The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities has several priorities in the 2016 legislative session it said will help Albert Lea and the surrounding area.

The coalition’s goal of appropriating funds to three wastewater grant programs could help the city with possible upgrades to its wastewater treatment plant.

The comments came during a visit to the Tribune from Greater Minnesota Partnership Executive Director Dan Dorman and Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities lobbyist Tim Flaherty.

The city is estimating it could cost  $8 million to $30 million to upgrade its wastewater treatment facility to meet Minnesota Pollution Control Agency limits on phosphorus levels in wastewater treatment plants.

The coalition is advocating for Gov. Mark Dayton’s $167 million proposal to fund clean water grants and loans. This includes $62 million for a grant program that helps cities upgrade treatment facilities, $80 million for a program that provides supplemental grants based on affordability for high-cost projects and $25 million for Environmental Protection Agency capitalization grants and state matching funds that support programs for low-interest loans to cities for water infrastructure rehabilitation, replacement and improvement projects.

Dorman said funding would allow Albert Lea to be able to upgrade its water treatment facility without having to raise property taxes at an unaffordable rate.

Albert Lea officials have expressed support for a federal lawsuit filed by the coalition against the Environmental Protection Agency. In its lawsuit, the coalition argued that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s limits on phosphorus levels in wastewater treatment plants aren’t based on sound scientific information.

The city plans to ask for grant funds to cover a large portion of the cost if the city is forced to pay.

The coalition is also aiming for a $100 million, one-time appropriation to a broadband development grant program, and $15 million in appropriations in fiscal year 2017 and $30 million in fiscal year 2018 for a workforce housing tax credit.

Dorman said the tax credit could have a significant economic impact in Greater Minnesota as businesses are having a hard time finding employees because there is a lack of workforce housing.

He said expanding broadband funding to more Greater Minnesota homes is a critical economic issue.

The coalition is looking to appropriate $25 million per year for street improvements both for cities under 5,000 people and as well as cities with more than 5,000 people.

Dorman said it is clear to him Albert Lea needs more state funding for road projects based on the condition of its roads.

The coalition wants to appropriate $21 million in state bonding for a Greater Minnesota business development and public infrastructure grant program and increase the maximum grant amount allowed under the program from $1 million to $2 million. The coalition wants to appropriate $200 million in one-time funding for the Corridors of Commerce Program for right-of-way acquisition and $300 million in trunk highway bonds.

Dorman and Flaherty said the organization is looking to increase local government aid levels to 2002 levels.