERE LOOKING AT DEVELOPMENTS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL, SEEING HOW THEY WERE FUNDING THINGS, BECAUSE WHAT WE FOUND WAS OUR NEEDS MATCHED A LOT OF THE NEEDS THE COMMUNITY HAD.

THEN IT WAS FIGURING OUT, HOW DO WE MAKE THIS HAPPEN, KNOWING THE STATE HAD LIMITED FUNDS FOR BUILDING PROJECTS?

THE MORE WE TALKED, THE MORE WE FIGURED WE CAN DO MORE TOGETHER THAN ALONE AND THAT'S HOW I GOT STARTED.

JULIE: CHANCELLOR, FOR THOSE NOT FOLLOWING THE ISSUE, CAN YOU GIVE US THE BIG VISION AND WHAT YOU SEE HAPPENING AS PART OF THE SUPERIOR PLAN?

RENEE: SEVERAL THINGS.

IT WOULD TRANSFORM BOTH THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF CAMPUS AND THE COMMUNITY THAT SURROUNDS IT.

WE'LL BE LOOK AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF CAMPUS, THAT'S WHERE OUR HOCKEY ARENA IS, WHY WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES ARE TO REALLY CREATE SOMETHING THAT COULD EXPAND ACCESS FOR YOUTH, CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TOURNAMENTS AND TOURISM, AND ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CAMPUS, THAT'S REALLY THE GATEWAY INTO THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN YOU'RE COMING OFF 2, WHATEVER IS THERE WILL MAKE AN IMPACT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE INDOOR TURF FACILITY THAT COULD BE AN ECONOMIC CATALYST FOR THAT SIDE OF TOWN.

MAARJA: MARK, I KNOW FINDING ICE TIME IS TOUGH.

WHAT WOULD THIS MEAN?

MARK: RIGHT NOW WE ARE REALLY OUTGROWING OUR CURRENT FACILITY.

OUR MEMBERSHIP IS STRONG AND THE DEMAND FOR ICE TIME IN SEASON IS QUITE VAST.

THE HIGH SCHOOL PLAYS AT THE ARENA CURRENTLY AND WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO FIND ICE.

FREQUENTLY WE TURN ARRAY -- AWAY LARGE TOURNAMENTS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT.

SOMETHING LIKE THIS VISION WILL BE GREAT NOT ONLY FOR SUPERIOR BUT TWIN PORTS.

JULIE: PARTNERSHIPS FOR PROGRESS HAS BEEN A THEME SINCE YOUR INAUGURATION.

THIS REALLY BRINGS THAT TO LIFE.

SPEAK TO THAT IN TERMS OF HOW YOU STARTED REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE AND GETTING FOLKS IN LINE TO START DEVELOPING A VISION FOR THIS PROJECT.

RENEE: IT HAS BEEN THE CULMINATION, I REALLY THINK OVER THE YEARS OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE INVESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY BY MAKING SURE WE ARE PRESENT AT THINGS AND SUPPORTING AND BEING SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT THE CITY IS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

AS YOU START TO DEVELOP THOSE RELATIONSHIPS OVER TIME, YOU BEGIN TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS AND MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS, WHAT ARE OUR HOPES AND DREAMS?

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS SURFACE IN FUNNY KINDS OF WAYS.

CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD FOR INSTANCE WITH THE Y REALLY STARTED BECAUSE OF CONNECTIONS WE HAD, PEOPLE SITTING ON THEIR BOARD, PEOPLE WHO KNEW US.

WHEN THEY HEARD WE WERE EXPLORING SOMETHING, IT WENT FURTHER AND THEY WERE LIKE, LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

AS WE THOUGHT ABOUT CHILDCARE, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE THOUGHT WOULD BE EXCITING, BEING ABLE TO EXPAND CHILDCARE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT'S A CONCERN FOR EVERYONE.

MAARJA: I KNOW WE HAVE SOME RAIN RINGS TO LOOK AT, CAN YOU MAYBE WALK US THROUGH WHAT THIS WOULD ACTUALLY -- WE HAVE SOME RENDERINGS TO LOOK AT, CAN YOU MAYBE WALK US THROUGH WHAT THIS WOULD ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?

MARK: FIRST YOU SEE THE SOUTH SIDE OF CAMPUS AND EXPANSION OF THE COFFEE -- HOCKEY RINK.

SOMETHING EXCITING YOU DON'T SEE RIGHT NOW IS AN UNUSED PARKING LOT AND TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY THAT HASN'T HAD USE FOR QUITE A SIGNIFICANT TIME.

REVITALIZING THAT END OF TOWN AND LOOKING FORWARD TO PROGRESS.

JULIE: WHAT ARE WE SEEING HERE?

MARK: THIS IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CAMPUS, LIKE RENEE WAS TALKING ABOUT, THIS IS THE SOFTBALL FACILITY INTO THE TURF FACILITY AND SOME OF THE DORM AND APARTMENT COMPLEXES ATTACHED TO IT AS WELL.

RENEE: THIS WOULD BE THE GATEWAY COMING IN AND RIGHT NOW THE OLD FOOTBALL FIELD THAT REALLY HAS NOT BEEN USED IN YEARS.

I THINK THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT USE IT SUPERIOR POLICE WHEN THEY DO K-9 TRAINING.

ON THE LEFT IS THE INDOOR TURF FIELD HOUSE AND ON THE RIGHT, THERE IS CONCEIVABLY A RESIDENTS HALL, BUT IT IS 1964, NOT WHAT STUDENTS WANT THESE DAYS AND LOOKING TO EXPLORE WITH THE CITY THE BEST OPTION.

PERSONALLY I LOVE THE IDEA THAT YOU COULD PUT A HOTEL THERE OR MIXED USE HOUSING, SOMETHING THAT WOULD DRIVE TOURISM ALONG THE CORRIDOR.

JULIE: HIGHER EDUCATION IS SO COMPETITIVE.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR A COLLEGE TO HAVE STATE-OF-THE-ART CAMPUS, ATHLETIC AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES?

RENEE: IT HAS ESCALATED OVER THE YEARS.

YOUR DRIVE AROUND AND LOOK AT WHAT SOME OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS ARE ABLE TO DO AND IT IS PRETTY AMAZING.

EVEN JUST IN OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD, WHAT SUPERIOR HIGH SCHOOL DID, HOW TERRIFIC THOSE FACILITIES ARE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE HAVE ON CAMPUS IS ATTRACTIVE TO STUDENTS.

THE STAKES KEEP GOING UP AND WE KNOW THERE WILL BE THAT DEMOGRAPHIC CLIP WITH STUDENTS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE FACILITIES THEY HAVE TO WORK AND PLAY IN HER EXCITING PLACES TO BE.

MAARJA: WE TOUCHED BRIEFLY ON TOURISM AND SPORTING EVENTS ARE AN ASPECT OF TOURISM, FILLING HOTEL ROOMS AND RESTAURANTS.

HOW DO YOU THINK THIS WOULD HELP TOURISM BEYOND THAT?

MARK: ONE OF THE VISIONS THAT IS EXCITING IS THE AMOUNT OF CAPACITY TO BRING IN LARGE-SCALE TOURNAMENTS WE DON'T SEE TODAY.

THOSE EVENTS ARE GOING PLACES LIKE CHICAGO OR MINNEAPOLIS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE ICE SHEETS.

YOU THINK OF THOSE TOURNAMENTS AND HOW MANY TEAMS THEY BRING IN, 10 OR 15 TEAMS, THEY ARE TRAVELING WITH MULTIPLE KIDS, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS.

THEY ARE STAYING IN HOTEL ROOMS, EATING AT RESTAURANTS.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT KEEPS ROLLING OVER.

THE CHANCELLOR'S VISION FOR THIS PROJECT, WE WILL SEE HOPEFULLY IS CEMENTING THE FOUNDATION OF SUPERIOR FOR A LONG TIME TO COME.

RENEE: MARK HAS BEEN AT THE TABLE DURING THE INITIAL PLANNING PERIOD -- JULIE: MARK HAS BEEN AT THIS TABLE DURING THE INITIAL PLANNING.

, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE ROLE OF HOCKEY?

MARK: THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS AND GO THROUGH DESIGN.

THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS INTERESTING IS WHO IS BETTER TO RUN A HOCKEY RINK THAN A YOUTH ASSOCIATION?

AS WE DEVELOP THAT MODEL AND OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE AND OPERATION, IT WILL BE EXCITING TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

I WAS READY TO BE AT THE TABLE AND BE AN ADVOCATE FOR THIS PROJECT.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO BENEFITING OUR YOUTH.

THE ICE SHORTAGE IS ALSO IN DULUTH.

WE WILL SEE SOME SPILLOVER FROM DULUTH TEAMS.

MAARJA: A FINAL QUESTION FOR OUR VIEWERS.

WHAT ARE THE NEXT UPS AND WHAT IS THE TIMELINE MOVING FORWARD?

RENEE: WE HAVE ONE MORE INTERNAL HURDLE AND THAT IS GETTING THE BOARD OF REGENTS TO APPROVE IT, TO LET US CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

THAT HAPPENS IN ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF SO WE ARE GEARING UP FOR THAT PRESENTATION TO THEM.

WE DID HAVE THEM ON CAMPUS, SOME OF THEM, TO PREVIEW, GET A SNEAK PEEK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS, WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE AND THEY SEEMED EXCITED.

WHEN THAT IS APPROVED, WE START PUTTING PENCIL TO PAPER AND WORKING ON DETAILS.

JULIE: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

APPRECIATE IT.

♪ IT'S TIME FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION," A WEEKLY REVIEW OF STORIES BEING COVERED BY AREA JOURNALISTS.

OUR GUEST THIS TIME IS AARON BROWN, AN AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST FROM RURAL ITASCA COUNTY.

♪ AARON: IT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE BIG STORIES, THE REVELATION A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT U.S. STEEL MIGHT BE FOR SALE.

IT IS HISTORICALLY ONE OF THE GREAT COMPANIES IN THE AMERICAN ECONOMY BUT IN PARTICULAR IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

MOST OF THE MINING ACTIVITY YOU SEE WAS INITIATED BY THIS ALL-POWERFUL, MUDDY CORPORATION THAT WAS THE BIGGEST IN THE WORLD WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1901.

IT'S BEEN A FIGURE IN THE ECONOMY EVER SINCE.

TO LEARN THAT U.S. STEEL MIGHT BE FOR SALE AND ONE OF THE LEADING COMPANIES SEEKING TO ACQUIRE IT IS CLEVELAND CLIFFS, ONE OF THE OTHER BIG COMPANIES ON THE RANGE RIGHT NOW.

IF CLIFFS ACQUIRES U.S. STEEL, IT WOULD MERGE ALL OF THE MINDS INTO -- MINES INTO ONE COMPANY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THAT COULD HAVE HUGE IMPLICATIONS ON THE STEEL INDUSTRY OF COURSE, WHAT ON IRON RANGE EMPLOYMENT FOR ANOTHER.

IT'S A REAL POSSIBILITY IN A MERGE SITUATION YOU WOULD SEE EVENTUALLY FEWER JOBS OR CONSOLIDATIONS OF OPERATIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

MAYBE NOT ON THE SHORT-TERM BUT IN THE LONG TERM.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHAT WILL HAPPEN, THE CLIFFS IS THE BIDDER PREFERRED BY THE UNITED STEELWORKERS UNION.

THE UNION WILL HAVE A HEAVY ROLE IN NEGOTIATING THE OUTCOME.

THE UNION LIKES WORKING WITH CLIFFS AND WOULD PREFER TO SEE THEM AS THE COMPANY THAT BUYS U.S. STEEL, BUT THERE ARE FOUR BIDDERS REPORTED THIS WEEK.

TODAY WAS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING BIDS AND WE WILL SOON PERHAPS LEARN THE IDENTITY OF SOME OF THE OTHER BIDDERS.

♪ IF YOU ARE LIKE ME YOU'VE NOTICED A LOT OF SMOKE THIS SUMMER AS WILDFIRE SMOKE FROM CANADA CAME DOWN WITH EVERY FRONT THAT CAME FROM CANADA AND CREATED A RECORD NUMBER OF AIR-QUALITY ALERTS FOR MINNESOTA.

SOME OF THE WORST AIR QUALITY WE'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME FOR SUMMER MONTHS.

WE'VE ALWAYS HAD HAZE FROM DISTANT FIRES OVER THE YEARS BUT NEVER THIS FREQUET OR THICK.

OF COURSE IT WAS A HISTORIC RECORD FIRE IN CANADA THAT CAUSED THE SMOKE.

IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW THAT FIRE HAS BEEN BURNING UNCONTROLLED FOR A LARGE PART SINCE SPRING AND IT WILL NOT STOP UNTIL SNOWFALLS TO PUT IT OUT.

IT IS A TACTIC USED IN THE DEEPEST PARTS OF CANADA WHERE THERE IS NO ROAD ACCESS TO FIGHT THE FIRE.

AEROSOLS ARE -- AIR ASSAULTS ARE TOO DANGEROUS SO THEY LET THE FIRE BURN.

ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS I LEARNED IS MINNESOTA IS ONE OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE STATES IN THE UNION AND IN THE WORLD FOR FIGHTING WILDFIRES.

YOU CAN LOOK BACK TO OUR HISTORY, THE 1918 FIRES THAT DESTROYED NORTHERN MINNESOTA TOWNS THAT MARKED A WHOLE GENERATION FOR THE DANGERS OF WILDFIRE.

FROM THAT POINT FORWARD MINNESOTA TOOK A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND WE HAVE THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES WORKING WITH OTHER AGENCIES, FEDERAL, STATE AND TRIBAL, AND CREATE A UNIFIED RESPONSE TO FIRE.

THE ATTACK FIRE WHEREVER IT OCCURS AND DON'T LET THEM GROW IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT.

THEY DON'T STOP FIGHTING THOSE FIRES UNTIL THEY ARE PUT OUT.

♪ THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION SERVICE IS LOOKING FOR HUNTERS TO PARTICIPATE IN AN EXPERIMENT.

THEY WILL SEND YOU A TRAIL CAM AND YOU PUT IT UP AS SOON AS YOU CLEAN A DEER AND THEY WANT TO WATCH THE GUT PILE FOR 30 DAYS.

THEY WILL CHECK THE VIDEO AND SEE WHAT KIND OF CRITTERS FEED ON THE OFFAL.

THE FINDINGS THEY'VE HAD HAVE BEEN FASCINATING.

YOU WOULD EXPECT CERTAIN ANIMALS TO BE REALLY INTO IT, BUT THEY HAVE DISCOVERED RABBITS AND HORSES WHEN GUT PILES ARE NEAR A FIELD, OR DEER THEMSELVES WILL NIBBLE AT THOSE NUTRIENTS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF VITAMINS AND PROTEINS.

ANIMALS IN THE WINTERTIME IN MINNESOTA NEED NUTRITION AND THEY WILL GO AFTER THAT GUT PILE.

CERTAIN PREDATORS WILL USE THE OFFAL AS BAIT FOR THEIR OWN HUNTING.

CERTAIN WILDCATS AND OWLS WILL SWOOP DOWN AND EAT THE CRITTERS EATING THE GUT PILE.

♪ ♪ MAARJA: NEXT WEEK, THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY BOARD WILL VOTE ON THE 2024 PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR HOMEOWNERS IN THE COUNTY.

THE PROPOSED INCREASE IS JUST UNDER 3-PERCENT, BUT GROWTH IN THE OVERALL PROPERTY TAX BASE WILL RESULT IN A DECREASE IN TAXES FOR MANY HOMEOWNERS.

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS KEITH MUSOLF, A ST. LOUIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPRESENTING THE FIFTH DISTRICT.

AND KEVIN GRAY IS THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

MAARJA: I THINK WHEN RESIDENTS HEAR A PERCENTAGE INCREASING, 2.93%, THEY MIGHT BE WORRIED BUT THIS MIGHT BE GOOD NEWS FOR SOME PROPERTY OWNERS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS MY FIFTH BUDGET SESSION AND KEVIN CAN DIVE INTO THIS A LITTLE DEEPER BUT JUST BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE WITH THE GROWTH, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN A RAISE TO THE CONSTITUENTS.

MOST WILL SEE SOME RELIEF, AND IF YOU WANT TO ELABORATE ON THE DIFFERENT MECHANISMS.

KEVIN: VALUATIONS AND CLASSIFICATIONS OF PROPERTY WEIGH INTO THE LEVY, 168 MILLION DOLLARS, A 2.9% INCREASE GET DISTRIBUTED.

BUT WITH THE GROWTH YOU MENTIONED, WE HOPE TO SEE THERE WILL BE SOME OFFSETS TO ANY IMPACTS.

WE KNOW THAT $150,000 HOME LAST YEAR AS COMPARED TO THIS COMING YEAR SHOULD SEE A DECREASE OF ABOUT $75.

IT GOES UP AS THE VALUATION GOES UP.

OF COURSE WE ALL KNOW THAT VALUES CHANGE.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A CAVEAT THERE.

BUT THE GROWTH HAS HELPED IMPACTS.

JULIE: A 150 THOUSAND DOLLAR HOME LUSTER PROBABLY ISN'T THIS YEAR WITH THE VALUATION, SO THEY POTENTIALLY COULD SEE SOME INCREASE?

KEVIN: IF THE HOUSE VALUES GO UP SOMETIMES YOU SEE SOME IMPACTS, BUT AGAIN, GROWTH AND THE WORK TO HAVE GROWTH IN JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES HELPS EVERYBODY KEITH: -- EVERYBODY.

KEITH: NOT ALL AREAS IN THE COUNTY ARE REASSESSED ANNUALLY.

SO THERE ARE HOMES THAT WILL STAY WITHIN THAT MARGIN AND THEY WILL SEE A DECENT DECREASE IN TAXES.

JULIE: WHAT IS DRIVING THE GROWTH IN THE PROPERTY TAX BASE PRIMARILY?

NEW PEOPLE COMING IN, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS?

JUST PROVIDE A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE ON THAT.

KEITH: IT IS A MIX AND KEVIN SEES A LOT OF THIS UPFRONT MORE THAN I DO JUST BASED ON MY DISTRICT BUT MY DISTRICT IS ONE OF THE MOST GROWING DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTY SO IT IS A MIX BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND COMMERCIAL THINGS IN THE FIFTH DISTRICT.

DEFINITELY THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE IS GROWING AS WELL.

KEVIN: ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S A STRONG RESIDENTIAL GROWTH.

THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION EXCEEDED $2 MILLION THIS YEAR AND A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY WAS RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT.

WE ARE SEEING HEALTHY GROWTH AND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE PART OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY AND I THINK IF THERE ARE ANY POSITIVES OUT OF A PANDEMIC, THE GOAL OF LIVING HERE AND HAVING MOBILE WORK OPPORTUNITIES, THERE ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

WE THINK IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY AND WE ARE WORKING HARD ON KEEPING JOBS AND MAKING MORE JOBS AVAILABLE.

MAARJA: WHY THE INCREASE?

WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR 2020 FOR?

KEITH: IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE INCREASE ITSELF, IT'S ABOUT TAKING CARE OF RESIDENTS.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY IS LARGER THAN SOME STATES IN OUR COUNTRY.

THAT BEING SAID, IT'S BEING RESPONSIBLE AS WELL.

THERE IS STILL A BUDGET TO TAKE CARE OF.

BUT TO TAKE CARE OF ELDERS AND FOLKS WE NEED TO THAT CAN'T ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

THERE ARE RISING COSTS TO EVERYTHING WE SEE, EVERYBODY FEELS INFLATIONARY MEASURES, AND THAT ARE SOME CHALLENGES WE FIGHT AS WELL AS A COUNTY.

JULIE: ARE THERE SOME CRITICAL PROGRAMS OR PROJECTS COMING UP NEXT YEAR THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THOSE BUDGET DOLLARS IN PLACE FOR, AND OUR CONSIDERATIONS AS YOU DECIDE WHAT THE MAXIMUM LEVY WILL BE?

KEVIN: ABSOLUTELY.

STRONG THEMES.

THE ENTIRE BOARD HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF INVESTMENTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE SEE THAT AS PART OF OUR LEVY INCREASE THIS YEAR AS WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT EVERYTHING FROM JOB GROWTH TO HOUSING TO FILM AND MEDIA INCENTIVES.

WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR DEPOT AND REVITALIZING THAT AND REACHING OUT TO YOUTH AND ENGAGING MORE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE CONSIDERABLE INVESTMENT IN KEEPING AND RETAINING AND ATTRACTING OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEE BASE AND NEW AND LONGER-TERM EMPLOYEES.

THOSE ARE THEMES THAT CONTINUE TO BE IN PLACE ALONG WITH INCREASING AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH, AND ON THE FLIPSIDE, TRYING TO ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE AND MORE BUSINESS INTO JOBS TO THE AREAS.

WE ARE BALANCING SOME INVESTMENTS AND SOCIAL SERVICES.

WE ARE ALSO HEARING ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE, AND HOW CAN WE IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY?

WE ARE VERY INVESTED IN GROWTH AND TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT NOT ONLY THE DISTRICT BUT THE COUNTY.

KEITH: I WOULD SAY YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I AM MORE EXCITED ABOUT IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, THE ECONOMIC PLAN, AND WE ARE INVESTING MORE FOR THE FUTURE TO DRIVE THAT COST DOWN SO WE DON'T HAVE TO SEE THOSE INCREASES AS THE COUNTY GROWS COMMERCIALLY AND RESIDENTIALLY.

ME BEING THE CHAIR OF PUBLIC WORKS, I OVERSEE THE ROADWAY PROJECTS AND THAT IS AN IMPORTANT DRIVER TO CONSTITUENTS AS WE HAS OVER -- HAVE OVER 3000 MILES OF ROADWAYS.

KEEPING THOSE NICE AND INCREASING THE PRODUCT WE PRODUCE ALL THE TIME ALONG WITH NEW BUILDINGS.

JULIE: OF COURSE THE PROPERTY TAX PIECE OF THE PUZZLE IS JUST THAT, A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.

THERE ARE OTHER REVENUE STREAMS YOU DEPEND ON.

TALK ABOUT THOSE AND HOW THEY ARE FEEDING INTO WHAT YOU SEE AS THE BIG-BUDGET PICTURE NEXT YEAR.

KEITH: I WILL START WHERE I LEFT OFF AND I KNOW KEVIN CAN ELABORATE ON DIFFERENT FIELDS.

AS THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, OUR AMAZING STAFF ARE CONSTANTLY SEEKING RANTS -- GRANTS, WHERE SOME OF OUR DOLLARS ARE 10 TO 1.

WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS WILL BE MINUTE COUNTY INVESTMENT, COULD BE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

KEVIN: I THINK HE SAYS IT VERY WELL, STATE AND FEDERAL AID, GRANTS, FEES AND PERMITS.

MANY OF OUR COSTS ARE REIMBURSED AND WE TRY TO ACCENTUATE THAT AND WORK HARD TO LEVERAGE OUR COUNTY DOLLARS.

MAARJA: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

JULIE: WE ARE OUT OF TIME, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH "ALMANAC NORTH" BY FOLLOWING US ON FACEBOOK AND X, FORMERLY KNOWN AS TWITTER.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE PBS NORTH WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION AND OUR UPCOMING EVENTS.

AND DON'T FORGET TO DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ON DEMAND.

MAARJA, THANKS FOR COHOSTING.

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU IN THE STUDIO.

MAARJA: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JULIE: HOPE WE GET TO DO IT AGAIN.

FOR MAARJA HEWITT AND THE CREW AT "ALMANAC NORTH," I'M JULIE ZENNER.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪