This week, the Minnesota Senate Capital Investment Committee will consider nearly 30 area capital requests as part of the third leg of its #MNfrastructure statewide bonding tour of bonding requests across southwest Minnesota. The committee will engage in a combination of project site visits and formal presentations from local officials regarding specific capital requests, with multiple presentations often occurring at each stop.

On Tuesday, October 22, the tour will stop in Mankato, Vernon Center, and Lake Crystal between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to learn about a series of project requests such as water infrastructure improvements.

“I am excited the committee is visiting our area,” said Sen. Julie Rosen (R-Vernon Center). “We know there are a significant number of statewide needs and limited resources, but I think we have a compelling case that Vernon Center’s water infrastructure improvements and other projects in our district should be prioritized.”

The full schedule for the tour is below:

Tuesday, October 22

• Projects: U.S. Highway 169 pedestrian and bicycle overpass; Merriam Junction Trail; Cultural Corridor – Minnesota River stabilization and access
  • Presentation (8:10 a.m.): Shakopee City Hall (485 Gorman Street, Shakopee, MN 55379)

• Project: U.S. Highway 212 four-lane expansion
  • Site visit (10:10 a.m.): North of U.S. Highway 212 & Bongards Creameries (bus will park on the east side of County Road 51)
  • Presentation (10:30 a.m.): Bongards Creameries Manufacturing Central Plant (13200 County Road 51, Bongards, MN 55368)

• Project: Henderson Area Minnesota River Scenic Byway projects
  • Driving tour (12:00 p.m.): Sibley County Scenic Byway #6
  • Presentation (12:15 p.m.): Henderson RoadHaus (514 Main St, Henderson, MN 56044)
  • Driving tour (12:45 p.m.): State Highway 93

• Project: Water quality mitigation and riverbank restoration
  • Presentation (2:10 p.m.): Land of Memories Park (100 Amos Owens Ln, Mankato, MN 56001)

• Project: 2020-2021 Vernon Center Water Infrastructure improvements
  • Presentation (3:25 p.m.): Vernon Center City Hall (100 Oak St N, Vernon Center, MN 56090)

• Project: Lake Crystal Area Recreation Center
  • Presentation (4:20 p.m.): Lake Crystal Area Recreation Center (621 West Nathan St, Lake Crystal, MN 56055)

• Project: New Ulm German Park Amphitheater
  • Presentation (5:20 p.m.): German Park (200 N German St, New Ulm, MN 56073)

Wednesday, October 23

• Project: U.S. Highway 14 expansion in New Ulm area
  • Driving tour (7:40 a.m.): U.S. Highway 14 between New Ulm and Courtland
  • Presentation (7:55 a.m.): New Ulm City Hall (100 N Broadway St, New Ulm, MN 56073)

• Projects: Martin County Justice Center; Martin County Veterans Memorial
  • Presentations (10:10 a.m.): Martin County Courthouse (201 Lake Ave, Fairmont, MN 56031)

• Projects: Minnesota West Community & Technical College; Ellsworth City Hall & Public Works; Nobles County WELL (Welcome, Education, Library, Livability); Manufactured Housing Bonds
  • Presentations (12:05 p.m.): Worthington, MN (Location TBD)

• Project: Red Rock Rural Water Systems Lakes Area Regional Expansion Project
  • Presentation (4:10 p.m.): Jeffers, MN (Location TBD)

• Projects: Southwest Minnesota State University; Lincoln-Pipestone Rural Water System
  • Presentations (6:00 p.m.): Southwest Minnesota State University (1501 State St, Marshall, MN 56258)

Thursday, October 24

• Project: Redwood Falls Municipal Airport runway and lighting replacement
  • Presentation (8:25 a.m.): Redwood Falls, MN (Location TBD)

• Project: Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority
  • Presentation (9:05 a.m.): Morton, MN (Location TBD)

• Projects: Ridgewater College; Prairie Lake Youth JPB School and Recreation Center; SWWC Service Cooperative; Highway 23; Minnesota Department of Human Services Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services
  • Presentations (10:40 a.m.): Willmar, MN (Location TBD)

• Project: Northome Avenue pedestrian bridge
  • Presentations (3:10 p.m.): Deephaven, MN (Location TBD)

• Project: Wayzata Lake Effect Boardwalk Project
  • Presentations (4:05 p.m.): Wayzata, MN (Location TBD)

*All times are approximate and subject to change. 

The media is invited to attend each event, where key legislators will also be available for interviews. The on-site press contact for the tour is Jake Schneider, who can be reached at jacob.schneider@senate.mn or (507) 215-2034. The complete three-day tour schedule can be found on the committee’s website at mnsenaterepublicans.com/bonding. 

The 18-member Minnesota Senate Capital Investment Committee has jurisdiction over all bills appropriating money for capital improvements to public lands, buildings, and infrastructure. Learn more about the capital improvement process and the committee’s statewide bonding tours at mnsenaterepublicans.com/bonding.