Elevator Project Pressures in Lilydale Addressed in Metzen Legislation

In the Minnesota State Senate last week, Sen. Jim Metzen (D-District 39) introduced a bill to ease the financial burden of elevator code compliance, an issue he said affects condominium buildings in Lilydale. The bill would allow the owner of an elevator that has been affected by a change in inspection codes to submit a compliance plan within 60 days of notification or by the end of 2011, and allows a three-year window for compliance. Metzen said that the financial burden of elevator repairs or replacement passed on to residents can be thousands of dollars, “and they have to come up with that in a big hurry.”

Rep. Rick Hansen (D-District 39A) introduced a bill in the House requesting $4 million over the next two years from the Legacy Amendment’s arts and cultural heritage fund for the maintenance and restoration of the Capitol building. The Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board has estimated the cost of fully restoring, upgrading and expanding the 105-year-old capitol building at $260 million, but the Legislature has never shown the political will to approve significant spending on Capitol restoration.

While Hansen’s bill, sponsored in the Senate by long-time Capitol restoration advocate Ann Rest (D-District 45), offers up a small fraction of that cost, he said the right approach may be to provide an ongoing source of funds for maintenance and upgrades of the historic building.

Hansen also submitted a bill last week establishing competitive grants for arts education of k-12 students.  Also from the arts and cultural heritage fund, the $1 million in grants available each year of the upcoming biennium is designated for experiences such as artist-in-residence programs or field trips during a time when arts education may be shrinking under budget pressure. “Its not a capital project but it’s something that can stay with kids for the rest of their life,” said Hansen.

On the floor, both the House and Senate voted on a bill to allow alternative teacher licensing in the state. Metzen voted in favor of the bill, while Hansen voted against it. The bill was sent to Governor Mark Dayton on Friday.

Sen. Jim Metzen

New activity

—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

Existing bills authored by Sen. Jim Metzen

—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

—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 provide funds for the state Capitol building awaits a hearing in the Legacy Funding Division. HF777 introduced Feb. 28

Existing bills authored by Rep. Rick Hansen

—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 Capital Investment 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