Dear Friends,
I hope you are doing well and have been able to clean up from any tree or wind damage from the storms earlier this month. We are fortunate to have avoided the worst of the storm damage, but I know there were a number of folks around town who had to pick up quite a few tree branches and other debris.
Next month I'm excited to continue my work on child protection as a member of the newly-formed Legislative Task Force on Child Protection. I'm joined by my three colleagues who worked on the Governor's Task Force which produced many recommendations, some of which were signed into law this past session. Two additional members, DFL Rep. Tom Anzelc and GOP Rep. Peggy Bennett will be joining the legislative task force which will review the reforms from 2015, and look at additional ones to tackle next year.
We still have work to do in improving our child protection system and keeping our most vulnerable kids safe, and I'm grateful to be able to continue this important work during the interim. This is a truly bipartisan effort on a very important issue, and I will keep you updated on our progress this summer and next year.
Small Cities Road Funding
The budget that began on July 1st includes for the first time ever road funding for small cities with fewer than 5,000 residents. That means cities in Todd and Morrison Counties will see funding to help fix their local roads. Here is the breakdown of funding for our areas:
Morrison County
Bowlus: $10,136
Buckman: $7,627
Elmdale: $9,435
Flensburg: $15,675
Genola: $7,824
Harding: $5,859
Hillman: $7,031
Lastrup: $8,289
Pierz: $21,665
Randall: $14,074
Sobieski: $11,216
Upsala: $11,277
Todd County
Bertha: $11,272
Browerville: $16,130
Burtrum: $9,139
Clarissa: $15,759
Eagle Bend: $13,097
Grey Eagle: $10,956
Hewitt: $11,114
Long Prairie: $42,693
West Union: $6,835.
Small cities unfortunately too often get left behind in the road funding discussion. I hope that this is the down payment on a long-term transportation plan that we are able to get done next year.
As always, please send me your input, thoughts, and questions by email at rep.ron.kresha@house.mn or call 651-296-4247.
Have a great weekend,
Ron