DENNISON, MN – In a continued push to invest $220 million in clean water infrastructure statewide, Lt. Governor Tina Smith today visited the City of Dennison, which urgently needs repairs to its local drinking water facilities. The City’s lift station, which is critically important to provide clean, reliable water for the community was built in 1962, and is badly in need of repair. The cost to fix that lift station is $200,000 – roughly twice the annual budget of the entire City. Until the lift station is replaced, Dennison Mayor Jeff Flaten must descend a 15-foot ladder underground every day to be sure the pumps are still working, and once a week must personally ensure there are no clogs in the wastewater system.

 

“The situation in Dennison vividly demonstrates the serious challenges facing small communities across Minnesota,” said Lt. Governor Tina Smith. “The costs of making these improvements are enormous, and far too high for local ratepayers to shoulder alone. But the cost of continued inaction is much higher.  Making sure that all Minnesotans have clean, affordable drinking water is a basic responsibility of government. Governor Dayton and I are committed to partnering with local communities to fulfill this basic commitment.”

 

During the visit, Lt. Governor Smith and MMB Commissioner Myron Frans received a tour of Dennison’s wastewater lift station and wet well from Mayor Jeff Flaten. Both were built more than 50 years ago and have not been upgraded in more than 20 years. The aging infrastructure also could fail at any time, which would cause sewage to flow into a neighboring creek and create service disruptions for residents. The facility’s poor condition also has made it challenging for the City to find a full-time sewer operator, forcing Mayor Flaten to moonlight as the operator after his day job as a correctional officer.

 

Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor’s Smith’s would help small Minnesota communities, like the City of Dennison afford the cost of replacing infrastructure that was built decades ago. Without state assistance, it is estimated that Minnesotans in these communities could see their water and sewer bills double or even triple to cover the cost of necessary improvements, making it challenging for communities to keep and attract residents and businesses.

 

Below is a breakdown of how the Governor and Lt. Governor’s $220 million in proposed funding would be allocated.

 

·         Point Source Implementation Grant Program – Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith’s plan would invest $62 million in the Point Source Implementation Grant Program, to help lift the burden off local communities to pay for treatment plant upgrades to address water quality restoration and protection goals.

 

·         Water Infrastructure Funding Program – The Governor and Lt. Governor’s proposal would provide $80 million to the Water Infrastructure Funding Program to increase aid to communities rehabilitating aging wastewater and drinking water infrastructure systems. Grant funding is based on the average household income of residents and is designed to keep clean water affordable for Minnesotans.

 

·         Clean Water & Drinking Water Revolving Funds – To help local governments update essential clean water and drinking water projects to serve residents and businesses, Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith’s Jobs Bill includes $25 million in funding to match federal grants for affordable, low-interest loans.

 

·         Keeping Clear Water out of Wastewater – The Governor and Lt. Governor’s plan would allocate $5 million for an inflow/infiltration grant program at the Metropolitan Council. The initiative provides matching grants to local governments to keep clear water from entering the municipal wastewater system, which can overwhelm and back up these systems, causing untreated wastewater to enter our lakes and streams.

 

·         Buffer Reimbursements – Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith’s plan would invest $30 million in the Reinvest in Minnesota Reserve program, which works with farmers and private landowners to restore and protect water quality in the implementation of the new buffer law passed last session. The state funds will leverage up to $120 million in federal dollars and is part of a five year 100,000 acre clean water effort.

 

·         Wetland Replacement – To replace an estimated 300 acres of wetlands that are lost due to road construction across the state, the Governor and Lt. Governor’s Jobs Bill includes a proposed $5 million investment in the Local Government Roads Wetlands Replacement Program.

 

MAP: See where Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith’s proposed investments in clean water infrastructure would be. [Link]

 

LIST: Look up clean water infrastructure projects by city. [Link]

 

FACT SHEET: Get a quick look at Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith’s proposed investments in clean water infrastructure, and why they matter. [Link]

 

SUMMARY: Read more about the clean water infrastructure public meetings that were held across Minnesota, and the input received by the Administration. [Link]