SF101

Purpose

• Authorizes funding and financing to build a new regional wastewater treatment facility in Goodhue County.
• The project is designed to serve multiple communities in the North Zumbro Sanitary District and act as a regional prototype facility.
• The facility will provide wastewater treatment for Elk Run settlement lands of the Prairie Island Indian Community and connect to existing Pine Island wastewater infrastructure.

Main Provisions

• Subdivision 1 – Appropriation:
  • $44,800,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds fund to the Public Facilities Authority.
  • The funds are for a grant to the joint powers sanitary district (comprising the cities of Zumbrota, Goodhue, Pine Island, and Wanamingo) to design, engineer, permit, construct, and equip the new state-of-the-art regional wastewater treatment facility in Goodhue County.
  • The facility is intended to serve as a regional prototype and to connect to Elk Run settlement lands of the Prairie Island Indian Community and to the existing Pine Island wastewater infrastructure.
  • The appropriation covers capital improvements and infrastructure to connect the new facility with the participating communities and to fulfill its intended purpose.
• Subdivision 2 – Bond sale:
  • The Commissioner of Management and Budget must sell and issue bonds up to $44,800,000 using the state bond procedures and constitutional provisions cited (Minnesota Statutes and Constitution).
  • The bonds are to finance the appropriation described in Subdivision 1.

Significance and Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a targeted capital investment for a regional wastewater facility, funded by state bonds, to support a multi-city joint powers sanitary district.
• Establishes a connection between the new facility and the Elk Run lands of the Prairie Island Indian Community, integrating service to the Prairie Island area with the Pine Island infrastructure.
• No broad overhaul of wastewater policy is described; this bill adds a specific funding authorization and bond-issuance authority to proceed with design, construction, and equipment for the facility.
• The bill relies on existing legal frameworks for bond financing and for the joint powers sanitary district.

Relevant Terms

• North Zumbro Sanitary District
• regional wastewater treatment facility
• Goodhue County
• joint powers sanitary district
• cities of Zumbrota, Goodhue, Pine Island, Wanamingo
• Elk Run settlement lands
• Prairie Island Indian Community
• connect to existing wastewater infrastructure in Pine Island
• Public Facilities Authority
• capital improvements
• bond proceeds fund
• bond sale / sell and issue bonds
• $44,800,000
• Minnesota Statutes sections 16A6.31 to 16A6.75
• Minnesota Constitution article XI sections 4 to 7