Legislative Update – January 17, 2024
Dear Neighbors,
Last week I was glad to attend the Municipal Legislative Commission’s 2024 regional meeting with my colleague Representative John Huot, a Protect Grey Cloud Dunes meeting on conservation, and South St. Paul’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Commemoration.
I’m also glad to share this news from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED): The city of Newport, MN was awarded $418,500 for an 8.42-acre site contaminated with petroleum and other contaminants. Located along Seventh Avenue near the Glen Road interchange, the site was historically occupied with a mix of residential and commercial/industrial uses, and most recently has been used for office and semi-truck/trailer parking. It will be redeveloped into four multi-unit apartment buildings with a total of 143 units. This project is anticipated to create 11 jobs, increase the local tax base by $683,334, and leverage $56.6 million of private investment. The developer and other grant sources will provide matching funds.
Local Infrastructure Projects
This week I joined the Senate Capital Investment Committee as they visited our district to hear about local infrastructure projects in Newport and South St. Paul. Improving our public works and Inflow and Infiltration is critical to public health and safety and I’m committed to working on these issues as a member of the House Capital Investment Committee.
Legislative Reports
As chair of the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee, I receive reports from state agencies on the status of initiatives we have in place and recommendations for further actions we can take to protect our land, air, soil, water, and wildlife.
Last week I received the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources annual report on invasive species and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s report on preventing fish kills in Minnesota’s driftless region.
Cold Weather Rule
We’ve seen some incredibly cold temperatures lately, and I wanted to include a quick reminder that Minnesota’s “cold weather rule” is now in effect, which protects residents from having their electric or natural gas service shut off between October 1 and April 30.
To ensure your service is safe from disconnection, you must make and keep a payment plan that you and your utility provider agree on. More information is available on the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s website.
Stay in Touch!
Please continue to share your questions, ideas, and feedback throughout the year. You can reach me by email at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651-296-6828. You can contact my Legislative Assistant Sam O'Neill at 651-296-3305 or via email at Samuel.ONeill@house.mn.gov.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative