| For Immediate Release | For more information contact: |
| February 25, 2000 | Renae Reedy (651-296-9895) |
Pelican Rapids Library Funding
Rep. Bob Westfall (R-Rothsay) testified in the House K-12 Education Finance Committee on behalf of a bill he's authoring to provide funding for the Pelican Rapids Public Library. The bill would allocate $575,000 in matching funds for a $1.1 million library expansion project.
"The population is growing around Pelican Rapids and more people are wanting to use the library, so expanding the building is important" Westfall said. "The Education Committee was very receptive to the bill, and I'm feeling pretty positive about how things are progressing."
New DNR district office
The Minnesota House of Representatives Environment Finance Committee considered a bill this week, authored by Rep. Bob Westfall (R-Rothsay), to provide $1 million for the DNR to purchase the former Lake Region Electric Cooperative headquarters in Pelican Rapids. The DNR is planning to construct a new facility in Fergus Falls, but Westfall and others believe the existing building would be a better use of state funds.
"From everything I've seen, the Lake Region Electric building would adequately meet the DNR's needs, and it would cost much less," said Westfall. "This bill is unique in that it aims to cut costs for taxpayers while still providing a much-needed replacement building for the DNR. I think it's a great idea."
Price scanner overcharges
Rep. Bob Westfall has authored a bill aimed at protecting consumers from electronic price scanners that overcharge customers. "We've discovered that this type of thing happens frequently, yet stores haven't been held accountable for such errors in the past, Westfall said."
Westfall's bill would require stores to not charge customers for any item under $10 that rang up higher than it's marked price. If the item is worth more than $10, the store must give the customer a $10 discount on the purchase price.
"We're hoping this bill will be a good incentive for stores to watch their scanning equipment more carefully," Westfall said, "but it will also raise awareness for consumers to keep checking their receipts, and allow them to take action when there's a problem."
State energy code exemptions
Rep. Bob Westfall (R-Rothsay) is supporting a bill that would protect western Minnesota border cities (Breckenridge, Dilworth, East Grand Forks, Moorhead and Ortonville) from having to comply with new state energy codes for residential buildings. The new codes are set to take effect in April of this year and are expected to significantly impact construction costs for new homes.
"In border cities like Breckenridge, people can easily choose to live in either state," Westfall said. "If we let these rules take effect, and it starts costing people more money to build in Breckenridge than it does to build in Wahpeton, the economic impact could be devastating to our Minnesota cities."
Under Westfall's bill, cities could enact ordinances to protect themselves from these new energy codes. His bill was approved by the House Commerce Committee this week and will debated on the House floor in the next couple of weeks.
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