Purpose

Authorize funding and debt authority to supportPhase 1 of the West Central Regional Water System. The bill appropriates money and sets up bond issuance to provide a grant to certain Minnesota counties (Norman, Clay, and Polk) to pursue land acquisition and the predesign, design, engineering, and construction of Phase 1 infrastructure, including a trunk transmission pipeline and related water facilities to deliver potable water to cities in those counties.

Main Provisions

• Subd.1 Appropriation: Appropriates 9,700,000 from the bond proceeds fund to the Public Facilities Authority for a grant to Norman County, Clay County, Polk County, or any two of the three counties. The funds may be used to acquire land or interests in land and to predesign, design, engineer, and construct facilities and infrastructure necessary to complete Phase 1 of the West Central Regional Water System, including the trunk transmission pipeline and related water infrastructure to transport potable water to cities in the counties.
• Subd.2 Bond Sale: Requires the state to sell and issue bonds up to 9,700,000 to finance the appropriation, under the terms of Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and Minnesota Constitution article XI sections 4 to 7.

Geographic and Recipient Scope

• Eligible recipients: Norman County, Clay County, Polk County, or any combination of two of these three counties.
• Project scope: Phase 1 of the West Central Regional Water System, focusing on creating the trunk transmission pipeline and associated water infrastructure to deliver potable water to cities within the eligible counties.

Funding and Legal Framework

• Source of funds: Bond proceeds fund.
• Legal compliance: Bond issuance to be governed by Minnesota Statutes 16A.631–16A.675 and the Minnesota Constitution Article XI, sections 4–7.

Significance

• Establishes a state-funded grant program and debt authority to advance regional water infrastructure, potentially improving water supply and reliability for multiple cities in the West Central region.

Implementation Notes

• The bill designates the Public Facilities Authority as the recipient of the grant and administrator of the project aspects outlined, with construction and related activities tied to Phase 1 only.

Relevant Terms - West Central Regional Water System - Public Facilities Authority - Norman County - Clay County - Polk County - grant - land acquisition - predesign - design - engineer - construct - Phase 1 - trunk transmission pipeline - potable water - bond proceeds fund - appropriation - bond sale - Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675 - Minnesota Constitution Article XI, sections 4 to 7