Congressional service will be long-remembered here

Almost as stunning as when Jim Oberstar lost his re-election bid in 2010, was the news May 3 that Minnesota’s longest-serving congressman had passed away in his sleep that morning. Jim Oberstar, 79, was an 18-term House member in Washington D.C. representing Chisago County in the 8th District. He was born Sept. 10 1943 in Chisholm. Congressman Oberstar is described by national media as being a “centrist.”

He rose over his many years of elected service to chair the House Transportation Committee; which couldn’t have been more fortuitous for Chisago County, because at that same time residents here were growing impatient with mounting loss of life and traffic flow issues on Highway 8. The local Hwy 8 Task Force organized in 1989, and by 1991 the first of many years’ worth of highway projects began to be put out out for bid. The Hwy 8 corridor got walking paths, a new layout by the Interstate Bridge, turn lanes were added and dangerous direct access points were shut-off, and lighted intersections came in so frontage roads could be built. The nucleus for the recent downtown Lindstrom mainstreet rebuild had financial roots in this effort. Longtime Highway Task Force Chair and active member Nora Holt told the Press the highway work would never have been possible in any timely manner without Oberstar’s influence. Chisago county was always considered as the black sheep when it came to qualifying for funding in the “metro district” pool and federal aid was really the only option.

Holt, who was contacted by cell phone, said she hosted Oberstar at her home when he was in Lindstrom last fall for the naming of the sculpture plaza in his honor. It was a pleasure having him, she said, “...he was so intelligent and so interesting...we asked him who his favorite president was to work with and he said Lyndon Johnson because Johnson got so much done.” Holt added that Task Force members were impressed how Oberstar made their concerns a priority and how responsive he was to this area’s needs. “I am saddened greatly... all that knowledge is gone,” she stated of his passing. Rep. Oberstar traveled this large congressional district extensively. The Chisago County Press spent many hours with Oberstar (and if you ever heard him speak at an event, hours is not an understatement.)

But, being able to elocute about any subject at the drop of a hat wasn’t his only skill. Rep. Oberstar knew how to engage his constituents. An avid bicyclist, he showed up to open the Sunrise Prairie Trail wearing his riding gear and bringing a bike for an inaugural ride. Parks & Trails advocates appreciated what Oberstar did on a comprehensive level. Laird Mork, Chisago County Parks Director, recalled attending a forum that had Rep. Oberstar talking about infrastructure for healthy communities in 2003. Mork added, “As we continue to work towards connecting communities in an east-west alignment across Chisago County we will not forget Oberstar’s passion and support of our efforts.” Trail systems were specifically included in the “inter-modal” concept of federal funding for transportation that Oberstar championed.

The Safe Routes to Schools program was an initiative of Oberstar’s and this program has aided in making many of the improvements providing pedestrian safety around North Branch’s collective schools’ campus. And, former Chisago County Commissioner Rick Olseen, now handling constituent services for Congressman Rick Nolan, 8-MN, also said Oberstar was key in making the #17 interchange happen in Lent Township. Chisago County wanted to get that interchange done before the massive #35 and Highway 95 project started in North Branch and curtailed freeway access. Having federal monies made available for the county to accomplish the #17 and I-35 project was the answer to a county prayer, Olseen noted.