I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed MnDOT project involving highways 371 and 210. While the intention to improve infrastructure is understandable, this plan threatens the long-term health and vitality of our community.

My family has proudly invested in Baxter for more than 60 years. In 1961, my grandparents, Leonard and Eunice Watland, purchased Steak N Taters on Washington Street. They later built Baxter’s first KFC and the A&W that once stood where Days Inn & Suites is today. My parents, Scott and Terri Watland, built that hotel in 1989, and today, Watland Hospitality continues that legacy through Baymont Inn & Suites, Days Inn & Suites and Rapid River Lodge — employing around 60 people. Over the decades, our family businesses have supported thousands of residents and contributed significantly to the city’s tax base.

This project risks undoing that progress. By moving traffic through Baxter too quickly, MnDOT’s plan would eliminate the natural opportunities for travelers to slow down and experience what our community has to offer. Without those pauses, visitors are far less likely to stop for food, shopping, or lodging. If traffic simply speeds through instead of engaging with Baxter, local jobs, small businesses, and city revenue will suffer.

These changes will have lasting negative effects on Baxter’s economy and quality of life. MnDOT must go back to the drawing board and work collaboratively with local businesses and community leaders to design a plan that enhances safety and efficiency without sacrificing the character and economic vitality of Baxter.

Let’s ensure that progress strengthens our community rather than weakening it.

Katie Watland Goenner
Baymont Inn & Suites, Days Inn & Suites, Rapid River Lodge – Baxter