A bill in the Minnesota State Senate authorizing the state to pay up to $18 million to U.S. Steel for 3,000 acres of land to create Vermilion State Park cleared its first hurdle yesterday.
The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee reported the measure out of its committee and referred it to the Senate Finance Committee for further deliberation.
Passage of the bill is necessary to complete the deal for the land on the southeastern shore of Lake Vermilion at a price that exceeded the state’s spending authority. The state is only allowed to spend up to 12% above the appraised value for land under normal circumstances.
The Minnesota DNR has a web page devoted to the proposed park HERE.