Local government boards discussed this year’s priorities in a joint meeting Thursday with District 27A Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea.

The meeting at Freeborn County Highway Department included representatives from Freeborn County, Albert Lea and Shell Rock River Watershed District. They discussed transportation, bonding projects, health care, local housing and child care.

On transportation, Bennett said a relatively small transportation bill is expected this year. Legislators are discussing dedicating sales tax revenue collected on vehicle parts and repairs to fund state roads and bridges. Bennett acknowledged the need for a long-term transportation funding source.

She said she has advocated for local bonding projects, but acknowledged they likely will not all receive funding this year.

Riverland is requesting $10.1 million this year to demolish the Gateway Building and construct 7,482 square feet in additional space.

Albert Lea bonding requests are to develop Blazing Star Landing and for a bridge over Albert Lea Lake that would connect Blazing Star Trail from Myre-Big Island State Park to Hayward.

Though representatives acknowledged Blazing Star Trail work does not seem to be a Department of Natural Resources priority, Bennett said she is attempting a “balancing act” to help the DNR understand the necessity of the project.

The city of Albert Lea is again seeking state funding to connect sewer and water lines to the Stables area.

The Albert Lea City Council late last month approved applying to the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority for a $3.23 million loan from the Clean Water Fund/Drinking Revolving Fund for the project.

Bennett said she is confident the project will receive funding this year, “but not 100 percent sure.”

Health care

On Mayo Clinic Health System’s planned transition of most inpatient services from Albert Lea to Austin, Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams said the City Council plans to discuss the possibility of eminent domain — the government taking private land for public use — at a closed session. Subcommittees are scheduled to meet on the issue next week. The city is evaluating alternative services that could enter the community to potentially replace lost services from the transition.

Bennett said the bill that seems to have the most traction in the Legislature would require local municipalities to initially pass resolutions to take effect. The bill would abate property taxes for 15 years for qualifying medical centers in counties with areas deemed medically underserved in rural Minnesota, as well as the sales tax for construction materials.

The statewide property tax could be abated for 15 years for such projects, which could include medical or urgent care clinics, birthing centers, hospitals or outpatient surgical centers in counties outside the Metro area.

Another bill Bennett introduced would create three different health impact studies that local communities could request from the Minnesota Department of Health when hospitals plan to remove essential services from their community. The legislation would require a 60-day advance notice from the hospital to the Department of Health, and the hospital would not be able to take action until the impact study was complete.

Another of Bennett’s bills would allow local communities to access DMC funds to pay for health care-related infrastructure.

Adams said Save Our Hospital members frequently receive interest from health care providers. While the options do not include full-service, acute-care services, there are specific services they are proposing. Adams said smaller proposals are likely more feasible — at least initially — than returning full services to the community.

Housing

Adams said the city continues to hear from interested people that there is a need to rehabilitate existing housing stock. The city is focusing on ensuring there is enough market-rate rental properties.

Development of the Wedgewood Cove Townhomes “has been a great success,” Adams said, but the city needs to have more development, he added.

The city could receive a $150,000 grant to develop the old Ramsey School building into apartments and is awaiting direction from Minnesota Housing.

A housing study showing the community’s needs is expected to be complete this spring.

Child care

Freeborn County Board of Commissioners Chairman Chris Shoff said he has been informed by local organizations there is a child care shortage, specifically for infants. It is difficult to maintain a workforce with such issues, he said.

The Children’s Center is reportedly nearing its capacity and has more than 100 children on a waiting list.

Local government aid

Adams said he wants LGA funding levels to match 2002 amounts, adding the funding source is important for the city’s core services.

Bennett said though she supports LGA for smaller cities, she believes the program is funding the Twin Cities and other larger municipalities too much.

Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr. said taking away LGA funding from larger cities would likely alienate urban legislators, which could affect the program.

“It’s a balancing act,” Bennett said.

MPCA regulations

Rasmussen expressed grave concern with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s planned limits on phosphorus levels in wastewater treatment plants. The plan — estimated to cost Albert Lea tens of millions of dollars, has been challenged by the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities.

“It will destroy Albert Lea,” he said.

Rasmussen said the Legislature needs to take control of state agencies, not vice versa.