Posted on March 12, 2019
Lake Orono is being talked about in St. Paul. File photo
House bill approved that would switch from LCCMR bonds to traditional bonds to avoid potential legal challenge
The Minnesota House on March 4 approved House File 80, a bill to convert bonding projects previously financed by Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources bonds to traditional general obligation bonds.
Included in the projects was funding for the Lake Orono dredging project in Elk River.
“This project has been in the works for a number of years and I am happy to see the funds finally secured,” Rep. Nick Zerwas, R-Elk River, said. “This project will improve the outdoor recreational experience for those of us that live in and visit Elk River.
“While I believe that the project’s original funding mechanism would have survived its pending legal challenge, I am ultimately more interested in making sure that the funding is secured so the project can begin this summer. For that reason, I was proud to vote in support of this legislation.”
Lake Orono is a reservoir formed by a dam on the Elk River. The dam is located on the southeast side of the lake along Main Street. The lake was last drawn down and sediment was removed by dredging in 1998.
Gov. Tim Walz was expected to sign the legislation into law.
A voter-approved local option sales tax includes matching funds for the Lake Orono project. The $35 million measure to be covered with a proposed half-cent sales tax must now be approved by the Minnesota Legislature and signed into law by Walz.
Source: hometownsource.com
