Committee hears 17 capital investment requests ranging from roadwork to specialized campus; no final votes taken

The House Capital Investment Committee heard testimony April 10 on 17 separate capital requests from cities, counties and nonprofit programs across Minnesota, including multimillion‑dollar road and interchange projects, wastewater and lift‑station work, and a proposed permanent campus for Minnesota Independence College & Community (MICC). Committee members did not take final votes on any of the project requests during the hearing; the only recorded motion was approval of the committee minutes.

The most prominent asks included a $21,000,000 request from Benton County for the Mayhew Lake Road Safety and Improvement Project, a corridor reconstruction project that county officials say will add roundabouts, expand capacity and build a separated shared‑use path near Sauk Rapids. Benton County Commissioner Jared Gapinski told the committee, “Today we are seeking $21,000,000 for the Mayhew Lake Road Safety and Improvement Project,” and emphasized a documented crash history at five intersections in the corridor. Commissioner Steve Heine described the request as a multi‑phase program; he said phase 1 — construction of a roundabout at the northern project limit near the school — is expected to cost about $8,750,000 and could begin this summer.

Smaller but urgent local requests included a $2,100,000 grant request for a new lift station in Spicer, presented by Mayor Robin DeCappellino and carried by Representative Baker. DeCappellino said the current 2006 lift station is aging, sits on private property and “if it fails, the consequences will be severe — sewage backups, contamination of Green Lake, and serious health hazards.” The city projects about 100 new homes and 32 acres of potential single‑family development over five…