Dear Neighbor,
I continue meeting with local groups and citizens to hear their thoughts, ideas and concerns regarding state and local issues. That input is highly appreciated and it is helping me draft bills to help bring improvements.
For example, I am introducing a House bill that will bring greater funding equality to the long-term facility connected to the LeSueuer hospital. Nursing homes like this one should be credited for having efficient operations. Instead, the state recognized efficiency as needing less funding as it set its statewide formula. This shortchanged the long-term care facility and put the hospital in a sustainability bind by having to support it.
Many nursing homes in Greater Minnesota face similar disadvantages and discussions continue at the Capitol to resolve this disparity. Challenges we face in long-term care continue to increase with the demands an aging population is bringing our society.
Another bill I signed onto as a co-author helps provide flood relief for our part of the state – which was hit especially hard – and beyond after storms caused widespread damage last June and July. We placed urgency on this assistance so we can get relief where it is needed as soon as possible. It passed it on the House floor Monday and is ready for Gov. Mark Dayton to enact.
The whole package is $74 million in flood relief for 47 counties and three Indian reservations. It includes $17 million in state funding, allowing the state access to more than $50 million in additional federal funding for recovery efforts.
That relief would aid recovery efforts from flood damage which already took place, but I am working on efforts to prepare us for the future. I hope to be able to soon introduce legislation with forward vision, allowing us to work with private landowners to mitigate erosion when storms hit down the road.
On another water-related topic, Gov. Mark Dayton recently created some ripples when he said he proposes that “a 50 foot [grass or similar] buffer be placed around all state waters.” This requirement would be “enforced by the DNR through aerial and other inspections.’’
This announcement surprised many and seemed to leave citizens with more questions than answers. Enforcement issues and the potential for infringement on the rights of property owners – including farmers – are just a couple of things to address.
A number of constituents already have contacted me to express concern and I welcome feedback. For now, it was just something the governor said to a group and his proposal has not emerged in legislative bill form yet. Details may be forthcoming, but my hope is common sense prevails. We need buffers where we need buffers, but let’s not put an umbrella over our whole state and create universal regulations.
I have some experience in this area as chairman of the Scott County Watershed Management Organization and as vice chairman of the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board. This will help me add some insight if and when this issue surfaces in the House.
On a final note, I am planning to co-host with Sen. Kevin Dahle a series of five town hall meetings throughout District 20A on March 7. These will be informal gatherings open to the public so we can share our thoughts on a wide variety of state and local issues. As mentioned to start this letter, accessibility to constituents and maintaining open lines of communication are top priorities of mine. These meetings will be a great tool in that regard.
Here is the itineraray:
March 7 town hall meetings
9-10 a.m.: Le Sueur Library (118 Ferry St., LeSueur)
10:30-11:10 a.m.: Home Plate Café (11 E. Derrynane St., Le Center)
12:30-1:30 p.m.: Belle Plaine Library (125 W. Main St., Belle Plaine)
2-3 p.m.: New Prague Library (400 Main St. E., New Prague)
3:30-4:30 p.m.: Firehouse Grill (7875 Old Town Rd., Elko-New Market)
I will keep you posted as things unfold at the Capitol and hope you can join us for one of the town hall meetings.
Sincerely,
Bob