WASHINGTON — The U.S. House passed a bill Tuesday allowing land around the airport in Cook County, Minn. to be used for a highway development project.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Chip Cravaack, would reverse an "unintentional consequence" of a deed granted to the state of Minnesota in the 1950s to build an airport in Cook County. The government wants to build a portion of County Highway 8 on part of the airport's land, but the terms of the deed prevent it from doing so right now. Cravaack's bill removes that part of the deed and will allow the project to go forward.
County highway engineer David Betts said in March that the county highway department would purchase the land from the airport once the bill passes.
The bill is not controversial and the House passed it on a voice vote.
Devin Henry can be reached at dhenry@minnpost.com.