Funding for Riverland in Albert Lea included in plan

By Albert Lea Tribune and Associated Press

ST. PAUL — Gov. Mark Dayton challenged Minnesota lawmakers on Wednesday to approve $1.5 billion in public construction projects before the end of January, a tall order for a Republican-controlled Legislature that has shown little appetite for such a large push.

Dayton’s wish list, which he’s tweaked since last session, spans from millions of dollars of upkeep on college campuses, wastewater infrastructure repairs and road and bridge renovations to prized projects like a new health science building at the University of Minnesota.

The proposal includes $4.95 million for Albert Lea’s Riverland Community College campus, along with funding city’s could apply for out of a wastewater infrastructure fund. Locally, the city could apply for funding for the Stables project out of this funding.

Much of the so-called bonding bill was comprised of $1 billion in projects the Legislature nearly signed off on last session — a fact the Democratic governor hoped would sway lawmakers to act quickly and allow construction to begin this spring.

“This is catch-up. That’s why it’s so vital to be done this first month of the legislative session,” he said during a conference call.

The rapid start to the 2017 legislative session, which pits lawmakers with a hefty agenda, began Tuesday with the governor urging lawmakers to pass a rebate to reduce health insurance premiums on the state-run individual market by week’s end.

The lack of a bonding bill during an even-numbered year was a rarity for the Legislature, which generally approves major construction packages when the pressure to pass a new budget has subsided. Republican legislative leaders haven’t ruled out a borrowing bill this session, but have made clear their first priorities are assembling a two-year budget and addressing spiking health insurance costs.

“Certainly, I think it’s unfortunate that we’ve had a setback of two years without an infrastructure bill,” House Speaker Kurt Daudt said Tuesday.

District 27A Rep. Peggy Bennett said she is focusing on passing a budget this year, which is common for odd-numbered years.

“That needs to be done first, then we can start talking about bonding after that,” she said.

She does plan, however, to push for local projects, such as Stables area and Riverland Community College work, to be included in any bonding bill that passes.

She said she liked with the money allotted for water projects under the bonding bill last year.

District 27 Sen. Dan Sparks, who is a member of the Senate Capital Investment Committee, said he was pleased to hear there was funding for Riverland in both Albert Lea and Austin, as well as the money for clean water. He said he also was pleased to see funding for the Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program.

“Unfortunately, we should have passed this bill seven months ago,” Sparks said. “I’m glad to hear it’s a priority. Many of these projects are stalled right now.”

Dayton’s bill would get a head start on a backlog of needed road and bridge repairs, but won’t let the Legislature off the hook for finalizing a long-term transportation funding plan. Projects to boost water quality, one of Dayton’s top priorities for his last two years, stand to get nearly $170 million.

Dayton also is seeking money to keep the state’s sex offender program, which a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday is constitutional, in good standing.

About $12 million would go toward building less restrictive facilities to complement the secure buildings in Moose Lake and St. Peter where more than 700 committed sex offenders are currently held. Department of Human Services Commissioner Emily Piper said the courts have ordered provisional discharges for six people who are still being held because there’s no place to send them that can provide the close supervision required.

“I have an obligation to runs a program that meets the test of the Constitution,” Piper said.

Another $14.5 million would be used to add 30 beds to facilities at St. Peter that currently hold 89 people approaching release. The last time it expanded, it filled up immediately, Piper said.

Dayton asked lawmakers to look past the sticker shock of his full request.

“The cost of not doing these projects, I think, is much greater than the cost of doing them,” he said.