SF 90

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/14/2012 09:24am

A resolution
memorializing the United States Congress to appropriate money for the Lewis &
Clark Regional Water System.

WHEREAS, the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System is a critically needed project to
improve the quality of life for over 300,000 people in the tri-state region, including those served
by the cities of Worthington and Luverne, the Lincoln County Rural Water System, and the Rock
County Rural Water District, by providing quality and plentiful drinking water and by expanding
economic development opportunities; and

WHEREAS, the 20 member cities and rural water systems have shown their strong support
by prepaying 99.6 percent of their cost share of the project, totaling $109.2 million, in several
cases a decade or more before expecting to receive a drop of water; and

WHEREAS, the States of Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa have shown their strong
support by prepaying 100 percent of their cost share of the project, totaling $44.3 million; and

WHEREAS, as authorized by Public Law 106-246, the federal government's remaining
cost share currently is $188.6 million, which leaves a remaining cost share of 48.5 percent; and

WHEREAS, Congress appropriated $26.5 million in fiscal year 2008 and $27 million in
fiscal year 2009, but only $10 million in fiscal year 2010 and likely even less in the fiscal year
2011 budget; and

WHEREAS, cutting funding for this vital infrastructure means the cost to the taxpayers
increases because of lost economic development opportunities and the federal government's
remaining cost share is indexed annually for inflation; and

WHEREAS, based on $10 million per year in federal funding, it is estimated it could take
until 2048 to complete the project, with Worthington not receiving water until 2030; and

WHEREAS, the prepayment funds by the members and states are either spent or fully
obligated to current contracts, so the construction schedule for 2011 and beyond will be entirely
dependent upon future federal funding; and

WHEREAS, in addition to keeping costs down for the taxpayers, the timely completion
of the project is very important so the member cities and rural water systems have access to a
critically needed water supply that will allow the tri-state region to continue to grow, thereby
benefitting the regional and national economy, as well as creating jobs during construction;
NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it urges the Congress
of the United States to honor its commitment by appropriating $35 million in fiscal year 2012 for
the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is
directed to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United States,
the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the
United States House of Representatives, the chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the
chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives
in Congress.