CHISOLM — Officials in northeastern Minnesota are celebrating the opening of a $28 million wastewater treatment plant.

The Central Iron Range Sanitary Sewer District held a ribbon cutting and open house Wednesday to commemorate the new facility serving Chisholm, Buhl, Kinney and Great Scott Township.

Buhl Mayor Craig Pulford said the area was “in desperate need” of the new facility, which took over a decade to plan and open. Construction began in 2011 and the plant started operations in December 2013.

The project received grants and loans from the state as well as the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board. It has created three permanent jobs and employed 137 workers during construction.

Gov. Mark Dayton attended the open house and congratulated the group on seeing the project through.