A team of legislators from District 13 has successfully secured funding for three projects that address infrastructure needs throughout the district.

The first bill, chief authored by Senator Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) and Representative Tim O’Driscoll (R-Sartell), appropriates funding for construction and improvements needed for Town Line Road from Stearns County Road 5 to Stearns County Road 4. These improvements will create safer road conditions and will positively impact the cities of Sartell and St. Stephen, as well as Brockway, Le Sauk, and St. Wendell townships.

“The Town Line Road project has been a long time coming,” Rep. O’Driscoll said. “I’m very pleased we finally have resources to give this road the updates it sorely needs.” 

The second bill, also chief authored by Sen. Howe and Rep. O’Driscoll, addresses flood hazard mitigation projects. $2.5 million in funding will go towards mitigation efforts for neighborhoods in the western portion of Sartell.

“We concentrated on solutions for completing infrastructure projects in our local communities and delivered,” said Sen. Howe. “Through the efforts of Team 13 legislators, core infrastructure work benefitting people throughout our area will be completed that otherwise may have remained unfunded.”

The third bill, chief authored by Sen. Howe and Representative Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring), funds needed updates and rehabilitation to lift stations throughout Rockville. These funds will go towards the site restorations for Grand Lake, Pleasant Lake, and Voigt sanitary sewer lift stations. Funding for this project equates to $1.2 million.

“It is good we were able to gain funding for Rockville to replace aging lift-station infrastructure,” said House Republican Leader Rep. Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring. “Funding to conduct these necessary repairs was not available locally, so gaining this bonding appropriation will facilitate completion of this project while also helping to stabilize local property taxes.”