Bonding committee considers Southeast Minnesota project ideas
One of my more interesting committee assignments is the Capital Investment Committee. We have one specific objective: we work all session evaluating dozens and dozens of funding requests from local governments, higher education providers, and other statewide stakeholders to put together one bill funding crucial infrastructure projects around Minnesota.
Before we begin the process of putting together that bill, the committee travels the state learning about projects under consideration for funding. Recently, our committee visited projects in Southeast Minnesota. I wanted to give you an update about some of the projects relevant to our district.
The first stop on our tour was South Central College in Faribault, where school officials demonstrated their asset preservation needs, as well as plans for roof replacements at both the Faribault and North Mankato campuses.
While at South Central College, we also heard presentations from the City of Faribault about flood protection and mitigation improvements at their water reclamation facility, which was built in 1955, as well as their need to build a new treatment plant to improve the city’s water quality.
Minnesota State Academies’ has plans to construct a new “Safety and Security” building corridor at the Academy for the Deaf, renovate several dormitories at the Academy for the Blind, and build a track accessible by both Minnesota State Academies campuses. In addition, we heard a presentation about their asset preservation needs.
Finally, the city of Medford presented their plans to build a new municipal building, which would house a new city hall and fire station. The project has been in development for a decade.
Next we went to Owatonna, where the committee learned about my top legislative priority — the Highway 14 expansion between Owatonna and Dodge Center. This stop included a site visit so our senators could see first-hand how important this project is.
In my previous column I wrote about Corridors of Commerce, a state-funded program at our disposal to help get the Highway 14 expansion completed. It is a tool we have used in the past, and thanks to legislation I carried last year that strengthens MnDOT project selection requirements, I am confident that the Corridors of Commerce will deliver funding again. Having bonding money available as another option only improves our odds of finishing Highway 14.
Next, the tour visited Al-Corn Clean Fuel, an ethanol processing cooperative in Claremont, to receive an update on the progress of their expansion. In 2016, Al-Corn received a $500,000 grant through the Business Development Public Infrastructure (BPDI) program to modernize and expand their clean fuel operations.
BPDI is recognized as delivering some the best returns on investment of all our investment tools. Last session, I carried legislation to provide $12 million to BPDI to encourage more economic growth and job creation in Greater Minnesota.
Those of us who are members of the Capital Investment Committee have a difficult job. There are so many important projects throughout the state that meet the criteria for bonding requests and serve an important purpose, but the unfortunate truth is that we have limited state resources. We have a responsibility to be judicious with taxpayer money, and only focus on projects that are the most critical. This work is challenging, but rewarding. I cannot wait to see the final product.
This column originally ran in the Owatonna People’s Press and the Faribault Daily News.