---

Senate committee members visited about 35 locations in and around the Twin Cities this week, as part of the process reviewing what goes to the legislature to be funded in the bonding package.  The committee traveled by coach bus out and back to St Paul, over three days’ time.  Members were in Taylors Falls Tuesday this week to get a feel for the city’s force main sewer replacement and its special challenges.  

City engineer Jake Guzik said the 4,500 feet of cast iron main needs to be replaced from the river, up the hill to the sewer plant.  Taylors Falls is requesting approximately a million and a half dollars.   Infrastructure is one of the priority items the committee sees financial aid requests for, out of state bonding proceeds.  Dams, roadwork, water facilities and buildings for public works and public safety are just some of the three dozen destinations listed on the road trip schedule this week. State Senator Mark Koran,R-North Branch,  although not assigned to this committee,  helped answer questions about the town and was attending another committee stop scheduled later Tuesday in Cambridge for the New Pathways’ shelter project aid request.  Also, downstream from Taylors Falls Stillwater was on the committee itinerary seeking aid for trail work, PFAS concerns and the Washington Avenue intersection.  

---