Purpose

To invest in a regional public safety facility in the city of Owatonna by funding early design work and establishing a financing plan to build the facility. The project aims to create a new site for the city’s fire and police departments that can also serve as Steele County’s Emergency Operations Center and support regional training for fire and law enforcement personnel.

Main Provisions

• Appropriation: An amount of 1,500,000 is allocated from the bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of public safety. This money is a grant to the City of Owatonna to predesign and design a new public safety facility for the city’s fire and police departments. The facility is intended to double as Steele County’s Emergency Operations Center and to provide regional training and educational opportunities for fire and law enforcement personnel.
• Bond Sale: The commissioner of management and budget is authorized to sell and issue state bonds up to 1,500,000 to fund the appropriation. The bond issuance must follow the terms and effects described in Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and Minnesota Constitution Article XI sections 4 to 7.

Financial and Fiscal Details

• Funding source: Bond proceeds fund.
• Financing action: Sale and issuance of up to 1,500,000 in state bonds to support the appropriation.
• Fiscal impact scope: The bill creates a debt-financed grant program for predesign and design work, with the obligation to repay bonds under applicable state law and constitutional provisions.

Implementation and Oversight

• Responsible agencies:
  • Commissioner of Public Safety (administers the grant to the City of Owatonna for predesign/design).
  • Commissioner of Management and Budget (oversees the bond sale).
• Intended outcomes: A new regional public safety facility that houses fire and police departments, serves as the Steele County Emergency Operations Center, and provides regional training opportunities.

Related Legal Authorities

• Bond financing framework: Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675.
• Constitutional authority: Minnesota Constitution Article XI, sections 4 to 7.

Relevant Terms

bond proceeds fund; predesign; design; public safety facility; fire department; police department; emergency operations center; Steele County; regional training; educational opportunities; grant; City of Owatonna; state bonds; bond sale; Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675; Minnesota Constitution Article XI sections 4-7.