Editorial: State government has a bargain in dredging request
Published 11:01 am Tuesday, February 4, 2014
It’s clear that the top priority among Albert Lea requests in the coming legislative session is $7.5 million in bonding to help foot the $15 million cost of dredging Fountain Lake.
It clearly is a bargain for the state government.
The people of Albert Lea in 2005 approved — by the overwhelming majority of 80 percent — a half-cent sales tax to go toward the Shell Rock River Watershed District. These funds have been used for dams, fish barriers, shoreline repair and other methods of cleaning up local waters. The watershed district even purchased a dredge. We are ready to go to work.
In many communities throughout Minnesota, the people would call on the Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to clean up local waters. They would have the state pay for it all, too.
Not here. Nope. We did most of the work locally.
What do we get for saving the state the cost of cleaning Minnesota waters? Six years of rejection.
That’s how long the state Legislature has kicked to the curb the local request for bonding money to assist with dredging Fountain Lake — the body of water in the center of our city and enjoyed by many people around the region.
All we ask in return for locals paying most of the cost of preparation so far and half of the cost of the dredging is that the state help with $7.5 million. That’s not much in a $1 billion bonding bill. It’s less than 1 percent.
This time, the request must be approved by the DFL Party that controls the House, Senate and Governor’s Office and holds our House and Senate seats. If not, there is going to be a storm of indignation out of our crucial swing district.
Albert Lea and the Shell Rock Watershed District has done its share. Procrastination won’t be politically feasible anymore.
The state has a bargain sitting right on the counter. Let’s get this done.