HF746

Purpose

To fund capital improvements at the Rum River Dam in the city of Anoka and to authorize the sale of state bonds to pay for those improvements. The bill directs money from the bond proceeds fund to support a grant from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to the city of Anoka for improvements and betterments of a capital nature to the Rum River Dam. It also aims to help with operation and safety improvements, and to facilitate hydroelectric power generation and river surfing, with the spillway potentially modified into a lock or replaced by a fish passage if a lock is not feasible.

Main Provisions

• Subdivision 1 – Appropriation: Allocates 11,950,000 from the bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of natural resources for a grant to the city of Anoka for capital improvements to the Rum River Dam. The funding covers operation and safety improvements, improvements to support hydroelectric power generation and river surfing, and the potential modification of the spillway into a lock or the addition of a fish passage if a lock cannot be feasibly built.
• Subdivision 2 – Bond sale: Requires the commissioner of management and budget to sell and issue bonds up to 11,950,000 to fund the appropriation, following the terms of Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and the Minnesota Constitution (article XI, sections 4 to 7).

Funding and Financing

• Financing is through the bond proceeds fund.
• Bond issuance is capped at 11,950,000 and must follow applicable state statutes and constitutional provisions.

Significant Changes / Legal Impacts

• Establishes a new capital investment allocation specifically for the Rum River Dam improvements, accessible as a grant to the city of Anoka.
• Enables potential changes to dam infrastructure and use, including:
  • Operation and safety upgrades.
  • Infrastructure to support hydroelectric power generation.
  • Recreational use considerations (river surfing).
  • Spillway modification to create a lock or addition of a fish passage (if a lock is not feasible).
• Requires bonds to be sold under existing state bonding laws and constitutional rules.

Implications for Stakeholders

• City of Anoka: Receives funding for dam improvements and potential enhanced recreational and energy facilities.
• DNR: Acts as administrator of the grant to the city.
• General public: Possible increased safety, energy generation, and recreational access, along with ecological considerations if fish passage is implemented.

Relevant Terms Rum River Dam; Anoka; capital improvements; operation and safety improvements; hydroelectric power generation; river surfing; spillway; lock; fish passage; grant; bond proceeds fund; bond sale; commissioner of natural resources; commissioner of management and budget; Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675; Minnesota Constitution article XI sections 4 to 7; city of Anoka; capital investment.