This week, I want to share some district-specific items.

 

About one year ago, Xcel Energy announced that they would be closing two of the threecoal-fired units in Becker at the Sherco Power Plant.  We then learned they were considering building a new gas power plant in North Dakota. We had to act fast. This year, Senator Mathews and I tore into this issue and were able to get Governor Dayton to rule against his own Public Utilities Commission and sign our bill to build a new power plant in Becker.  This will go a long way in replacing the lost jobs and tax revenues we would have incurred by losing Sherco Units 1 and 2. An item of note: former Senator Dave Brown was instrumental in this. We could not have done this without him.

 

The DNR has been trying to implement a plan that could have clear cut up to 49% of the forest.  I passed a law last year that forced the DNR to actually work with the folks who live in the SDSF and develop a forest management plan.  

 

Here is what my new Sand Dunes law does, starting July 1st, 2017:

1. There will be NO conversions of additional land to oak savanna.

 

2. There will be NO conversions of oak savanna to non forest land - unless it was part of a previous contract before last July.

 

3. If any seeding needs to be done, it can only be from species native to Sherburne or Benton Counties.

 

4. The DNR MUST comply with the MN Forest Resources Council's guidelines for aesthetics in residential areas.

 

5. A 40 day notice must be given before ANY prescribed burns, in the local paper and in writing to the county and township.

 

6. All residents within 1/4 of a mile of the prescribed burn must be notified in writing.

 

7. The DNR may continue to manage school trust lands as they have before.

 

8. The DNR must grant an easement of 233rd AV to Orrock Township.  

 

9. This does not prevent the DNR, the county, the state or the township from cutting trees due to weather-related damage or for ditch work.

 

Emergency Response Teams

This year I was able to introduce legislation that continues the funding for our Emergency Response Team, located in St. Cloud.

 

This team is able to respond anywhere in our district if a major emergency were to occur.  I must thank Sen. Mathews and Sen. Relph for moving this along in the senate and to Rep. Jim Knoblach for helping moving this along in the house. I was also able to secure funding for the teams in Moorhead, St. Paul and Duluth. 

 

This year I was able to author important legislation that take the pressure off of our farmers.  As many will tell you, the state agencies have been squishing our family farms with over-regulation.  My bill in the house allows for families to transfer well permits without hindrance.  It also allows for the DNR to consider the irrigation needs of our family farms, instead of areas declared to be possible fens.  In addition the DNR must provide all the data used if a farmer was denied a permit to irrigate or expand their wells. Finally, the DNR must also consider economic implications to the local areas when a ground water management plan is created.  Farmers will also see major tax relief thanks to our new tax bill.

 

In the Agriculture Policy bill, I was able to change the law to allow for folks in the Cottage Food industry to donate portions of their work to charity.  This was prohibited in the past.

 

CW and CL Water Treatment Facility

For many years, the cities of Clearwater and Clear Lake have been hooked into an expensive EPA mandated water treatment system that dumps hundreds of thousands of gallons of phosphorus treated water into the Mississippi River. 

 

This has caused the water-sewer bills for folks in these communities to soar.  This year I was able to re-introduce legislation that will provide for a new $1.2 million dollar water treatment system.  This new system will stop the flow of phosphorus treated water into the Mississippi and should lower the water-sewer bills of the folks who live in the Clearwater and Clear Lake area.

 

Sen. Dave Brown and I had worked on this for five years.  This year, I was able to complete the job with Sen. Mathews.

 

Many of you have had questions about the Governor's veto for the funding for the legislature's operating budget. I will touch on that next week as more details come forward.

 

There are so many other great things we were able to accomplish this session.  I look forward to giving you more details soon. Have a GREAT week!  Thank you for letting me serve you in the Minnesota House of Representatives.