May 21, 2006

JUHNKE SAYS AREA IS A BIG WINNER IN 2006 BONDING BILL

West Central Minnesota was a big winner in the 2006 Capitol Investment that finally passed the House and Senate early Sunday morning, according to State Representative Al Juhnke (DFL-Willmar). Juhnke said eight area projects worth over $8 million were funded in the bill.

The projects in District 13B include a poultry inspection lab, a joint dental clinic and training facility between the University of Minnesota Dental School and Rice Hospital, planning and pre-design for construction at Ridgewater College's Willmar campus, a wastewater project in Atwater, restoration of the Grass Lake wetlands, a dam project in New London, improvements to the Glacial Lake Trail and funding for area bridges.

"These are important projects in our area and the funding will provide a big boost to our local economy," Juhnke said. "The dental clinic and training facility and the poultry testing lab also fill important needs in the state."

Juhnke said passage of the eight projects is a credit to the communities and citizens of the district.

"All of the communities did a good job of explaining the importance of the projects and the broad benefit they'll bring to the state and region," he said.

District 13B Projects

Grass Lake Prairie Wetland Restoration

Juhnke said the Grass Lake Prairie Wetland Restoration would provide a number of benefits for the region. He and Senator Majority Leader Dean E. Johnson originally passed a Grass Lake restoration bill in 1999, but it was vetoed by then-Governor Jesse Ventura. The current legislation provides $2.2 million total to Kandiyohi County and the City of Willmar to acquire conservation easements around the lakebed, construct an integrated storm water diversion and treatment system and a pumping station to help clean up the water going into the watershed.

U of M Poultry Testing Laboratory

The bill provides a $300,000 grant to renovate and modernize the Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory in Willmar, which is a cooperative venture between the Minnesota Board of Animal Health and the University of Minnesota.

This is needed and it makes sense," Juhnke said. "The key to dealing with avian flu is quickly identifying it and then isolating it before it can spread. We can do both of those things at the Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory in Willmar."

U of M/Rice Hospital Dental Clinic

The clinic is a collaborative effort between the University of Minnesota Dental School, Rice Hospital and charities in west-central Minnesota. It is intended to help address a growing shortage of dental professionals in all rural parts of the state by providing training to dental students in a rural setting. The clinic will also offer free dental care for low income and uninsured residents in the region. The state's share of the project is $500,000, less than half of the $1.2 million cost of the project.

Ridgewater College

The college will receive $600,000 for pre-design and planning money for future a construction project at its Willmar campus.

Wastewater Treatment and Infrastructure Projects

Atwater will get $1.017 million for its wastewater project.

New London Dam

The DNR had the New London Dam as its top priority for dam projects in the state. $2 million was allocated to the project.

Glacial Lakes Trail

The bill appropriates $1 million for paving the Glacial Lake Trail from New London to Paynesville. The project will be completed during 2006.

Bridge Projects

The area will receive $432,000 for bridge projects.

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