JULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER AND HERE IS WHAT IS COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

WE BRING YOU AN UPDATE ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND WE DIG DEEPER INTO THE NAACP CLAIM THAT THE DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT DISPROPORTIONALLY TARGETS PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS SHARES MORE ON ITS PROJECT AS A ROSHAN CONCERNS CONTINUE ON MINNESOTA POINT.

THESE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ ♪ JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

DENNY IS OFF THIS WEEK.

THE TRIAL OF FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN BEGAN MONDAY.

VIDEO OF HIM PRESSING HIS KNEE ON GEORGE FLOYD'S NECK FOR OVER NINE MINUTES WAS PART OF THE OPENING STATEMENTS.

HE IS ON TRIAL FOR CHARGES OF MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER.

THE DULUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT SAW AN INCREASE IN STRUCTURE FIRES LAST YEAR.

IT RESPONDED TO 141 STRUCTURE FIRES IN 2020, 51 MORE THAN THE PRIOR YEAR.

THE CHIEF SAYS THERE WAS A BIG UPTICK IN KITCHEN FIRES WHICH CORRESPONDS WITH PEOPLE BEING HOME OR DURING THE PANDEMIC.

GOVERNOR TONY EVERS ANNOUNCED ANYONE 16 AND OLDER WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE COVID VACCINATIONS STARTING MONDAY.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS CASE RATES IN WISCONSIN HAVE RISEN.

MINNESOTA VACCINATION ELIGIBILITY WAS EXPANDED TO EVERYONE 16 AND OLDER ON TUESDAY.

GOVERNOR ALSO ANNOUNCED A MILESTONE OF ONE MILLION MINNESOTANS HAVING COMPLETED THE FULL VACCINATION SERIES.

A NEW MEDICAL SPECIALTY IS AVAILABLE ON THE IRON RANGE AS OB/GYN SERVICES ARE NOW BEING OFFERED AT ST. LUKE'S MEDICAL CLINIC.

NOW, TO OUR UPDATE ON THE SUPERIOR MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

ITS MISSION IS TO IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO OPPORTUNITY AND FULL PARTICIPATION FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR IN SUPERIOR.

OUR FIRST GUEST TODAY IS A COMMISSION MEMBER, DEION NELSON WHO STARTED A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

WHEN WAS THE COMMISSION ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR FORMED?

WHAT WAS YOUR MISSION GOING INTO IT?

DIONNE: IT WAS FORMED IN 2018.

IT WAS SOMETHING -- I HAD MOVED HERE THAT YEAR AND I WANTED TO BE A PART OF A COMMUNITY THAT WOULD GROW AND EXPAND AND OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR RACIAL DIFFERENCES BECAUSE I COME FROM THE INNER CITY.

THEY DID NOT NEED WHAT I WAS OFFERING.

WHEN I CAME HERE AS A GUEST OR, ALONG WITH MY FAMILY, I SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO CREATE SOMETHING NEW.

UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY IS A FIRST OF ITS KIND KIND OF PROGRAM.

IT IS ON ITS WAY.

BUT IT IS TAKING BABY STEPS RIGHT NOW.

AT THE FORMATION OF THE COMMISSION IN 2018, I WAS READY TO JUST GET INVOLVED.

I DID NOT JUST SIT DOWN.

I WENT OUT AND STARTED KNOCKING ON DOORS AND FINDING PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY AND LEARNING WHO MY DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS WERE AND STARTED SPEAKING TO DIFFERENT ONES ABOUT IT.

WHEN I FOUND MAYOR PAYNE I ASKED FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO VISIT WITH HIM AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I WAS TALKING TO HIM.

JULIE: [LAUGHTER] DIONNE: HE WAS PRETTY YOUNG.

HE IS A MAN THAT REALLY WELCOMES IDEAS.

HE IS A MAN THAT WELCOMES CHANGE AND I LIKE THAT ABOUT HIM.

COMING INTO HIS COMMITTEE, HE ASKED ME TO WRITE A LETTER STATING MY INTEREST AND WHO I WANTED TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE.

IT TOOK SOME TIME FOR HIM TO BE BACK -- TO GET BACK TO ME.

I DID VISIT WITH HIM A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER AT THE YELLOW JACKET WHERE HE HOSTS MOST OF HIS MEETINGS.

THEY ARE HELD AT THE YELLOW JACKET.

THERE ARE ALSO EVENTS HELD WITH THE WOMEN'S BLACK INITIATIVE PROGRAM, AND HE SUPPORTS THAT.

THEY HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF THOSE COME APPEARED HE WAS OUT WITH THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, TASTING THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF ETHNIC FOODS THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE PREPARING AND THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY PROGRAM.

THE COMMISSION WAS FORMED TO ADDRESS AND SUPPORT PEOPLE'S IDEAS AND THOUGHTS INTO BRINGING SOMETHING NEW.

SUPERIOR IS LIKE A LAID BACK CITY.

AND I AM NOT LAID BACK.

THEY KNOW THAT ABOUT ME.

I PRETTY MUCH GO TO THE MAYOR WITH MY THOUGHTS AND MY IDEAS, I WRITE THINGS UP AND PRESENT THEM TO HIM.

AND I GET SOME FEEDBACK.

JULIE: ARE THERE SOME SPECIFIC POLICY CHANGES THE COMMISSION IS TRYING TO ADVANCE RIGHT NOW?

DIONNE: WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW IS BUILT -- WE HAVE OUR COMMISSIONERS BUT WE ARE TAKING ON THE ASSISTANT OF A COORDINATOR THAT IS GOING TO COLLABORATE WITH THE MAYOR AND THE DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS.

THEY WILL COME IN AND HELP ORGANIZE AND BRING EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

AND CULTIVATE AND STRENGTHEN WHAT HIS THOUGHTS ARE.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE WORKING ON THAT AND WE HAVE A PERSON IN MIND.

WHEN WE MEET MONDAY, APRIL 12, WE WILL -- RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SEARCHING FOR SOMEONE TO FILL THAT POSITION WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR WITHIN THE CITY OF SUPERIOR BUT HE IS ALSO BROADENING THAT DID NOT JUST BE EXCLUSIVE BUT INCLUSIVE.

HE IS LOOKING OUTWARD TO BRING SOMEBODY IN TO SUPPORT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHAT SUPERIOR -- WHAT CHANGES ARE NEEDED BUT ALSO AS AN EMPLOYEE TO SUPPORT THE POLICIES THAT ARE NOW IN PLACE AND OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER PROGRAMS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO SUPERIOR.

WE HAVE A PERSON RIGHT NOW WE ARE INTERVIEWING AND LOOKING AT AND I THINK WE ARE EVEN CONSIDERING APPLICANTS ON THIS BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE THE COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.

BECAUSE, HE OR SHE IS GOING TO BE BROUGHT IN UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE COMMUNITY OF COLOR.

SHE WILL BE SUPPORTING WHAT WE ARE DOING.

JULIE: WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT ONE MINUTE LEFT BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS OR ISSUES THAT YOU KNOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS?

DIONNE: I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVENTS FOR CULTURE.

LIKE, IF I STAR AN EVENT WITH MY UNITY IN COMMUNITY, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A PLATFORM TO INTRODUCE THAT FROM.

AND I WOULD LIKE A LOT MORE AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE A PART OF SUPERIOR AND I WOULD LIKE SUPERIOR TO KNOW THAT WE WANT TO BE A PART OF SUPERIOR.

WE DON'T WANT TO CHANGE.

WE WANT TO BE INCLUSIVE AND NOT EXCLUSIVE.

AND I HOPE MY PROGRAM WOULD INTRODUCE THAT TO MY AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

JULIE: YOU ARE A GREAT SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THANKS FOR COMING IN AND WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK AGAIN.

WELL, RECENTLY, THE DULUTH BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE OR NAACP CALLED ON THE DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT TO RELEASE BY ANNUAL REPORTS ON ITS USE OF FORCE AND ARREST RATES.

THE NAACP CALLED ON THE PLEASED DEPARTMENT TO -- ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO LOWER ARREST RATES .

IT WANTS RATES TO BE PROPORTIONATE TO THE RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE CITY.

THE DULUTH AND OUT -- THE DULUTH NAACP SAYS THERE IS RACIALLY DISPROPORTIONATE POLICING IN THE CITY.

THE POLICE CHIEF IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED TO THE CLAIMS.

>> THE DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ENGAGED IN YEARS OF RACIALLY BIASED POLICING AGAINST BLACK AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

IT IS AN AGENT OF CHANGE.

WE ADVOCATE FOR SMARTER POLICIES TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

>> I THINK THE QUESTION WE ALL HAVE TODAY IS WE HEARD WHAT THE MAYOR SAID.

THE WHY IS WE NEED TO BE MACROLEVEL.

AND TO HAVE OR TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT REQUIRES WE GET INTO THE MICRO LEVEL.

WITH SPECIFICITY ABOUT WHERE CRIMES ARE BEING COMMITTED, WHERE THEY ARE BEING COMMITTED AND WHO IS RESPONDING ?

THAT ANALYSIS HAS GONE ON AND HAS CONTINUED AND WILL CONTINUE.

JULIE: THE POLICE CHIEF SAYS THE DEPARTMENT CHERISHES AND APPRECIATES HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DULUTH NAACP.

♪ ♪ JULIE: IT IS TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST IN OUR BROADCAST AREA ABOUT THE STORIES THEY ARE REPORTING.

THIS WEEK, HEIDI HOLTAN FROM KAXE IS OUR GUEST.

♪ JIHEIDI: WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR ORGANIZATION, OUR LARGER ORGANIZATION.

WE ARE HAVING DAILY UPDATES ON THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL.

WE ARE ALSO REACHING OUT TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND HEARING STORIES ABOUT HOW SINCE THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, A LOT OF COMMUNITIES EVEN IF THEY ARE MAJORITY WHITE PEOPLE, WANT TO START LOOKING AT THEIR PRIVILEGE.

I TOUCHED BASE WITH THE GROUP IN BRAINERD THAT HAS A BOOK CLUB.

I WENT TO ONE OF THEIR MEETINGS.

THEY ARE WEEKLY.

THEY DO JUST A COUPLE OF CHAPTERS EACH WEEK AND THEY TALK IN DEPTH ABOUT THEM.

THE ONE I WAS ABOUT -- THE ONE I WAS AT HAD A POLICE OFFICER THEY ARE AND WE WERE ABLE TO ASK HIM ABOUT USE OF FORCE IN TRAINING.

HE IS A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER BUT HE TEACHES NEW RECRUITS ANY TALKS ABOUT THE TIMES BEING VERY DIFFERENT RIGHT NOW AND HOW YOU ARE TRAINING YOUR POLICE OFFICERS.

IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE PEOPLE IN THIS GROUP ARE REALLY PUSHING THEMSELVES, THAT HAS NOT BEEN EASY, BUT THEY WANT TO KEEP THIS WORK GOING.

I SAW THAT RECENTLY THE MINNESOTA EXTENSION SERVICE HAS TAKEN ON RACISM AND BECOMING ANTIRACIST AS ONE OF THEIR MAIN GOALS AND THAT INCLUDES FOUR AGE GROUPS.

IT IS A STORY WE WILL CONTINUE TO COVER AND HOPEFULLY BRING PEOPLE SOME BOOKS THEY CAN READ.

THERE IS A LOT GOING ON EACH AND EVERY DAY SO IT IS GOOD TO HAVE A SNIPPET TO KNOW ABOUT THIS CASE IN OUR STATE MAKING INTERNATIONAL NEWS.

♪ HEIDI: WE HAVE A NEW SEGMENT CALLED VISITING IN THE NEW NORM.

THINGS ARE DIFFERENT AND WE ARE STARTING TO MOVE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

IT IS NOT OVER YET BUT THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER WITH THE INCREASE IN VACCINES.

WE ARE LEARNING A LOT AND IT IS EXCITING TO HEAR THAT SOME BUSINESSES AND SOME PLACES ARE WANTING TO HELP THEIR EMPLOYEES.

THEY KNOW HOW HARD THEY HAVE WORKED THIS LAST YEAR AND THEY REALIZED EVEN IF THERE IS A NEW MINIMUM WAGE NATIONALLY, THAT THEY CAN DO THAT IN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS.

ALLEN ROY HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT THIS AND HE IS FROM THE WHY EARTH NATION.

THEY HAVE INCLUDED ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES, TRIBAL MEMBERS OR NOT, UP TO $16 PER HOUR.

IF PEOPLE MAKE MORE THAN THAT ALREADY, THEY ALSO WILL GET MORE MONEY.

THEY FEEL PEOPLE HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD THIS LAST YEAR.

BRIDGET'S PUB HAS DONE THE SAME THING.

I THINK RESTAURANTS AND BARS HAVE STRUGGLED THE MOST.

INSTEAD OF CUTTING PEOPLE, THEY HAVE FIGURED OUT WAYS TO KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES AROUND.

AND NOW, AS THEY ARE OPEN, THEY ARE INCREASING THE WAGES, $15 AN HOUR, AND IRA BENEFITS.

IT IS GOOD TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING AT BUSINESSES IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

HEIDI: THE BIG NEWS AROUND THE NORTH LAND IS THE CHANGE OF SEASONS.

IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, THAT MEANS IT IS SUGARBUSH TIME.

EVERY WEEK, WE LEARN A NEW WORD OR PHRASE WITH OUR FRIENDS.

THEY DO A PUPPET PODCAST FOR US.

PUPPETS ON THE RADIO MIGHT SEEM A LITTLE STRANGE SO YOU'LL HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT ON YOUTUBE AS WELL THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF FUN AND THEY TEACH US A LOT.

THE NEW WORD THIS WEEK HAS BEEN DO WITH THE NEW MOON.

IT IS KNOWN AS THE "SAP BOILING MOON."

>> HOW ABOUT OUR WORD BE -- [INDISCERNIBLE] THIS IS THE SAP BOILING MOON, THIS IS WHAT WE CALL APRIL.

APRIL IS THE MOON OF THE BOILING SAP.

HEIDI: WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN GATHERING SAP LIKE DAVID EMANUEL WHO IS FROM THE RED LAKE NATION.

HE TEACHES ABOUT THE REVITALIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL TRADITIONS.

HE SHOWS HOW GATHERING CAN MAKE A LITTLE EXTRA CASH FOR FOLKS.

AS HE TELLS US, IT WORKED FOR US.

>> I FOUND MYSELF IN A TOUGH SPOT ONE YEAR.

IT WAS A ROLL OF THE DICE.

I CAME BACK REALLY FLUSH, FIVE OR SIX WEEKS LATER.

I WAS ABLE TO CATCH UP ON MY BILLS, FIX MY TRUCK, AND TAKE MY WIFE OUT FOR DINNER.

I CANNOT ASK FOR ANY MORE THAN THAT.

IT HAS DONE THAT EACH AND EVERY YEAR.

HEIDI: WITH THE THREE YEAR GRANT THE RED LAKE NATION IS TEACHING AGRICULTURAL TRADITIONS WHETHER IT IS GROWING VEGETABLES FOR THE FARMERS MARKET THEY HOST, BARRY SEASON AND -- BERRY SEASON AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS.

♪ ♪ JULIE: THE CITY OF DULUTH AND U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAVE ANNOUNCED A CLEANUP PLAN FOR DULUTH'S PARK POINT.

IN OCTOBER, 2020, THE CORE WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT ALUMINUM CANS IN THE DREDGE SAID JIM -- DREDGE SEDIMENT.

THE CANS MADE IT THROUGH THE EQUIPMENT DURING THE DREDGING.

BEACHGOERS WERE WARNED TO PURE AND A EROSION REMAINS A CONCERN FOR OFFICIALS AND PARK POINT OFFICIALS.

A NEW STUDY IS BEING CALLED FOR TO DETERMINE IF THE SHIPPING CANAL COULD BE CAUSING THE EROSION OR MAKING IT WORSE.

WINNING US TO DISCUSS ALL OF THIS IS DULUTH DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, JIM WILLIAMS, AND MELISSA OSBORNE, THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR MAINTENANCE DREDGING.

SHE IS JOINING US BY ZOOM.

WE WILL GO BACK TO HER IN JUST A MOMENT.

A COUPLE OF MOMENTS FIRST IN THE STUDIO WITH JIM.

MAYBE YOU CAN SET THE STAGE FOR US ABOUT THE EROSION AND WHY THE DECISION WAS MADE TO PLACE THE EQUIPMENT ON THE BEACH?

JIM: THE BID -- THE BEACHES ARE EROSION AND SHRINKING TO THE EXTENT THAT THE PUBLIC BEACH AND THE ADJOINING HOMES ARE IN INCREASING JEOPARDY.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE BEHEST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE CITY ASKED THE COURT TO HELP REBUILD THE BEACH BY PLACING CLEAN DREDGE MATERIAL AT EITHER END AND WE WERE PLEASED THEY WERE WILLING TO DO SO IN 2019 AGAIN IN 2020.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED CLEAN DREDGED MATERIAL.

WHEN DID THE CITY YOU FIRST LEARN ABOUT ALUMINUM SHARDS IN THAT DREDGE MATERIAL?

JIM: EARLY FALL, SEPTEMBER, THE MATERIALS WERE BEING NOTICED BY THE RESIDENTS.

JULIE: COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE SITUATION FOR US?

JIM: THESE ARE ROUGHLY 50-YEAR-OLD CANS.

THEY LOOK VERY OLD.

A LOT OF PBR AND SCHLITTS WITH OLD POP TOPS.

THEY WERE SHREDDED UP INADVERTENTLY IN THE DREDGING PROCESS SO IT IS THE SHARP SHARDS OF METAL THAT ARE POPPING UP HERE AND THERE AND ARE BOTH UNSIGHTLY AND DANGEROUSLY SHARP.

JULIE: HOW CRITICAL IS THE CLEANUP PARTICULARLY AS WE HEAD INTO THE SUMMER SEASON WHERE PEOPLE SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE BEACHES?

JIM: THESE MATERIALS MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE BEACH BY THE TIME SUMMER STARTS IN EARNEST.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ENJOY PARK POINT AND THE WAY THEY ENJOY PARK POINT REQUIRES NO LESS AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL AT THE CORE HAS ACCEPTED THAT GOAL VERY READILY.

JULIE: WE WILL BE TALKING TO MELISSA AND A COUPLE OF MINUTES ABOUT THAT BUT THE EROSION ISSUE STILL EXISTS.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT THE CITY ON THE CORE ARE LOOKING AT TO ADDRESS THAT EROSION?

THERE WAS A POINT WHERE THE MAYOR WAS LOOKING AT THE CANAL POSSIBLY SHARING SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.

JIM: WE HAVE ASKED THE ENGINEERING CORPS TO CONDUCT A STUDY THAT WOULD EXAMINE ALL OF THE POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTORS TO THAT EROSION.

WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR US IF WE DO NOTHING?

BUT ALSO VERY IMPORTANTLY TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT REMEDIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND THEIR RELATIVE COST-EFFECTIVENESS.

UNFORTUNATELY, MOST OF THE REMEDIES HAVE REALLY UNACCEPTABLE DOWNSIDES.

YOU CAN HARDEN THE SHORELINE AND THAT WOULD PROTECT THE ADJOINING HOMES BUT THAT WOULD PERMANENTLY DESTROY ANYTHING YOU WOULD RECOGNIZE AS A PUBLIC BEACH.

ONE OF THE UNIQUE BENEFITS OF BEACH NOURISHMENT IS THAT IT SERVES BOTH ENDS, IT PROTECTS THE ADJOINING PRIVATE PROPERTY AND PRESERVES A USABLE PUBLIC BEACH.

JULIE: JIM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE WILL SWITCH OVER AND INVITE MELISSA INTO THE CONVERSATION.

MELISSA, CAN YOU HEAR ME?

MELISSA: GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU.

JULIE: YOU CAN HEAR ME OK?

MELISSA: YES.

JULIE: MAYBE YOU CAN SHARE HOW THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS GOT INVOLVED IN THIS CLEANUP EFFORT.

MELISSA: WE WERE ASKED BY THE CITY IF WE WOULD CONSIDER PLACING OUR MONEY 20 DREDGE MATERIAL OVER PARK POINT TO HELP COMBAT THE EROSION IN 2020.

WE WENT BACK AND HAD INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS AND DECIDED THAT WE WOULD SWITCHGEAR US AND BRING THE DREDGED MATERIAL TO THE NORTH END OF MINNESOTA POINT IN 2020.

JULIE: NOW THAT THE ALUMINUM SHARDS HAVE BEEN FOUND WITHIN SOME OF THAT DREDGED MATERIAL AND A CLEANUP IS NECESSARY, MAYBE YOU CAN EXPLAIN THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS GOING TO TAKE ON.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

AND HOW DOES IT NEED TO BE DONE?

MELISSA: BEFORE I DISCUSS THE SCOPE, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF DULUTH AND THE MAYOR, THE POINT COMMUNITY.

THEY MAKE GREAT PARTNERS.

THEY ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS CHALLENGE.

I JUST WANTED TO PUT IN THAT NOTE.

IN TERMS OF THE SCOPE OF WORK AND THE COMMUNITY'S SAFETY, THIS PROJECT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

THE SCOPE NEEDS TO BE DETERMINED AND THAT IS OUR FIRST STEP, TO DEFINE THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM.

WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE AND HOW MANY CANS WERE PLACED WITHIN THE 50,000 CUBIC METERS OF MATERIAL.

WE ARE USING A SYSTEM TO SYSTEMATICALLY DETECT THE LOCATION OF THE METAL.

BOTH ABOVE AND BELOW THE WATERLINE.

WITH THAT INFORMATION, WE CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION AND SELECT THE BEST CLEANUP OPTION TO FIT THE CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE.

JULIE: DO YOU EXPECT THAT THE DREDGED MATERIAL THAT WAS PLACED ON THE BEACH IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE TO BE SCRAPED OFF AND REMOVED AND MAY BE REPLACED WITH SOMETHING ELSE?

MELISSA: I BELIEVE -- I BELIEVE THE MATERIAL WILL HAVE TO BE SCREENED AND REPLACED.

JULIE: ARE THERE SOME UNIQUE CHALLENGES YOU ARE FACING AS YOU HEAD INTO THIS PROJECT?

MELISSA: YES, THERE ARE SEVERAL CHALLENGES BUT FIRST AND PROBABLY THE BIGGEST IS COORDINATING ACROSS MULTIPLE LEVELS OF THE GOVERNMENT.

CITY, STATE, FEDERAL ENTITIES ARE ALL INVOLVED.

IT IS THAT EACH HAVE VERY DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS AND THEY DO NOT ALWAYS MATCH UP.

FOR INSTANCE, FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TO PLACE A SIGN ON FEDERAL PROPERTY, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO PLACE SOMETHING ON THE PROPERTY.

AND TO COORDINATE WITH THE CITY ON THE CLEANUP PLAN, WE HAVE TO ASK THE CITY TO CONSIDER A SEPARATE AREA OF ENTRY SO WE COULD PUT UP THE SIGNS.

WITHIN A WEEK, WE HAD THE SIGNS MANUFACTURED AND PLACED ALONG THE BEACH.

JULIE: WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS, BUT, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO HELP THE CITY FIND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO THE EROSION ISSUES TAKING PLACE ON MINNESOTA POINT?

MELISSA: IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

THERE IS A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE THERE ON THE POINT.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SOLUTION MELISSA: THANK YOU.

JULIE: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

A SIDE NOTE, KEEP DULUTH CLEAN IS ANNOUNCING A CITYWIDE CLEANUP FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 10.

ORGANIZERS ARE ASKING YOU TO CLEAN WHERE YOU LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST ON "ALMANAC NORTH" BY FOLLOWING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU WILL FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AND YOU CAN ALSO VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE TO LEARN NEWS ABOUT THE STATION.

AND UPCOMING EVENTS.

THANK YOU TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO.

I AM JULIE ZENNER.

STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY.

♪