Senate Capital Investment Committee to tour capital requests in Southeastern Minnesota

This week, the Minnesota Senate Capital Investment Committee will continue its #MNfrastructure tour of capital requests in Southeastern Minnesota. The tour, which is taking place today, Tuesday, November 5 through Thursday, November 7, is the fourth in a series of similar tours in each region of the state. The committee will hear more than two dozen proposals from local governments, colleges, state agencies, and other entities. More information, including the tour schedule and list of projects, can be found on the #MNfrastructure website.

Tuesday, November 5

  • Projects: Regional transit hub; Mill Towns Trail
    • Presentations (8:25 a.m.): Northfield Depot (204 3rd St W, Northfield, MN 55057)
  • Projects: Minnesota State Academies Safety and Security Building Corridor & educational facility renovation; Asset preservation; Dorm renovations; Student Center predesign
    • Presentations (9:50 a.m.): Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (615 Olof Hanson Drive, Faribault, MN 55021)
  • Projects: City of Faribault water reclamation facility flood mitigation and bank stabilization; Northern Links Trail; City of Medford wastewater project
    • Presentations (10:55 a.m.): Faribault City Hall (208 1st Ave NW, Faribault, MN 55021)
    • Site visit (11:30 a.m.): Faribault Floodwall (214 14th St NE, Faribault, MN 55021)
    • Site visit (11:45 a.m.): Northern Links Trail Connection (820 20th St NW, Faribault, MN 55021)
  • Project: Steele County Fair electrical project
    • Presentation (1:00 p.m.): Steele County Fairgrounds (1525 S Elm Ave, Owatonna, MN 55060)
  • Projects: Flood mitigation for East Main Street/TH65; Blazing Star Trail; Blazing Star Landing
    • Presentations (2:35 p.m.): Albert Lea City Hall (221 E Clark St, Albert Lea, MN 56007)
  • Projects: Wastewater treatment facility improvements; 4th Ave Riverview State Water Trail enhancements; Ramsey Scientific and Natural Area Site improvements
    • Presentations (4:05 p.m.): Austin City Hall (500 4th Ave NE, Austin, MN 55912)
  • Project: The Hormel Institute expansion
    • Presentation and site visit (5:15 p.m.): The Hormel Institute (801 16th Ave NE, Austin, MN 55912)

Wednesday, November 6

  • Project: Proposed interchange at County Road 104/Trunk Highway 14
    • Presentation (7:40 a.m.): Superior Mechanical (1236 60th Ave NW, Rochester, MN 55901)
  • Projects: Silver Lake Dam modifications and improvements; Cascade Lake Park improvements; Willow Creek Trail connection project
    • Presentations (8:35 a.m.): Rochester Fire Station 3 (2755 2nd St SW, Rochester, MN 55902)
  • Project: Regional multi-purpose expo building
    • Presentation (9:35 a.m.): Olmsted County Graham Park (112 Arena Drive SE, Rochester, MN 55902)
  • Project: Runway safety improvements
    • Presentation (10:30 a.m.): Rochester International Airport – Airport Operations Building (7600 Helgerson Drive SW, Rochester, MN 55902)
  • Projects: RCTC Aviation Pilot Training Center; City of Oronoco wastewater project
    • Presentations (11:45 a.m.): Rochester Community & Technical College – Aviation Pilot Training Center (7300 Brataas Drive SW, Rochester, MN 55902)
  • Projects: Chatfield Center for the Arts Phase II
    • Presentation (1:30 p.m.): Chatfield Center for the Arts (405 Main Street S, Chatfield, MN 55923)
  • Project: Dam safety
    • Presentation (2:40 p.m.): Lanesboro Dam – Mill Pond Overlook (401 Parkway Ave S, Lanesboro, MN 55949)
  • Project: Root River State Trail
    • Presentation (3:20 p.m.): Root River Trailhead (100 Milwaukee Rd, Lanesboro, MN 55949)

Thursday, November 7

  • Projects: Center for Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Engagement, and Learning design project; Education Village Phase II; Asset preservation
    • Site tour (7:50 a.m.): Winona State University (220 W 9th St, Winona, MN 55987)
    • Presentations (8:05 a.m.): Winona State University – Education Village (101 E Wabasha St, Winona, MN 55987)
  • Projects: Ohuta Beach Breakwater; Roschen Park and Boat Ramp breakwater; Lake Pepin bank restoration and stabilization; Hok-Si-La Park water and sewer extension; Mississippi Blufflands Trail engineering study; Roschen Park parking lot reconstruction; Lake City Sportsman’s Club parking lot and waterfront improvements; Lake City Government Pier structural engineering study; Riverwalk Trail extension; Roschen Park recreational and athletic facilities
    • Presentations (9:55 a.m.): Lake City Marina (201 S Franklin St, Lake City, MN 55041)
  • Projects: Asset preservation; Old West Main Street reconstruction and riverfront pedestrian/bike bridge connection; Mississippi Blufflands State Trail Red Wing Riverfront Trail; Upper Harbor – Bay Point Renewal
    • Presentations (11:25 a.m.): Minnesota State College Southeast, Red Wing Campus – Room 314 (308 Pioneer Road, Red Wing, MN 55066)
  • Project: Minnesota Department of Military Affairs Rosemount Readiness Center
    • Presentation (2:40 p.m.): Minnesota National Guard Rosemount Readiness Center (13865 S Robert Trail, Rosemount, MN 55068)
  • Project: Minnesota Zoo projects
    • Presentation (4:00 p.m.): Minnesota Zoo (13000 Zoo Blvd, Apple Valley, MN 55124)

*All times are approximate and subject to change. 

The media is invited to attend each event, where key legislators will also be available for interviews. The on-site press contact for the tour is Joel Hanson, who can be reached at joel.hanson@senate.mn or (507) 459-0447. The complete three-day tour schedule can be found on the committee’s website at mnsenaterepublicans.com/bonding.

Projects are eligible for bonding – the process by which the state finances certain construction projects of local, regional, and statewide significance through the selling of bonds – if they are publicly owned and designated as infrastructure. More than $5.3 billion in capital requests have been made by state agencies, colleges, cities, counties, townships, and other government entities across Minnesota. When the legislature convenes in February, the committee will formally consider the requests before putting together a bill.

Senator David Senjem, of Rochester, represents Dodge and Olmsted counties in the Minnesota Senate. He serves as chair of the Senate Capital Investment Committee and is a former majority leader and minority leader.

The 18-member Minnesota Senate Capital Investment Committee has jurisdiction over all bills appropriating money for capital improvements to public lands, buildings, and infrastructure. Learn more about the capital improvement process and the committee’s statewide bonding tours at mnsenaterepublicans.com/bonding.