HF 1050

1st Engrossment - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/21/2013 03:22pm

A bill for an act
relating to local government; appropriating money for a grant to the city of Hugo
to study the feasibility of a regional sewer and water system.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin HUGO; REGIONAL SEWER AND WATER SYSTEM FEASIBILITY
STUDY.
new text end

new text begin (a) The cities of Centerville, Circle Pines, Columbus, Hugo, Lino Lakes, and
Lexington may conduct a feasibility study to evaluate:
new text end

new text begin (1) the costs, benefits, sustainability, and potential for growth in the existing separate
water, sewer, or water and sewer systems, including environmental costs and benefits;
new text end

new text begin (2) the costs, benefits, advantages, and disadvantages of operating a regional water
supply system, a regional sanitary sewer system, or both;
new text end

new text begin (3) the infrastructure needed to be improved, added, or replaced to establish a
regional system, the estimated capital costs, and potential financing sources;
new text end

new text begin (4) the estimated operating costs of a regional system and the fee structure needed to
pay for the regional system's operations, maintenance, and periodic capital improvements;
new text end

new text begin (5) the benefits to aquifer management and the sustainability of water supply for
the cities; and
new text end

new text begin (6) any other information determined by the cities to be necessary or useful.
new text end

new text begin The cities must consult with state and regional agencies with expertise in water and
wastewater infrastructure funding and construction, including the Metropolitan Water
Supply Advisory Committee, for advice on what should be included in the feasibility study.
new text end

new text begin (b) The city of Hugo, with cooperation from the other participating cities, shall
report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over water and wastewater treatment infrastructure and funding on the results
of the feasibility study and any recommendations for evaluating and implementing a
regional water and wastewater system in other areas of the state. The report must be
submitted by January 15 of the year following completion of the feasibility study.
new text end

new text begin (c) $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the Metropolitan Council in fiscal
year 2014, and available until June 30, 2015, for a grant to the city of Hugo to study
the feasibility of establishing a regional sewer, water, or sewer and water system. The
appropriation is not available until the council determines that Hugo and at least four of
the following five cities have each adopted resolutions to cooperate with each other in
conducting the study: Centerville, Circle Pines, Columbus, Lino Lakes, and Lexington.
The grant agreement must require that at least ten percent of the cost of the feasibility
study be paid for by the participating cities, and that each participating city commit to
contributing money to help pay for the feasibility study.
new text end