Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The pace at the legislature has really picked up recently. The schedule will get even busier in the coming weeks as we begin to spend more time on the House floor debating and amending bills and legislative packages. The legislature’s primary responsibility in the remaining month and a half of the legislative session is creating a budget to fund state government for the next two years. This will entail the debate, amendment, and eventual passage of budget bills to fund various state agencies.
In this update, I would like to fill you in on the governor’s State of the State Address, my Lyman Boulevard upgrade bill, and on-going flood relief.
State of the State
Last Wednesday, Governor Walz delivered his first State of the State Address. His speech called for compromise in order to deliver results for Minnesotans. We both share the same goal of making Minnesota a better place to call home, and I look forward to finding common ground as we work to assemble a responsible state budget that respects taxpayers’ pocketbooks. During the event, I had the honor of being selected to serve as a small group of Senators and Representatives designated to escort the Governor from his office into the House chamber. As a first-term legislator, I was pleased to be chosen for this assignment.
Lyman Boulevard Upgrades
I am authoring a bill this year seeking additional funding for the City of Chanhassen to make upgrades to a 1.5 mile stretch of Lyman Boulevard (east of Highway 41, between Peavey Road and Galpin Boulevard). This stretch of road is currently a two-lane rural road, with no curb and gutter, little or no improved shoulder, and some issues with subsiding soils. It is the last remaining section of the existing Lyman Boulevard that needs improvement. The project will upgrade the street to suburban/urban standards, including four lanes, curb and gutter, etc. It will also make improvements such as roundabouts and a pedestrian trail. Traffic levels on the road are continuing to increase, thanks to residential growth in our communities as well as ongoing commercial and light industrial development nearby.
These improvements will allow for easier and safer travel, which is especially important given Lyman Boulevard’s proximity to Chanhassen High School and the young drivers that are concentrated in this area. My bill will provide the necessary funding from the state to help the Cities of Chanhassen and Chaska, along with Carver County, get the project off the ground.
This week, I learned that this important project is included in the bonding bill currently proposed in the House. I am hopeful we can get this bill across the finish line this spring. I will be sure to keep you updated of its status.
Flood Relief
Discussion surrounding our efforts to fund our state’s disaster contingency account are continuing. The House recently approved legislation to replenish funding for the state’s disaster contingency account with $10 million. This account allocates funding to communities to help with cleanup from natural disasters. With this winter’s record snowfall, we’ve seen some serious flooding in our area in recent weeks, impacting local roads including Highway 41 and County Road 11.
While the $10 million we approved is better than nothing, I would have preferred to see even more put into this important account. We tried amending the legislation to add an additional $33 million to the account but that proposal was unfortunately rejected. Considering that the state responded with over $11 million in relief for just two flooding events last year, $10 million almost certainly won’t be enough to cover all the flood relief costs in a year with record snowfall.
With more wet and heavy snow on the way in the coming days, and rain expected next week, more flooding is likely to happen. This means more dollars will likely be needed, and we certainly don’t want to have to call a special session this summer to address this need. I’m hopeful the legislature can come together in the coming weeks and take the steps necessary to make sure this account and our state are prepared to assist impacted communities throughout the year.
Please Contact Me
Finally, I would like to encourage you to contact me and share any legislative questions or ideas you may have. I can be best reached by phone at 651-296-5066 or by email at rep.greg.boe@house.mn.
Sincerely,
Greg