Coffee with State Reps on Easter Break

Senator Vicki Jensen (24) and Representative John Petersburg (24A) joined more than 24 members for a legislative update at 'Coffee with the State Representatives' on March 28th, hosted by the AmericInn Hotel & Suites Owatonna- Conference Center.

Senator Jensen and Representative Petersburg
address OACCT members at a legislative
 update event on March 28th.

Senator Jensen shared insights on education bills and funding all day Kindergarten (House, Senate and Governor all want-discussion becomes how much to fund); transportation and Highway 14 funding (Corridors of Commerce bill to drop next week-anticipated to add 5 cent gas tax); and the health insurance exchange status (trying to separate article 1 and 2 for separate votes in Senate).

Representative Petersburg outlined the three state areas that fund transportation (gas tax, licence tab fees and vehicle sales tax) and it's also used to fund airports, port authorities, light rail and salaries for the Highway Patrol.  The state the state's transportation budget includes about 40% from the federal level-he questions how much we as a state should rely on those dollars.

Both officials support funding efforts for the completion of Highway 14. Senator Jensen encouraged people to contact the Governor and let them know they'd support a gas tax for the completion of Highway 14. Rep. Petersburg outlined that the state's fuel consumption has declined in recent years and offered a couple leverage points in the discussion with the proposed $4 billion Mayo Clinic expansion in Rochester (need to have good infrastructure), the potential 'Corridors of Commerce' bill (funding mechanism) and offered that "...

the only time we fail is if we quit.  We need to keep going and keep trying."  

County Board Notes: March 26, 2013

A part of the OACCT's Public Policy efforts for 2013 is for volunteers from the Public Policy committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that are of interest/concern to business.

Introduction of New Employees

• 3 resignations

Request to hire 2 and reevaluate need for 3rd (engineer)

• 1 of the 2 will be filled with promotion (sheriff’s deputy sergeant) and backfill the vacated position

Southwest Minnesota Service Region Re-design.

• Commissioner Huntington
• Charity Floen
• Jane Hardwick (co-chair)
• Jim Schug (project manager)
• Tom Shea (co-chair)
• Current status is unsustainable.
• New SDA to include Dodge, Mower, Steele, and Waseca counties.
• Federal and State fund follow the individuals
• 1/3 of the cost will be divided equally between the 4 counties
• 1/3 of the cost will be divided by market value of real estate
• 1/3 of the cost will be divided by the population of each county. It has been suggested that this should be utilization instead of population. There are some difficulties in tracking utilization but this is still being discussed.
• While the new SDA does not show a cost savings, it does allow the use of more FTEs in actual client contact and fewer in administrative and support roles. This will improve the quality of the services provided.
• The addition of another county would more than likely result in an efficiency that will equate to cost savings. 

Low Income Septic Grant Bixby.

• $20,902
• 11 applicants. 
• 3 not homesteaded
• 1 did not meet the low income requirements
• 7 were given the grant
• 3 considered low income
• 4 considered very low income
• Grant was divided among the 7 with higher percentages give to the very low income recipients.

Administrator Report

• Request by AMC for transportation funding
• Jeff Nelson requested an extension of the deadline for the Emergency Management Communications Network grant application. 3 vendors included.
• SWCB has suggested that the board support erosion prevention. 

Talk of the Town-March 2013

Tourism Director Lisa Havelka discusses the busy spring with many shows and conventions in Owatonna

Member Guest: Holly Sobrack, Westbrack Marketing