Area legislators met with county officials Monday at the Sherburne History Center to discuss issues that affect county residents and businesses.
It was the second time the group has gathered to look at legislative priorities and the county’s “wish list,” mostly focusing on funding for projects and programs.
Sherburne County Public Works Directer Andrew Witter opened the discussion, talking about additional funding for engineering and environmental studies on a project at Hwy. 169 and Co. Rd. 4 in Zimmerman.
He said with all the other work that’s been done on Hwy. 169, that intersection has the only signal on the 75-mile stretch from I-84 to Mille Lacs.
He spoke about the need for improvements on Hwy. 10 near the Sherco plant to accommodate future development. “Some of the concern’s we’re hearing from the private sector is better connectivity to I-94 and mobility on Hwy. 10.
He said the county and area jurisdictions are working on an area study to make improvements that may include a new river crossing near Hwy. 25 in Big Lake.
“We’re not exactly sure what it will look like, but we know that crossing right now is already at capacity and it will continue to grow in the future,” he said.
He also spoke about expanding rail, moving freight and making safety improvements.
His wish list included additional funding for the Hwy. 169 studies, bonding for Hwy. 10 improvements, funding for the MN Highway Freight Program, and increased funding for safety and rail improvement.
Rep. Nick Zerwas said the county’s requests for funding for transportation, but wondered if any of the new local option sales tax could be used for those projects.
“How much additional money is that (sales tax) going to generate and where is that money going to be focused?”
Witter said the tax is estimated to raise $3.5 million a year for transportation and transit. But it’s earmarked for more local project, not for state projects.
HHS Director MaryJo Cobb asked lawmakers to help amend legislation to allow local supervisors to override a mandate implemented in July that requires face-to-face contact with 90% of child sexual abuse victims with 24 hours.
She said in some cases, the child is already in a safe environment and it should be up to local agencies to make that determination. She said if the county doesn’t meet the 90% threshold in 24 hours, it loses $35,000 in funding.
“It doesn’t make sense sending people to go out to do face to face with kids who are safe, especially if they’re at summer camp in Bemidji,” she said. “It’s a resource issue.”
She said in other cases, parents take their children and disappear from the area, making it impossible for face to face contact in 24 hours.
“We had a case this year where the parents took their kids after court and disappeared,” she said. “It took us two to three weeks to find them.”
Zerwas said he felt lawmakers wouldn’t want to lower standards.
“I think the legislators would be hesitant to start paring back some of the requirements,” he said.
“But for these instances where the children are not available and it could be documented that the child is in a safe environment, I think that’s something the legislators would be open to.”
Witter and Assistant Administrator Dan Weber said the county is also in need of additional funding to help expand broadband.
“Does the county want to take one approach - putting in fiber, or are you looking at a variety of approaches for getting broadband,” asked Rep. Sondra Erickson.
“Our plan is to do a more hybrid approach,” said Administrator Steve Taylor. “The plan is to do fiber, and for the more rural areas, the plan is to go wireless. But it doesn’t make sense to do fiber that last mile.”
Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer said in some states, grants are only available for putting in fiber, not wireless.
“It has become a little more flexible these last couple of years,” said Weber. “Wireless is a possibility now. The program has changed.”
“It’s important to know because if they mandated fiber only in your state that’s a real problem because fiber is so expensive,” said Kiffmeyer.
County Attorney Kathleen Heaney asked legislators to revise statues to address “gap” cases where people are found incompetent in a criminal case. She said in some cases, those individuals don’t meet the criteria for civil commitment and end up back in the community without being treated.
Becker City Administrator Greg Pruszinske asked for funding to help pay for infrastructure improvements in the Sherco area. Once the plants close, the tax base will suffer and the only way to replace jobs will be with economic development at the site.
He said there are already discussions with companies interested looking in the area, but the industrial park area needs about $20.1 million for upgrades in water, sewer, stormwater and drainage, roads and lighting to accommodate future growth.
“We’re about 5,000 people. The infrastructure we have is relatively new, but it was built for a small town,” said Pruszinske. “Now we’re trying to gear it up for the next step.”
Zerwas said it’s always difficult to get bills passed with expensive projects like $20 million for infrastructure unless it has statewide support.
“For community-centric projects, my perspective is they tend not to fare well without a lot of on-the-ground support to get thru the process,” he said. “I’m not saying it’s right or it’s fair. But that’s what I’ve observed.”
Kiffmeyer agreed it was tough to get that much funding passed. But she said maybe parts could get funding.
“There are grants for water and sewer. Consider portions of the project. Some of it may get funding,” she said. “That will help take you a step forward.”
Commissioner Lisa Fobbe said their time had run out for the meeting, and thanked everyone for attending.
