Dear neighbors, 

Earlier this week, Minnesotans voted in favor of school referendums in Mounds View and White Bear Lake! While I’m proud to see community members stepping up to ensure that kids get a great education, I’m concerned that children in districts that can’t or won’t vote for a referendum won’t receive the world-class education that they deserve. We need to have a serious conversation about the way we fund our schools so that we can ensure that all students can succeed, regardless of their zip code. 

Water Gremlin Update 

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an administrative order documenting Water Gremlin’s years-long failure to comply with hazardous waste regulations. The next day, a Ramsey County judge affirmed the state’s right to intervene in Water Gremlin’s operations to protect public health. You can learn more about the new developments in a Star Tribune story here. I will continue working closely with community members to protect Minnesotans and hold Water Gremlin accountable for the harm they’ve caused. 

Thank you for attending the Oct. 26 discussion about TCE

For those who were unable to attend an October 26 discussion about TCE with legislators from the northeast metro, the White Bear Press published a recap that you can read here. There are a lot of people from different walks of life working together to address this public health threat, and I’m grateful for all who are getting informed and engaged on this issue.

Tour of Eureka Recycling 

Last week I had the opportunity to take a tour of Eureka Recycling with some colleagues. Eureka is one of the nation’s leading recyclers. They process 400 – 450 tons of recycling each day and collect data that’s used to reduce waste. Seeing the recycling process in action was fascinating! 

If you’d like to learn more about Eureka and the recycling process, you can take a virtual tour of the facility at eurekarecycling.org.

Improving School Safety 

Minnesotans deserve safe and secure schools, and protecting our students is of the highest priority in our work at the Legislature. As part of the education budget that we passed earlier this year, more than $30 million of Safe Schools Supplemental Aid will be available at the end of the month. That includes $113,650 for Mahtomedi Public Schools, $395,525 for Mounds View Public Schools, $289,708 for Stillwater Area Public Schools, and $299,805 for White Bear Lake Area Schools. These investments will help ensure that our community is able to address our schools’ unique safety needs – such as mental health counseling, building safety improvements, peace officer liaisons, and gang resistance education training.

Make Your Voice Heard 

Environmental Forum 

Please remember to save the date for my upcoming environmental forum! I look forward to hearing your thoughts on how we can protect our clean air and water, abundant natural resources, and outdoor heritage for many years to come. 

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or feedback. You can reach me at rep.ami.wazlawik@house.mn or 651-296-3018. 

Sincerely, 

Ami Wazlawik 

State Representative