Promoting local projects
The
Riverland is requesting
Lawmakers were given a guided tour of the college's shop facilities and asked questions about the project that were answered by college officials. Following the tour,
After the tour, Capital Investment Committee Chairman
"Looking at this one, I would say it's ready for some help, that there (are) issues here that we need to deal with," he said. "There's growth on the way, and we want to make sure that it grows well. I would say that I'm impressed with the programmatic part of it.
"I think it does very well in presenting good programs for students to participate in here."
Senjem said colleges need to have quality facilities for functionality and for appearance because they are competing with other institutions that could have newer facilities.
He predicted the state would allocate substantial funding for its upgrade and maintenance fund.
"Part of that's going to start coming to
He described the region as growing and wants education facilities to reflect that growth. Senjem did not promise Riverland work would be funded in its third attempt for bonding dollars.
"I don't want to promise anything, because it's a long way until May, and there's a lot of pressures that come with a bonding bill," Senjem said. "But the value of doing these tours and being here is see first-hand the deterioration in the building, things like that."
He said he would rather the
He said the project is important for the college.
"We are saying, 'If you give us this money, we can improve our equipment and also upgrade our facilities and also train faculty,'" Atewologun said.
District 27A Sen.
Local officials pitch
The 62-acre
He noted extensive local support for developing the site to lawmakers and presented an overview of the first two planned phases of the project.
The first phase is expected to move
Work previously planned for the second phase of the project includes the construction of a community center plus additional work north of the railroad. Plans for a community center have included space for senior services and programs, meeting and activity rooms, a four-lane walking and running track, a fitness room with free weights and cardio, studio spaces, an aquatics area, an indoor play park, game room, four-court gymnasium, racquetball courts and child care, among other amenities. Private development would also occur with the second phase development.
Recognition of
Albert Lea Family Y Executive Director
"It makes a lot of sense to pull the pieces together," he said.
Adams said
He advocated for the city's
Sparks, DFL-Austin, said the tour allows senators from across the state to view local bonding projects and committed to trying to ensure funding for local bonding projects is obtained.
"I'm certainly going to champion all of them," he said. "I think they're very important."
Senjem called it "exciting" the city is looking to use the properties.
"We'll see if we can make it work," he said. "We want to look at the local dollars a little bit, how it matches up."
Senjem acknowledged the committee will likely lean toward funding projects that are relatively inexpensive and uncomplicated but did not rule out the possibility of any of the projects receiving funding.
"We might be asking more from the standpoint of local dollars, but it's just early in the decision," he said. "It's obviously a negotiable item."
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