Purpose

This bill provides funding and a financing plan to design improvements for Oak Park Heights’ municipal water treatment system to address PFAS contamination in the city’s drinking water. It authorizes a grant to the city funded from state bonds.

Main provisions

• Subdivision 1 (Appropriation): $1,600,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds fund to the Public Facilities Authority as a grant to the city of Oak Park Heights. The grant is for design and engineering work on improvements to the city’s water treatment infrastructure to remediate and remove PFAS from drinking water.
• Subdivision 2 (Bond sale): The Commissioner of Management and Budget must issue bonds up to $1,600,000 to pay for this appropriation. The bonds are to be sold under the state’s standard bond laws and constitutional provisions.

Financing and funding details

• Source of funds: Bond proceeds fund.
• Amount: Up to $1,600,000.
• Use: Design and engineering for PFAS remediation in the city’s drinking water system.
• Financial framework: Bond issuance must follow Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and Constitution article XI, sections 4 to 7.

Impact and scope

• Focus: Design and engineering for improvements to Oak Park Heights’ municipal water treatment infrastructure to remove PFAS from drinking water.
• Stage of work: Design and engineering (planning phase) funded by the grant; does not itself fund construction at this time.

Notable changes to existing law (summary)

• Creates a new appropriation and financing plan to fund PFAS remediation design for Oak Park Heights.
• Authorizes up to $1.6 million in state bonds for this purpose, to be issued under existing bond statutes and constitutional authority.

Practical implications

• The Public Facilities Authority will oversee the grant to Oak Park Heights for PFAS-related design work.
• The project is a dedicated capital investment aimed at improving drinking water safety by targeting PFAS contamination.

Terminology and concepts (key terms from the bill)

• PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)
• PFAS remediation / remediation and removal
• Drinking water
• Oak Park Heights
• Municipal water treatment infrastructure
• Design and engineering
• Grant
• Public Facilities Authority
• Bond proceeds fund
• Bond sale / bonds
• Commissioner of Management and Budget
• Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675
• Minnesota Constitution Article XI, sections 4 to 7

Relevant Terms PFAS, remediation, drinking water, Oak Park Heights, water treatment, design and engineering, grant, Public Facilities Authority, bond proceeds fund, bond sale, Minnesota Statutes 16A.631-16A.675, Constitution Article XI.