Senate Project Tour Highlights Need for State Matching Funds

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Senate members traveled across the state to discuss more than 20 proposed projects requesting state matching funds.

For this tour, there were two projects discussed in St. Louis County. First, they discussed replacing a regional landfill leachate treatment system in Canyon, Minnesota. The 6 million dollar project aims to help protect ecosystem health, and remedy contamination.

They also pitched the city of Duluth’s water treatment plant improvements to help improve drinking water for nearly 105-thousand residents around the county.

“It’s important that the state legislature knows that we have needs for our water, drinking water system,” said Jim Benning, director of Public Works and Utilities, City of Duluth. “We are under administrative order by the EPA. They’ve told us what the requirements are to satisfy all those conditions, and it’s about $51 million worth of work for the city.”

Benning says it was a productive presentation to help inform county commissioners and city officials in one spot.