10-03-95 CCM - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mayor's Report October 3,199s Last night, I attended the meeting of the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources. This was one of four regional forums where the relative priorities of requests for support from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as defined in their Strategic Plan, were discussed by applicants, members of the public, the DNR and BWSR. I went to the meeting to see if the Commission could be a funding source for a small municipal sewage treatment plant combined with a park amenity. The Commission's priorities cover the rehabilitation, acquisition and development of regional parks and trails, the acquisition, protection, and enhancement of critical habitat, prairies, unique sensitive areas, scenic bluffs and aquatic resources. It was stated that they would like to be involved in joint programs with local government to acquire land for permanent set aside. The Design 'ream visit indicated that Lake Elmo residents were prepared to set up funds to cover the acquisition of development rights on properties to preserve the rural nature of the land in perpetuity. Consequently, I indicated to the Commission that we would be approaching them with a proposal as soon as this had been properly defined. This would depend on our having evidence of community support, via a referendum, which would indicate that local funding at a particular level would be available. I feel I had an interested and sympathetic response from the Commission, although that was easy to achieve in the absence of anything specific. I also indicated that we might approach them on a self contained sewage treatment plant for the old village where the polished effluent would be discharged though an area with pathways and plantings to be used as a scenic amenity. The chair pointed out that the commission was prohibited, under State Law, from funding environmental clean up programs. My response - that the proposal was not to clean up existing pollution, but to provide an environmentally sound civic amenity - was accepted as an unusual approach which might be considered. This is intended to indicate one potential source of funds. Proposals are considered annually, have to be submitted h1 the fall, and are awarded following year. Consequently, we should work towards a proposal for submission in late 1996 with funding available in 1997.