The Senate’s Capital Investment Committee reviewed proposals to provide funding for clean water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades in Waseca and Owatonna and Medford, respectively. Senator John Jasinski (F-Faribault), who represents the three communities, authored the bills and presented them to the committee.
“Clean water is one of the fundamental services that people expect from government, but infrastructure upgrades of this size and scope are hard for a lot of Greater Minnesota communities to manage on their own,” Jasinski said. “Investing in these important infrastructure projects will help us guarantee that folks have safe and reliable water infrastructure for generations to come.”
“I have long been a strong supporter of bonding and using bonding dollars to fund critical infrastructure upgrades around the state,” Jasinski added. “I support these projects and a host of others, but it is my sincere hope that we look at ways to provide tax cuts and give the state’s huge surplus back to taxpayers before we pass a bonding bill. Folks are waiting for relief from high inflation; we can, and should, do a bonding bill this year, but tax relief should be our top priority.”
OWATONNA AND MEDFORD WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE
- Senate File 2344 provides $22 million for a grant to the city of Owatonna for a new wastewater facility. It also 4.5 million to the city of Medford to demolish its existing wastewater treatment plant and design and build a connection to Owatonna’s new wastewater treatment facility from the city of Medford.
- The cities note that the regional facility will provide lower costs-per-gallon for treatment as well as better performance and reliability.
- Owatonna City Administrator Kris Busse and Medford City Engineer Brandon Theobald testified in support of the bill.
WASECA CLEAN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
- Senate File 1066 provides $10.65 million to the city of Waseca to acquire property and easements, and to design and build water and wastewater infrastructure, including a new water tower, sanitary sewer and lift station improvements, and water main improvements.
- Waseca Mayor Randy Zimmerman and Waseca County Administrator Michael Johnson testified in support of the bill.
PHOTOS
- Photo 1: Senator Jasinski presents the Owatonna-Medford bill alongside Owatonna City Administrator Kris Busse and Medford City Engineer Brandon Theobald.
- Photo 2: Senator Jasinski listens as Kris Busse speaks on behalf of the bill.
- Photo 3: Senator Jasinski listens as Brandon Theobald speaks.
- Photo 4: Senator Jasinski presents the Waseca bill alongside Waseca Mayor Randy Zimmerman and Waseca County Administrator Michael Johnson
- Photo 5: Senator Jasinski listens as Mayor Zimmerman speaks.
- Photo 6: Senator Jasinski listens as Waseca County Administratory Michael Johnson speaks
