Democrat and Republican members of the Capital Investment Committee toured Northeastern Minnesota counties last week. The tour gave state lawmakers the opportunity to see infrastructure projects first hand and to hear directly from local leaders about specific community needs. Input gathered during these site visits will help guide the committee’s bonding recommendations for the upcoming legislative session. This tour is the second in a series of statewide visits that will continue in the months ahead, as the lawmakers travel to other regions of the state to review projects, listen to local leaders, and prepare a bonding bill that reflects the priorities of Minnesotans.
Communities visited by the committee last week included Brainerd, Grand Rapids, Grand Marais, Hibbing, Ely, Silver Bay, Two Harbors, Duluth and Cloquet. At each stop, the committee received an overview of proposed infrastructure projects.
In Silver Bay, the Senate Committee met at the Mary MacDonald Center. City Administrator Lana Fralich and Mayor Wade LeBlanc were on hand and gave a compelling presentation on a number of projects that are important for the city. The Pressure Reducing Valve Emergency Replacement Project, rehabilitation of the High Pressure Transmission Line, Phase 2 of the Citywide Road and Utility Improvement Project and Rehabilitation of the Mary MacDonald Center were top of mind during these discussions. The proposed City Center Park project was also briefly discussed with the lawmakers. The high pressure reducing valve replacement project and the rehabilitation of the high pressure transmission line are projects that go together and are of top priority for the city of Silver Bay.
In Two Harbors, Senate committee members met with Mayor Lew Conner and City Administrator Patty Nordean to hear about the Highway 61 project and other ongoing projects that the city has undertaken.
Folks on the tour from the Senate committee included Senators Sandy Pappas, Ann Johnson Stewart and Karin Housley. Senator Grant Hauschild was also on hand. Members from the House Republican Caucus included House Capital Investment Committee Co-Chair Mary Franson and Representative Roger Skraba, among others.
The Minnesota Legislature is scheduled to take up issues related to a bonding bill in February.
