A bill by Senator Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa) to help WD’s Bar and Grill in Mazeppa rebuild after a devastating 2018 fire received its first committee hearing today. Senate File 313 would provide a sales tax exemption for building materials and supplies to replace and rebuild property and equipment destroyed by the fire. The loss of WD’s, a local favorite, devastated Mazeppa’s main street.
“The city of Mazeppa lost an institution to a terrible fire in 2018,” Sen. Drazkowski said. “Minnesota committed to supporting WD’s and Mazeppa during rebuilding, but the tax exemption expired. This shows our ongoing commitment to helping Mazeppa create a thriving community and generate important economic activity.”
Karl Nahrgang, the city administrator for the city of Mazeppa, testified in support of the bill, saying that the exemption would provide an incentive to rebuild.
The current bill is an extension of a property tax exemption related to the first that is already in law. Senator Drazkowski carried that original bill, but rebuilding was delayed due to Covid-19, and the tax exemption expired.
Senate 313 was laid over and will potentially be included in a larger tax bill later in session.