Politics & Government

District 39 Legislators Push for I&I Grants

Clean Water Fund money could be used by residents faced with storm water sewer repair costs.

District 39 legislators were largely focused on water quality and other environmental issues last week. Both Sen. Jim Metzen (D-District 39) and Rep. Rick Hansen (D-District 39A) are sponsoring a bill to fund inflow and infiltration project grants for private residents through the Legacy Amendment’s Clean Water Fund.

This has particular impact on older residents, and those in West St. Paul, said the legislators. “(Those on fixed incomes) just can’t handle this, and it’s really not their fault,” said Metzen. “These systems were put in years and years ago.”

The benefit, according to Hansen, is the grant money, issued by the Metropolitan Council, can be used by private citizens for their own properties. The grants may also impact residents of Mendota interested in establishing city water.

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Both Metzen and Hansen have also sponsored bills to fund city infrastructure improvements through , however, the future of a bonding bill this session is uncertain.

Hansen has been following the development of HF400 in the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. The bill for Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund recommendations by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR)* was heard Wednesday, when a number of changes were made to the bill. Hansen said certain proposals were swapped out by the committee chair, Denny McNamara (R- District 57B), for different projects that have not yet received a committee hearing. The maneuvering makes it difficult for the public to determine which projects included in the bill were rejected, said Hansen.

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Hansen also sits on the House Capital Investment Committee, which is reviewing plans to cancel a number of projects that have already been approved by the Legislature. The proposed cancellations include some projects already underway, including $42 million for the Central Corridor light rail and a $1 million appropriation for the Rock Island Swing Bridge transformation in Inver Grove Heights. That bill, HF1232, is scheduled to be heard Tuesday.

Looking forward, Metzen said he is anticipating the release of the GOP budget proposals later this week. “We’ll see how bad everybody’s going to get beat up,” said Metzen.

Sen. Jim Metzen

New activity

—Inflow and infiltration reduction program metropolitan area grants appropriation. SF797 awaits a hearing in the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. introduced March 14

—Water quality enhancement citizen participation in the Star Lakes pilot program appropriation. SF796 awaits a hearing in the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. introduced March 14 

—Small business investment tax credit provisions modifications. SF790 awaits a hearing in the Jobs and Economic Growth Committee. introduced March 14

 

Existing bills authored by Sen. Jim Metzen

—A bill for elevator code changes compliance timeline modification awaits a hearing in the Jobs and Economic Growth Committee. SF617 introduced March 4

—A bill for probate and appointment proceedings time period modification awaits a hearing in the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. SF587 introduced March 4

—A bill for trunk highway #55 and county state-aid highway #63 (Argenta Trail) interchange construction environmental impact statement and scoping bond issue and appropriation awaits a hearing in the Transportation Committee. SF484 introduced Feb. 28

—A resolution urging support for the Republic of China as a part of the global community awaits a hearing in the State Government and Innovation Committee. SF483 introduced Feb. 28  

—A bill for an act relating to capital investment; appropriating money for the Darvan Acres Nature Center; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds. SF482 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill relating to natural resources; appropriating money from the Outdoor Natural Heritage Fund for Darvan Acres Nature Center awaits a hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. SF481 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill relating to capital improvements; appropriating $250,000 in bond proceeds for a transit facility on the Robert Street Corridor awaits a hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. SF531 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill relating to energy; regulating projects funded by renewable development
account awaits a hearing in the Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee. SF495 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill providing Trunk highway #52 noise barrier replacement bond issue and appropriation of $3 million awaits a hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. SF391 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill providing bonding money for inflow and infiltration projects awaits a committee hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. This is the companion bill to HF74. SF49 introduced Jan. 18

— A bill providing $240,000 for Inver Grove Heights historical buildings rehabilitation and capital improvements grant bond issue and appropriation of $240,000 awaits a committee hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. SF297 introduced Feb. 10

Rep. Rick Hansen

New activity

—Water supply and groundwater degradation prevention provided, and money appropriated from the clean water fund. HF1127 Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. introduced March 14

Legislative Environment Commission established; Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Clean Water Council, and Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources eliminated; water system improvement loan program eliminated; appropriations from outdoor heritage fund modified; and appointments provided. HF1073 awaits a hearing in the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. introduced March 14

 

Existing bills authored by Rep. Rick Hansen

—A bill to provide funds for the state Capitol building was reviewed and laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus appropriations bill in the Legacy Funding Division. HF777 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill to provide competitive grant money for arts education to k-12 students awaits a hearing in the Legacy Funding Division. HF778 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill to allow Mighty Duck grants to be used for new or renovated air handling systems of indoor ice facilities awaits a hearing in the State Government and Finance Committee. HF684 introduced Feb. 24

— A bill providing bonding money for Highway 52 barrier replacement awaits a hearing in the Transportation Policy and Finance Committee. HF477 introduced Feb. 14

—A bill providing $1 million to the city of South St. Paul to replace a pumping station on the floodwall awaits a hearing in the Jobs and Economic Development Committee. This is the companion bill to SF145. HF277 introduced Jan. 31

— A bill providing bonding money for inflow and infiltration projects awaits a committee hearing in the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. HF74 introduced Jan. 13

—A bill providing $25 million in bonds for conservation easements to be purchased by the Board of Water and Soil Resources, with priority given to flood prone land in southeast Minnesota awaits a hearing in the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. HF109 introduced Jan. 18  

*This article has been updated to clarify that an omnibus environment spending bill reviewed in a House committee was a package of recommendations by the LCCMR.


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