Purpose

• The bill would provide funding to help Hastings build a new Eastern Water Treatment Plant. The project aims to remove PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and nitrates from the city’s drinking water and to connect the plant to the Minnesota Veterans Home.

Main Provisions

• Subdivision 1 – Appropriation: The state would appropriate 16,600,000 dollars from the bond proceeds fund to the Public Facilities Authority as a grant to the City of Hastings. The grant covers predesign, design, construction, and equipment for the water treatment plant and related piping.
• Subdivision 2 – Bond Sale: The money would be provided by selling state bonds up to 16,600,000 dollars. The bond issuance would follow state law (Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675) and the Minnesota Constitution.

How the funds would be used

• The funds would be used to:
  • Predesign and design the Eastern Water Treatment Plant.
  • Construct and equip the plant.
  • Install associated piping to remove PFAS and nitrates from drinking water.
  • Interconnect the new plant with the Minnesota Veterans Home.

Financing details

• The bill authorizes the sale and issuance of state bonds in an amount up to 16.6 million dollars to finance the grant.
• Bond proceeds would come from the bond proceeds fund, with administration and terms governed by existing state laws and constitutional provisions.

Significant changes or effects

• Creates a new capital investment project funded by state bonds aimed at improving local drinking water quality (PFAS and nitrate removal) and expanding infrastructure to connect to a state veterans facility.
• Establishes a grant arrangement through the Public Facilities Authority for Hastings, rather than direct local financing alone.

Notable entities and terms involved

• Hastings (city receiving the grant)
• Public Facilities Authority (agency administering the grant)
• Minnesota Veterans Home (interconnection target)
• PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and nitrates (water contaminants)
• Bond proceeds fund (financing source)
• Bond sale/issuance (financing mechanism)
• Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and Constitution article XI (governing the bond process)

Relevant Terms - PFAS - perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances - nitrates - water treatment plant - Hastings - Minnesota Veterans Home - Public Facilities Authority - bond proceeds fund - grant - predesign - design - construct - equip - interconnect - bond sale - Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675 - Constitution article XI