Bemidji City Council questions MnDOT on plans for local highways During a work session Monday, the Bemidji City Council spoke with Minnesota Department of Transportation officials about improvements to State Highway 197 and U.S. Highway 71. Improvements on both would include changes to intersections. 9:59 pm, Jan. 25, 2021 × Bemidji City Hall. BEMIDJI -- The future of a major corridor in Bemidji was under discussion by the City Council on Monday evening. During a work session, representatives from the Minnesota Department of Transportation gave a presentation about a renewed effort to explore improvement options for State Highway 197. The stretch of road in question extends from Gillette Drive to Bemidji Avenue.