Local legislators are addressing the lack of area workforce housing this year, an issue local leaders testified about Wednesday at the Capitol.

Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr., Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams and Albert Lea Area Schools Superintendent Mike Funk discussed the need for tax credits for developers to secure workforce housing Wednesday.

“This is a quality of life issue for our young teachers, as we attempt to provide the best environment for all of our employees,” Funk said.

Funk said young teachers have moved elsewhere and commuted to Albert Lea because of the city’s lack of workforce housing, noting the lack of housing could impact long-term retention.

A workforce housing bill authored by District 27 Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin, has passed through the Senate Finance Committee and could be rolled into the Senate’s omnibus tax bill toward the end of the session. The bill would allot $40 million over the next two years to a newly created office of workforce housing to fund housing projects across the state using grants and tax credits.

Sparks said he understands the importance of securing workforce housing and is confident the bill will pass this year.

“That would be a huge victory,” he said.

District 27A Rep. Peggy Bennett said she also is addressing the issue, noting she attended a workforce housing seminar a few weeks ago, and heard from Adams the community’s struggle to obtain workforce housing.

“It’s a critical issue in all of our smaller communities,” she said.

 

Buffer laws

Sparks has co-authored a bill that passed the Senate Thursday that clarifies and modifies buffer strip requirements passed in the 2015 legislative session.

The legislation sets a requirement for the length of protective strips of grasses and trees on public land to protect waters from farmland pollution.

Sparks said the Department of Natural Resources was starting to include private ditches, when the requirements are only supposed to include public ditches.

He said the bill also ensures land is measured in the same spot.

“Thanks to the valuable input of our state’s farmers and landowners and the tireless work of stakeholders, the bill we passed today provides needed direction and clarifications,” he said Thursday in a press release. “The bill provides flexibility to allow local control on how best to implement the law, and by clarifying the definition of public waters, it prevents private land from being mapped, which was a major concern for many landowners. This legislation is a strong compromise, and is a step in the right direction.”

Bennett said she has co-authored a House bill on the issue, noting she supports local control on buffer standards, saying local people know more about the issue than state legislators do.

 

Broadband

State Republicans and Democrats remain far apart on broadband funding.

Bennett said she supports a $35 million House Republican proposal unveiled Wednesday.

The proposal would dedicate $7 million to improve broadband access through new grant programs. Of the $7 million, $5 million would be used as grants for broadband Wi-Fi hotspots, while $2 million would be allocated to build broadband capacity.

Rural, inner city and suburban school districts can use the grants to purchase mobile hotspots for student use, or provide Wi-Fi hotspots to adult education classes as well.

The proposal includes $28 million for broadband expansion to serve unserved and underserved areas, as well as communities with a large number of low-income households.

“This substantial investment in broadband will help our communities stay competitive with surrounding areas,” she said in a press release. “Faster, more reliable Internet will mean our students will have more access to resources in their education, and that our businesses will have increased connectivity to compete in a growing marketplace. I’m very glad we could take this step toward getting broadband to Greater Minnesota.”

Senate Democrats unveiled an $85 million investment for broadband funding.

Sparks said the amount of funding proposed by Democrats is close to Gov. Mark Dayton’s $100 million proposal and shows how important broadband funding is for Greater Minnesota.

He expects budget bills to be placed through the finance committee by Thursday. The proposals will then enter conference committee to negotiate a final agreement before it is sent to the governor’s office.

 

This week

Bennett anticipates having floor time this week. She plans to visit Thorne Crest Senior Living Community Wednesday morning for a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate its new addition.

Sparks, a committee member of the Natural Resources, Economic Development and Agriculture Budget Division, said the committee will unveil its spending proposal today.

He said he will also have bonding committee and tax committee meetings this week.