It does not appear Albert Lea’s $7.5 million request to dredge Fountain Lake will be in this year’s bonding bill.

The Minnesota Senate on Wednesday unveiled a $496 million proposal that included dozens of building and infrastructure projects around the state. Though it included $200 million more in projects than the bonding bill proposed by the Minnesota House of Representatives, the local project was not among those included.

With the project not in the Senate, House or governor’s versions of the bill, state Sen. Dan Sparks said it is going to be tough to bring it onto any capital projects package this year.

“It was an uphill battle when the House did not include any language for the project,” Sparks said. “It would have been nice to have a place in there.”

The request, made by officials with the Shell Rock River Watershed District and the Albert Lea city government, would have covered half of the estimated $15 million project. It aims to remove 1 million cubic yards of sediment.

The other half of the funding would have come from the half-cent sales tax Albert Lea voters approved in November 2005.

Shell Rock River Watershed District Administrator Brett Behnke said though he is disappointed the project was not included in the proposal, he is still hopeful.

“There are still negotiations that could be had,” Behnke said. “We will continue to follow it and watch the committee meetings and hearings. It’s not over till the governor signs the bill.”

A $3 million request by Riverland Community College for the demolition, renovation and reconfiguration of space at the school was also not included. Sparks said though neither of Albert Lea’s major projects were included in the Senate bill, there were several positives for Albert Lea and the Freeborn County area.

He said $30 million for flood hazard mitigation across the state was approved, along with $6 million for the Reinvest in Minnesota program that preserves wildlife habitat. The Shell Rock River Watershed District applies for grants from both.

Another positive, Sparks said, is the $20 million for bridges across the state. He hoped if this were approved Freeborn County Engineer Sue Miller would be able to apply for and receive grants.

A policy provision was also approved that allows the city of Albert Lea to access the $1 million in funds appropriated in 2011 for the downtown streetscape project.

In neighboring Austin, the Senate’s proposed bill included $13.5 million for The Hormel Institute’s expansion. That item appears bonding bills proposed by the House and the governor.