STATE OF MINNESOTA FORTY-SIXTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND
FINANCE DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair of the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division, called the meeting to order at 12:50 P.M. on Tuesday,
February 19, 2008, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
Rukavina, Tom, Chair
Poppe, Jeanne, Vice-Chair
Atkins, Joe
Bly, David
Brynaert, Kathy
Clark, Karen
Dettmer, Bob
Eastlund, Rob
Gunther, Bob
Haws, Larry
Hortman, Melissa
Mahoney, Tim
McFarlane, Carol
Moe, Frank
Murphy, Mary
Nornes, Bud
Norton, Kim
Severson, Dan
Slocum, Linda
Welti, Andy
Members excused:
Ruth, Connie
A quorum was present.
Chair Rukavina welcomed everyone and gave an overview of the agenda. Chair Rukavina invited Terry Kuhlman, Executive Director, Public Facilities Authority to begin his presentation.
Terry Kuhlman, Executive Director, Public Facilities Authority, Department of Employment and Economic Development, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding their legislative initiatives and the Governor's bonding bill.
Discussion and questions followed.
Terry Kuhlman continued his presentation.
Further discussion and questions followed.
Chair Rukavina discussed the agenda, and added HF 1944 to the bills listed on the agenda.
Representative Gunther moved that the following bills be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus capital investment bill:
HF 870 (Fritz) Medford Wastewater Treatment Facility
HF 1028 (Urdahl) Darwin Wastewater Holding Ponds Design
Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
February 19, 2008
Page Two
HF 1944 (Anderson, B.) Clear Lake/Clearwater sewer treatment facility expansion
HF 2222 (Otremba) Central Lakes Regional Sanitary District
HF 2518 (Huntley) Duluth sanitary sewer overflow facility
HF 2519 (Doty) Garrison and Kathio Township wastewater collection system
HF 2563 (Hilty) Big Lake Area Sanitary District
HF 2564 (Hilty) Barnum supply well
HF 2566 (Hilty) Moose Lake wastewater collection
HF 2615 (Juhnke) Willmar wastewater treatment facility
HF 2654 (Rukavina) Iron Junction capital investment funding
HF 2655 (Rukavina) Aurora wastewater treatment facility
HF 2666 (Rukavina) Gilbert wastewater treatment facility
HF 2673 (Urdahl) Dassel elevated water tank
HF 2679 (Fritz) Ellendale water system
HF 2680 (Fritz) Medford wastewater and water system
HF 2688 (Westrom) Elbow Lake infrastructure funding
HF 2728 (Dill) Knife River-Larsmont sanitary district
HF 2741 (Solberg) Grand Rapids wastewater treatment facility
HF 2797 (Anzelc) Wheeler Point community sanitary sewer
HF 2798 (Anzelc) Northome sanitary sewer
HF 2799 (Anzelc) Baudette water towers
HF 2809 (Brown) Rose Creek sewer systems
HF 2817 (Morrow) Lafayette wastewater collection system
HF 2864 (Ward) Brainerd-Baxter sewage treatment plant
HF 2883 (Faust) Mora wastewater treatment infrastructure
HF 2884 (Faust) Quamba wastewater infrastructure
HF 2885 (Anzelc) Nashwauk wastewater infrastructure
HF 2886 (Anzelc) Nashwauk wastewater infrastructure
HF 2887 (Anzelc) Effie wastewater infrastructure
HF 2918 (Kalin) Shafer wastewater infrastructure
HF 2919 (Kalin) Rush City wastewater infrastructure
Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
February 19, 2008
Page Three
HF 2935 (Ward) Nisswa wastewater infrastructure
HF 2947 (Hilty) Moose Lake south suburban expansion project
HF 2950 (Murphy) Midway Township sewer reconstruction
HF 2953 (Urdahl) Litchfield wastewater treatment facility
HF 2962 (Olin) Greenbush water treatment facility
HF 2994 (Anzelc) Big Fork sewer project
HF 2995 (Kalin) Amador Township wastewater infrastructure
HF 3001 (Moe) Cass Lake wastewater infrastructure
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Dan McElroy, Commissioner, Department of Employment and Economic Development, introduced himself and provided testimony on the Governor's SEED initiative.
The following bills are part of the SEED initiative:
HF 2880 (Moe) Greater Minnesota development funding
HF 2760 (Mahoney) Bioscience public infrastructure grants
HF 2879 (Brynaert) Greater Minnesota business development public infrastructure grant
program
Discussion and questions followed.
Holly Byron, Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, introduced herself and provided testimony in opposition to the public infrastructure grant program.
Further discussion and questions followed.
Bonnie Balach, Minnesota Solutions, introduced herself and provided testimony on the public infrastructure grant program.
Representative Mahoney moved that HF 2760 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus capital investment bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Brynaert moved that HF 2879 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus capital investment bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Bly moved that HF 2880 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus capital investment bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Terry Kulhman provided further testimony regarding HF 2880.
HF 2938 (Mahoney)
Representative Mahoney moved that HF 2938 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus capital investment bill.
Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
February 19, 2008
Page Four
Representative Mahoney presented HF 2938, relating to economic development; appropriating money to the city of St. Paul to defease, pay, redeem, or refund city bonds.
Chris Coleman, Mayor, City of St. Paul, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 2938.
Discussion and questions followed.
Kathy Lantry, Council President, St. Paul City Council, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 2938.
Discussion and questions followed.
Matt Smith, Director of Finance, City of St. Paul, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 2938.
Discussion and questions followed.
Representative Mahoney renewed his motion that HF 2938 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus capital investment bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 2948 (Mahoney)
Representative Mahoney moved that HF 2948 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division capital investment bill.
Representative Mahoney presented HF 2948, relating to state revenue; forgiving loan repayments on a loan to the city of St. Paul to finance the St. Paul RiverCentre.
Discussion and questions followed.
Representative Mahoney renewed his motion that HF 2948 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The Chair discussed the meeting agendas for the rest of the week's scheduled meetings.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:05 P.M.
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair
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Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant