STATE OF MINNESOTA EIGHTEENTH MEETING – FIELD HEARING: Mankato, MN
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY FIRST SESSION
TRANSPORTATION FINANCE & POLICY DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Hornstein, Chair of the Transportation Finance & Policy Division, called the Eighteenth meeting to order at 12:00 P.M. on March 8th, 2019 in the Mankato City Hall Chambers.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
HORNSTEIN, Frank, Chair
TORKELSON, Paul, Lead
HEINRICH, John
PETERSBURG, John
RICHARDSON, Ruth
RUNBECK, Linda
Members excused: TABKE, Brad, BERNARDY, Connie, ELKINS, Steve, HAUSMAN, Alice, KOEGEL, Erin, KOZNICK, Jon, MASIN, Sandra, NELSON, Michael, O’DRISCOLL, Tim, WOLGAMOTT, Dan, WEST, Nolan, YOUAKIM, Cheryl
Chair Hornstein called the meeting to order at 12:00pm.
All bills were heard for informational purposes. No official actions were taken.
Welcoming Remarks:
Fmr. Rep. Ruth Johnson
Commissioner Vance Stuehrenberg, Blue Earth County Board
HF538 (Brand, J.) Blue Earth County; relating to public safety; modifying the commissioner of public safety’s authority to suspend drivers’ licenses in certain situations; providing for retroactive driver’s license reinstatement in certain instances; making technical changes; requiring a report.
Representative Brand introduced his bill.
Dave Ubel, Fire Chief, City of Courtland, testified in support of the HF538.
Iona Reinharts, mother of Mike, victim to an accident on Hwy. 14, testified in support of HF538.
Mayor Mark Dehen, City of North Mankato, testified in support of HF538.
Tim Plath, Principal, Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School, testified in support of HF538.
Karen Foreman, Mankato City Councilmember and President of Hwy. 14 Partnership, testified in support of HF538.
Audra Shaneman, President and CEO, New Ulm Chamber of Commerce, testified in support of HF538.
Jack Kolars, Nicollet County Commissioner and Association of MN Counties Transportation Committee, testified in support of HF538.
John Luepke, Nicollet County Commissioner, testified in support of HF538.
Patrick Baker, Greater Mankato Growth, testified in support of HF538.
Wade Volk, Operations Manager of Volk Transfer, testified in support of HF538.
Mayor Bob Beussman, City of New Ulm, testified in support of HF538.
Ralph Bents, Courtland City Council Member, testified in support of HF538.
Jim Whitlock, North Mankato City Council Member, testified in support of HF538.
Fred Frehlich, Mayor of Nicollet, testified in support of HF538.
Dave Lange, Nicollet County Sheriff, testified in support of HF538.
Joel Polzin, Nicollet Fire Chief, testified in support of HF538.
Jean Embacher, Hwy. 14 accident victim, testified in support of HF538.
David Zimmerman, Hwy. 14 accident victim, testified in support of HF538.
Public Testimony:
Fmr. Reps. Ruth Johnson and Clark Johnson testified before the committee.
Samuel Stieger, Resident of North Mankato and Minnesota State University faculty, testified before the committee.
HF2121 (Brand, J.) Blue Earth; relating to capital investment; appropriating money for the local road improvement fund program; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds.
Representative Brand introduced his bill.
Mark Kober, City of Sleepy Eye, on behalf of League of MN Cities, testified in support of HF2121.
Steve Nasby, City Administrator, City of Windom, testified in support of HF2121.
Todd Prafke, City Administrator, City of St. Peter, testified in support of HF2121.
Public Testimony:
Commissioner Stuehrenberg testified before the committee.
Stacey Carols, Julie Kent, and Sheldon Steele, LiUNA Laborers Union, testified before the committee.
Carol Clark, True Transit, testified before the committee.
Kirk Buchera, SMART Transit, testified before the committee.
James Robins, Wendy Pederson (City of Franklin Clerk), Brian Heck (City of Montgomery, MN Association of Small Cities), testified before the committee.
Jason Swanson, Executive Director, Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, testified before the committee.
Tiffany Collins, Transit Director, Central Community Transit, testified before the committee.
Lisa Black, rural transit advocate, testified before the committee.
Bonnie Dinsmore, public transit advocate, testified before the committee.
Anne Vogel, physician at New Ulm Medical Center, testified before the committee.
David Christian, city of New Ulm resident, testified before the committee.
Lyle Femrite testified before the committee.
Fritz Pusch testified before the committee.
Dave Borchert, Brown County Commissioner and Board Chair, Police Chief for City of New Ulm, testified before the committee.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:00pm.
Representative Frank Hornstein, Chair
Claire Steven, Committee Legislative Assistant