Training center out, prison fence in governor's bond plan

January 23, 2008 - 7:10pm — sfiecke
Shakopee Valley News

By Shannon Fiecke

The governor’s bonding proposal for 2008 covers $1 billion worth of projects, but it doesn’t include everything Scott County wanted.

The bad news: No money for the public safety training center under construction in Sand Creek Township.

The good news: Up to 10 local bridges could be replaced.

Bad or good news (depending on your opinion): $550,000 to design a security perimeter at the state women’s correctional facility in Shakopee.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s proposal, more than a third directed toward transportation, is only the start to the discussion for state bonding this year. DFLers will come up with their own proposal.

Although not entirely surprised by the absence of the training center in the governor’s list, Scott County Public Affairs director Lisa Kohner said the county is "definitely disappointed" and intends to still go forward with its request.

The governor’s bill does include $5 million for the design and construction of an emergency training center at Camp Ripley and $4 million toward development of a public safety training facility in Olmsted County.

The governor’s office did not return a call for comment.

Two years ago, the training center was also absent from the governor’s list, although local legislators managed to still get $1 million in bonding approved by their colleagues. The county had asked for $4.2 million.

This session, local governments — which are sharing a large chunk of the $8.4 million project — hoped to get the remainder of the state funding request.

State Sen. Claire Robling, R-Jordan said she and other legislators will make the same push again this session for bonding dollars. However, with four times as many bonding requests than the state is allowed to fund, she realizes it won’t be easy.

"I wouldn’t count on all of it, for sure," she said. "I think the local units of government realize that; they know there are many demands this year. They’ll be happy if they can get something."

Robling said the project is to be completed in phases, as funding becomes available.

A firing range and tactical training structure are nearly finished on the grounds of the historic Mudbaden building near Jordan, last used for a county jail annex. Part of the building is also being remodeled.

"There are other things they want to do, but they don’t have to be done immediately," Robling said.

The governor’s proposal includes a record $225 million to replace approximately 600 to 700 local bridges.

Kohner said the county is pleased that the governor appears to have fulfilled the state’s entire request, which means 10 bridges in Scott County would be eligible.

The governor wants to use the state’s maximum bonding capacity, 3 percent of state revenue.

With so much of his proposal taken up by transportation, Robling said there isn’t much room for local projects.

"Many [across the state] had asked for things like fire stations and libraries," she said.

Robling said it is possible more bonding money could be freed up if some legislators push to cover some of the transportation projects by straight appropriation and a tax increase.

She said DFLers and the governor have disagreed on how much money should be borrowed to fund transportation projects versus funding them up front.

Transportation eats up nearly 40 percent of the governor’s proposal. Nearly a quarter would fund college and university building improvements, while 16 percent would fund environmental projects, 6 percent would go toward state buildings and public safety/corrections projects and the rest would fund infrastructure improvements for veterans and the military.

The correction budget includes $550,000 to design a security perimeter for the women’s prison in Shakopee that would include a 12-foot double fence, a fence protection alarm system and additional lighting and security cameras. The $7.14 million construction is slated to occur in 2010.

The fence has been a source of contention between the Department of Corrections, which argues it is necessary for safety, and some neighbors and city leaders, who believe it would alter the character of the neighborhood.

The governor left out a $443,000 request to add a 46-bed segregation unit onto the Higbee Building at the prison. The building would be remodeled to include an intake and transportation unit for processing offender admissions, releases and transportation to and from hospitals and county jails.

The Legislature did approve bonding for a 92-bed expansion project in 2006.

Robling, who supports construction of a security perimeter, said the governor’s recent proposal pushes out when the fence would be built. .

In 2006, Pawlenty recommended $4.9 million to build a fence, but it was ultimately discarded by legislators not eager to fund a controversial project when there were plenty of non-controversial ones to choose from.

This time, Pawlenty only included money for design.

Robling said that money is really important so the perimeter can be designed as attractively as possible and be acceptable to neighbors. She hopes the extra time will enable the facility to take advantage of advances in electronic technology for the perimeter.