Deserving of support; Dayton says Austin projects merit legislative support, includes $1.6M for Riverland in public works funding proposal
Published 8:58 am Wednesday, January 24, 2018
- A canoe heads toward the old railroad bridge over the Cedar River in this file photo. Mower County and the Department of Natural Resources have made the joint decision to close the bridge to pedestrian traffic due to safety concerns. Herald file photo
The Austin campus of Riverland Community College would get $1.6 million for electrical system improvements if the Legislature agrees with Gov. Mark Dayton’s public works funding proposal.
The governor’s office is trying to build support for his $1.5 billion plan to “build world-class colleges and universities for Minnesotans, and improve and repair state buildings and other critical infrastructure across the state,” a news release says.
His support for the Riverland electrical work is part of the $243 million he dedicates for “urgently-needed classroom and facility improvement projects at Minnesota State campuses around the state, including $180 million to maintain existing infrastructure.”
Dayton spokesman Richard Dornfeld said this year’s funding proposal “is a little different than those from past years.”
Water flows over the dam of underneath Fourth Avenue NE. The city is asking for $500,000 in state money to help renovate the area. Herald file photo.
For 2018, the governor has focused primarily on restoring buildings and other infrastructure already operated by the state and the public colleges and universities.
“We anticipate bonding will be one of the bigger issues during the upcoming legislative session.”
Although he didn’t include them in his proposal, Dayton says three other Austin-area projects merit state investment.
The city has asked the state for $4 million for the Ramsey Scientific and Natural Area site. The proposal is to establish a recreation area near Ramsey Mill Pond. The city intends to acquire former golf course land and private property, which includes a historic railroad bridge to construct a pedestrian-bike trail. It also is planning a fishing platform and amphitheater.
Also meriting funding, the governor says is the city’s request for $500,000 for the 4th Avenue Riverview state water trail enhancement and the Mower Soil and Water District’s request for $2.3 million for a Cedar River water retention and stabilization project.
Dayton’s proposal also includes funding to relocate truck driving and collision repair programs from Riverland’s Austin campus to Albert Lea’s campus.
Minnesota Senate’s Capital Investment Committee members for stopping by the Albert Lea Campus in January to learn more about our Transportation, Trade, and Industrial Education Center. Facebook photo
“Riverland Community College’s current Transportation, Trade and Industrial Education Center has not been significantly updated in nearly four decades,” a fact sheet distributed by the governor’s office says. “Businesses in the collision repair and trucking industries are concerned that students are not learning how to use modern technologies because the current facilities at Riverland are out-of-date. Governor Dayton’s public works proposal includes $6.8 million to design and construct a modern trade and industrial education hub to meet current workforce demands.”
Austin’s east campus will be the liberal arts education village and precision agriculture center; Austin’s west campus will be the science and health center; the Albert Lea campus will be the transportation, green energy and industrial technologies center; and the Owatonna campus will be the allied health, business, information systems and micro-manufacturing center.
