Neighbors and Friends,

I have been staying busy in our district! Last week, I toured a local manufacturer, attended an award ceremony for our local Pizza Ranch, and spent some time in our schools talking with students and faculty. Please read more below!

Carpentry Contractors Company

I recently met with the Senate Select Committee on Home Ownership Affordability & Availability in Montrose while they were on their tour of various sites related to the manufacturing and development of housing in Minnesota. We toured the Carpentry Contractors Company facility which manufactures panels for homes. One of the most diverse carpentry labor companies in the Twin Cities, their 350 employees build panels for twelve to sixteen houses daily. The panelization production shop improves labor safety, reduces field labor time by 25 percent, reduces jobsite waste by 75 percent, and reduces on-site labor time by 100 hours per unit.

I am proud to have this manufacturer in our district providing safe and secure jobs and increasing accessibility to affordable housing. This innovative production technique is keeping contractors safer, reducing waste, and creating beautiful homes for communities around the state. I am thankful for the opportunity to tour their facility and see their work in action.

After seeing the panels constructed, the committee stopped at a panelization development in Minnetrista to view fully constructed homes that utilized the unique process. Given the current shortage of construction labor, the less labor-intensive panel method saves homeowners money.

In addition to the panelization site, committee members visited a townhome development in Maple Grove.  As the committee investigates different ways to expand affordable homeownership, townhomes represent a typically less-expensive option, potentially beneficial to the growing senior population in Minnesota due to less required maintenance.

Monticello Pizza Ranch receives award from Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation

I was privileged to attend an award ceremony at the Monticello Pizza Ranch last week. The restaurant was nominated for the Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation Outstanding Employer Award for 2019. They work alongside Functional Industries, Inc. providing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

We are honored by Pizza Ranch’s contribution to our community. They have committed to providing individuals with great experiences in the service industry, giving them opportunities to grow and develop meaningful relationships. We each have a responsibility to make everyone welcome and part of our daily lives in our communities. It is great to see Pizza Ranch making this a reality.

Shadowing local principals

Last week was Principal Shadowing week across the country, and I met with principals in our district to see some of their activities and challenges firsthand. They discussed vaping, professional development, mental health support, and more.

I stopped at Humphrey Elementary to meet with Principal Jennifer Olson, met with Principal Jim Schimelpfenig at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Middle School, and joined Principal Jason Mix at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School. I shadowed the principals’ typical schedule, supervising passing periods, lunches, and other miscellaneous tasks.

The principals introduced me in several classrooms, and I enjoyed speaking with students and answering a variety of their questions.

As a Senator, I value the time I spend in schools with students and faculty. We invest a great deal in our education system in Minnesota. It is important that we take time to understand how we can improve the education environment for our students and the folks that contribute so much to their daily lives. Speaking with young students is always a blessing and a reminder of why we work so hard at the Capitol protecting their future.

The weather should be warming up a bit this weekend so I hope you all can enjoy the last bit of fall! Please keep in touch and contact me any time at 651-296-5981 or sen.bruce.anderson@senate.mn