Dear Friends,
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and had a chance to spend time with family and friends. The weather's taken quite a cold turn, so I hope you're staying warm and staying safe out on the roads. For more information on winter parking rules, please visit the Apple Valley and Rosemount City websites. Those links are below:
In this email update - Past Events in the Community, Legislative Updates, and Upcoming Public Meetings:
PAST EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY:
Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies
This is a very exciting time for Apple Valley and Rosemount. Over the past two weeks, I've had the opportunity to welcome three new businesses to our community.
On Monday, November 25th, I had the opportunity to attend the grand re-opening of Uponor, Inc. in Apple Valley. Uponor is a company that makes radiant heating and cooling pipes and they just completed their 5th expansion, which will bring even more good-paying manufacturing jobs to our area.
Speakers included Congressman John Kline, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Apple Valley Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland. For the news story about this exciting expansion, click here.
To look for job openings at Uponor, click here.
The following day, Tuesday, November 26th, I joined Rosemount Mayor Bill Droste and members of the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce in welcoming Jimmy Johns to Rosemount. This popular franchised sandwich restaurant chain is already providing jobs here in our community. For store hours and location, click here.
On Wednesday, December 4th, Apple Valley Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland, members of the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce, and I welcomed The Joint – a new chiropractic practice – at another ribbon cutting ceremony. A unique approach to health care, The Joint does not require appointments; just walk in for a quick, reasonably-priced adjustment! To learn more about this business, visit their website by clicking here.
Please consider supporting these new businesses, and welcoming them to our community. Each new business that opens its doors means new opportunities for jobs that support families in our area.
Dakota County Technical College Expansion
Yesterday I attended the holiday celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) in Rosemount. DCTC received $7.23 million in bonding funds in 2012 that allowed them to complete Phase I of their Transportation & Emerging Technologies renovation project. Now DCTC is seeking an additional $7.59 million to complete Phase II of the renovation project. For more details and photos of the renovation, click here.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES:
MNsure Update
There are about two weeks left for you to complete and submit your application and payment information if you are looking for coverage through MNsure starting January 1st.
Many Minnesotans, like this man featured on WCCO this week, have experienced trouble submitting their application or navigating the website. If you are having similar issues, and aren't receiving helpful answers from MNsure's customer service line, please let me know.
MNsure has improved better than the federal site, but many concerns remain about security, incorrect tax credit information, and more. MNsure still has yet to officially enroll anyone, as it continues to test methods to send payment information to insurance companies to complete the enrollment process. These concerns are some of the very reasons I could not support the legislation implementing the MNSure Health Exchange in the 2013 legislative session. I am hopeful that in the upcoming 2014 session, my colleagues and I can find ways to address these concerns.
State Budget Update
Yesterday, December 5th, the Minnesota Management and Budget office released the November economic and budget forecast. Thanks to continued economic growth and low unemployment, Minnesota has more than a billion dollar surplus. This will allow the legislature to look at repealing some of the damaging taxes passed by the majority last session.
Additionally, it means that the remaining balance of the school shift will be paid off, putting the school shift officially behind us -- good news for Minnesota schools.
While the surplus is an encouraging sign that Minnesota's economy is improving, and it's good that damaging taxes may ultimately be repealed, many of these taxes should have never been passed in the first place. The budget passed last May increased all-funds spending more than any budget in history. Restraint and looking at ways to make government more effective to match spending with projected revenue would have been a more prudent approach.
The November forecast is just that -- a forecast. Much like the weather forecast can be wrong, we must wait until February to determine the official amount of the budget surplus or deficit. I will be sure to keep you posted when that date comes around.
UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS:
Lebanon Hills Development Plan Meetings
On December 16th from 5-7PM, Dakota County will host a Lebanon Hills Development Plan open house. It will take place at the Western Service Center, 14955 Galaxie Ave, Apple Valley, MN 55124. This is your chance to voice your opinion about the proposed $31 million Development Plan for Lebanon Hills regional park.
In addition, a group of citizens concerned about the impacts of the Lebanon Hills project are holding an Information Rally taking place on Monday, December 9th at 7PM at Falcon Ridge Middle School (Lower Level), 12900 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN, to discuss the Lebanon Hills plan. It’s your opportunity to find out more information ahead of the public hearing. There will be a short presentation and a Q&A session.
Transportation Meetings
Metropolitan Council Chair Sue Haigh and Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle are holding a number of town hall meetings on transportation and transit. All meetings are from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. If you are interested in discussing transit issues, including possible new gas taxes and rail lines, please consider attending.
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Tuesday, Dec. 10 at St. Paul Union Depot, Veterans Gallery, 214 E. 4th Street., St. Paul, MN
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Thursday, Dec. 12 at Century College, 3300 Century Ave. N., Room #2315, White Bear Lake, MN
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Tuesday, Dec. 17 at Burnsville High School Theatre, Mraz Center for the Performing Arts, 600 East Highway 13, Burnsville, MN
As always, thank you for the honor of representing our community at the legislature. My door is always open, and I want to hear from you. If you'd like to schedule a coffee meeting in our community or in St. Paul, please contact my office at rep.anna.wills@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-4306.
Have a great weekend, and stay warm.
Anna Wills
State Representative, District 57B