[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6640719,"mediaKeyId","2549868-52a00e37475a6459f0ed4aac80184cb4","parentId",2549868,"title","Big Lake seeks $25 million in state bonding for wastewater expansion; city says plant at 90% capacity","audioSeconds",379,"startMs",909000,"endMs",1288000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2549868-52a00e37475a6459f0ed4aac80184cb4&start=909&end=1288","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2549868-52a00e37475a6459f0ed4aac80184cb4/thumbnail_909000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6640719/Minnesota/Big-Lake-seeks-25-million-in-state-bonding-for-wastewater-expansion-city-says-plant-at-90-capacity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640719-873cd5cc85ee3c23176f41a3ec7b442e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776119245&Signature=Xt2DAzs5V7-oOQNO7-hO1aYdI6lU2IWi2m8qBXtKXYwdsOYFZOFFVRTeaJBalnw4NCZyaMGFz~k5Qs5mCyH2OrN-pYDq8KUPebSBAirkXsWTLjiX2Ub9WNcBflXeTVNoeoFUMNqNDu-JWjq6lGUoVseJx1LZ0ImTzuTDN9CZSdSbs3jhDT4nnHyol7choPHmFQ9TbpcoT7d7kcQJaOkJw3M6sfUAVn~0XJDthEOXMo9qmeViXcOXcQ7Fe2mq9Ag0rweYHYs-W0DF-apTUs7ogVxhXE1bth2UersLZhUgAKb5Kyl2tMY7GztGLNTeApzj4752iuEvc3o-YvlhpOtdBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Minnesota Legislature","date","2025-03-11T21:56:46.263Z","article","The City of Big Lake asked the House Capital Investment Committee for $25,000,000 in state bonding to help fund a $52,800,000 expansion of its wastewater treatment plant.

Mayor Paul Kinnear and city administrator Hannah Klimick testified that the plant is at roughly 90% capacity, curbing new residential and commercial development. \"At 90% it won't be just too long before we will have to start telling developers no,\" Kinnear said. City leaders said the project would repair and replace structures and equipment, implement biosolids handling improvements and add treatment capacity.

Why it matters: Officials said the project cost is seven to eight times the community's annual budget and that without state assistance households could face steep rate increases. The city estimated a roughly 15% annual rate increase without help, rising from about $52 per month to approximately $83 per month; with assistance the city said it would be about $61 per month.

Phasing and prior funds: Klimick told the committee the city used a 2018 $1,000,000 appropriation for a wastewater facilities plan that was reviewed by the MPCA. City officials said their engineers advised that phasing this expansion would \"drive the costs up,\" and that doing the work all at once is preferable.

Ending: Committee members asked for additional details such as number of residential units and business counts; the city said it would provide that information to staff. The city asked the committee to consider the request so local rate increases can remain \"manageable and affordable for our residents.\"","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Capital Investment Committee 3/11/25","oneSentenceSummary","Big Lake officials told the committee their wastewater plant is at about 90% capacity, limiting development; the city seeks $25,000,000 from the bonding bill toward a $52.8 million expansion and said without help residents face larger rate increases.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MN, Minnesota","taxId",77817,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6640723,"Arden Hills asks $563,000 to replace aging 65-year force main serving universities and homes",172,574000,746000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2549868-52a00e37475a6459f0ed4aac80184cb4&start=574&end=746","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2549868-52a00e37475a6459f0ed4aac80184cb4/thumbnail_574000.jpg","/articles/6640723/Minnesota/Arden-Hills-asks-563000-to-replace-aging-65-year-force-main-serving-universities-and-homes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640723-1767c2ddcf20fcc125f284506324566e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776119244&Signature=dIwXSJ2ojgVCeqPYsliRfI0FMZomQZyeBRYPAwh1LicgIF0VGcEv2BXSxPtL3T9TDAPndiw7qFNaz0E6i2A6fAgrQbaKW0qHzYd~nobVJLP4u0p2wx1kuq29i4wHSfwZalMWAXRsNMyBPWBErldN2AmGy6twPYINef9-My-Wjsbd5Rpjc~XdnfrIK5kWDK47L0zRpUU3gRHQOYiqPZ0EJeDcXAmIB6SASGyD-BHZpRLhj--WpRPfMaksmO8kOLtiyTKcbnQ7TC0By~7p7ffon7dqNM1X-oacDzXfPG~QyMCGLU2RJszhkIO73m77RrL8t4n2NYp3m~IUR-BCr9HVsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Arden Hills requested $563,000 in state bonding for a sanitary sewer force-main replacement during testimony to the House Capital Investment Committee on March 11.

Mayor David Grant and city representatives said the 65-year-old, 10-inch cast-iron force main is showing deterioration from clay soils and acidic conditions and has experienced two breaks in the past five years. \"Over the past 5 years we've had 2 breaks,\" Grant said. The pipe serves 640 residential homes and several schools, including Bethel University, officials said.

Why it matters: The city told the committee the force main represents about 18% of its annual budget and that 30% of Arden Hills property value is tax-exempt, which constrains the local tax base. Grant said Ramsey County plans to replace County Road E in 2026 and that completing the force-main work before the county road construction will avoid ripping up a newly rebuilt county road and reduce the risk that heavy construction vibrations cause a collapse.

Phasing: City officials said phasing the project would be difficult because the scope effectively requires constructing a continuous line; doing it later would likely raise costs and risk.

Ending: The committee asked about coordination with Ramsey County; Mayor Grant said the city is working with the county to align timing so the force main replacement can be combined with the county road project.

","Arden Hills told lawmakers it needs $563,000 to replace a 65-year-old sanitary sewer force main that serves Bethel University and about 640 homes; the city said acidic clay soils and past breaks make replacement urgent and noted timing with a county road project raises urgency.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6640728,"Winona seeks $12 million in state bonding to meet MPCA nutrient rules",264,141000,405000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2549868-52a00e37475a6459f0ed4aac80184cb4&start=141&end=405","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2549868-52a00e37475a6459f0ed4aac80184cb4/thumbnail_141000.jpg","/articles/6640728/Minnesota/Winona-seeks-12-million-in-state-bonding-to-meet-MPCA-nutrient-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640728-292245cb0e858cec72349d1a2503e972/orig.mp4?Expires=1776119245&Signature=dGoxNLHPEXgdrGlYddMssYZdteWtc-NIYkusYt7cI-Y2XTjj7H1I88EZL5U242T3K5tVfkdeFnSfpbBsNZQPzltFNIAwhgfNCq8T8cChAfbOa984RK7Vr17xvFj4OrLWjd7X9bVTHKxRIKJq97cXMsvy7DJvmySvrFoeRHy7n8rPcQPV-G4kYwjC7Qafddq3tSwwtdkr8mdRoppTuOsY00dxfmx5X6Q1WdVSzj5tbU6JIY0K89ewCtnEJKI1eaeRBOBngedPAfqJzsTGTVjCRpR8D4Fpo1tov8rX8thYXxHAOI2IuJxx7J-WRr1DklgXy5CZC20cdE29v-1Hhr3~Ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Winona asked the Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee on March 11 for $12,000,000 from the state bonding bill to help pay for a roughly $36,000,000 wastewater treatment upgrade.

The project would replace the plant's original treatment technology to meet \"MPCA mandated nutrient removal requirements,\" city engineer Brian Dufresne told the committee. Dufresne said the city must complete the work by 2028 and that design- and construction-cost inflation has driven the estimate up from roughly $14,000,000 to about $36,000,000.

Why it matters: Winona officials said local affordability is at stake. \"Our city has approximately 20% of the population at or below the poverty level,\" City Manager Chad O'Bull told the committee, and Dufresne said the city has been raising sewer rates to meet costs. \"By the time we're done raising rates, they will have increased 700% from where we started,\" he said, adding that the city could move into the top 15% of sewer rates in Minnesota without state assistance.

The testimony noted other funding attempts and recent local investments: Winona applied to the PFA and was not awarded last year because the statewide bonding bill did not pass; the city is pursuing a potential federal grant of about $1,500,000 that has not yet been awarded. Officials also said the city recently completed a roughly $3,000,000 treatment-plant upgrade and spent about $5,000,000 replacing and upgrading lift stations.

City officials urged the committee to consider either funding assistance or extending MPCA compliance deadlines so local governments can pursue other funding and avoid sharp rate increases. \"What will make housing unaffordable is limited or no funding for state mandates,\" O'Bull said.

Ending: Committee members asked clarifying questions about the requested amount and phasing; Rep. Reyer asked for confirmation that the state ask was $12,000,000, and Rep. Rypinski noted the bill text showed $8.5 million. Winona indicated the project is difficult to phase because the work involves constructing a building that houses the new treatment process.

","City of Winona told the House Capital Investment Committee it needs about $36 million to replace aging wastewater treatment technology and is requesting $12 million in state bonding to meet impending MPCA nutrient removal requirements while limiting large rate increases for residents.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Big Lake seeks $25 million in state bonding for wastewater expansion; city says plant at 90% capacity

Arden Hills asks $563,000 to replace aging 65-year force main serving universities and homes

Winona seeks $12 million in state bonding to meet MPCA nutrient rules