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5.4. SR 04-14-2003Item 5.4. MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Mayor and City Council Pat Klaers, City Administ~.~ j~ April 14, 2003 District 48 State Senator Mike Jungbauer - Legislative Update A representative from Senator Mike Jungbauer's office contacted City Clerk Sandy Peine regarding the Senator coming to this meeting for a discussion with the City Council on current legislative issues. One of the big local issues that has surfaced this legislative session is the potential closing of the Kelley Farm due to a shortage of funds. Attached is the resolution which the City Council recently approved in support of the Kelley Farm. I understand that Sherburne County has adopted a similar resolution. The big State Legislative issue that most everyone has heard about is the state financial problem and the resulting impact on municipalities. A number of proposals are moving forward that call for a reduction in local government aid and in the market value homestead credit program. The Governor has a proposal, the House Representatives have a proposal, and most recently, the Senate Democrats have a proposal. The Governor's proposal contains the most severe reductions in aids to municipalities. Another big £mancial issue for municipalities that is being discussed at the State Legislature is levy limits. The levy limits law was due to sunset this year but there are a number of bills that have been proposed which extend levy limits. An important levy limit issue for the City of Elk River is allowing some increase in the limit due to growth factors. The city would have a very difficult time in 2004 if the levy was frozen and no increase in taxes was allowed. A freeze by the State Legislature on municipal wages and benefits has been discussed. At this time, I am not sure of the status of any bill regarding this issue. One bill that has been introduced relates only to state employees. There has been discussion at the legislature about including city bonds into the amount that local taxes can go up and this would impact us as we plan to bond for our Street Improvement projects. Again, I am not sure of the status of the discussions on this type of proposal, but the proposal clearly concerns all municipalities if, for example, a street project that was paid for with bonds would limit how much other tax monies can be levied for general fund activities. There are lots of non-budget/financial bills being proposed that impact municipalities, including the wine in grocery store bill that was defeated in the Senate Committee and which appears to be dead for this session. Hopefully Senator Jungbauer will provide some information on proposals and bills that are moving forward that will have a positive impact on the city and our property owners and citizens. S:\COUNCIL\Pat\jungbauer. doc RESOLUTION 03-22 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR OLIVER KELLEY FARM WHEREAS, The Oliver Kelley Farm has such historic significance that it was designated a National Historic Landmark by the US Department of Interior's National Register of Historic Places, and WHEREAS, On average, more than 14,000 school age children annually visit the Oliver Kelley Farm to learn through inter-action w/th staff and livestock how farming was conducted in 1850, and WHEREAS, On average, an adchtional 13,000 adults visit the Kelley Farm annually, contributing to the local economy and enhancing Elk River's reputation as a destination, and WHEREAS, The National Grange has maintained an ongoing relationship with the Minnesota Historical Society for 40 years regarding the Kelley Farm, a relationship that has inspired national and international visitors to come to the Farm to learn about Oliver Kelley and his family, the start-up of the national Grange Movement, and the origins of agriculture in Minnesota, and WHEREAS, In the interests of authenticity, the Oliver Kelley Farm has incorporated a unique historic livestock breeding and crop and garden seeds program that will be severely damaged once the site ceases to operate as a living history farm, and WHEREAS, The Oliver Kelley Farm is one of the oldest continually operating family farms in Minnesota, and WHEREAS, Elk River and surrounding communities, ISD #728, local school children, and local members of the Minnesota Historical Society, will lose access to a locally and nationally significant community resource, should the Minnesota Historical Society close - even on a temporary basis - the Oliver Kelley Farm. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Elk River Mayor and Council strongly encourage the Minnesota Historical Society and the Minnesota Legislature to aggressively search for ways to continue to fund the operations of the Oliver Kelley Farm Historic site, past the anticipated closing date of july 1, 2003. Passed and adopted this 24th day of March 2003. ATTEST: Stephanie Khnzing, Mayor Sandra A. Peine, City Clerk S:LADMIN~Resolutions~2003 ResolutionsXApproved\03-22 RES.doc - F ri dayF ax - A weekly legislative update from the League of Minnesota Cities Not too late to register for City Day at the Capitol Add your voice to the more than 400 city officials who will be in St. Paul April 9 to tell their stories about the real and profound impacts of proposals by the Governor and Legislature on their communities. City Day at the Capitol, hosted by the League of Minnesota Cities, is an opportunity to tell legislators how your city will be impacted by: · Cuts to revenue sharing · Levy limits; · Restrictions on debt; and more. The agenda for City Day at the Capitol includes: · 10:30 a.m. - Registration (LMC, 145 University Ave. W) · 11 a.m.-Noon Group A - Legislative briefing (Christ Lutheran Church, 105 University Ave. W) Group B - Box lunch (LMC) · Noon- 1 p.m. Group A - Box lunch (LMC) Group B - Legislative briefing (Christ Lutheran Church) · 2:15 p.m. -Assemble on front steps of Capitol · 2:30 p.m. - Press conference, Capitol steps To help you prepare for City Day at the Capitol, we've prepared this checklist: 1. RSVP. While registration is not necessary, it is encouraged to help ensure an accurate meal count. Please send the name(s) and title(s) of each participant - including a business leader and resident - and the name of your city to Stephanie April 4, 2003 Page 1 Lake, LMC, at slake~lmnc.org or by fax to (651) 215-4141. 2. Request a meeting with your legislators before or after the press conference. To make an appointment, call your legislators' office; tell them the date and time you'd like to meet; and the names of the people in your group. Also share the topics you'd like to discuss (levy limits, debt restrictions, cuts to revenue sharing). You can learn more about your legislators by visiting: www.leg, state.mn.us/le.~legdir, asp. 3. Answer the following questions, and be prepared to share your answers with legislators: · How would cuts to revenue sharing, levy limits, and restrictions on debt impact your city and its ability to provide services, conduct infrastructure and capital improvement projects? · What actions is your city considering in light of the proposals? What steps already have been taken? · How will businesses be impacted by the decisions? Residents? 4. The League is located in St. Paul, one- half mile north of 1-94 and two blocks west of the State Capitol on the comer of Rice and University. Traveling east or west on 1-94, take Marion (Kellogg) north. Follow Marion to Sherbume. Turn right onto Sherbume to Rice. Go fight onto Rice for one block to University. Go right onto University. The first driveway on the right is the main entrance for the lot and for parking. For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 o - F ri dayF ax - A weekly legislative update from the League of Minnesota Cities Please enter the parking lot from University Ave., where staffwill provide participants a parking permit, a map and directions to reserved parking areas. Check out the League web site, www.lmnc.org, for more information. April 4, 2OO3 Page 2 homes and other programs for the elderly. At this time, we do not have any detailed information on how the $91 million will be distributed between cities and counties. We do not expect any detailed information to be available until the tax committee marks up their committee bill in the next several weeks. Ways and Means begins final budget push On Thursday, the House Republican Caucus unveiled the outlines of their plan to balance the state budget and mitigate some of the deep cuts included in Governor Pawlenty's budget-- including the restoration of some of the cuts for cities and counties as well as higher education and nursing homes. The plan was adopted by the House Ways and Means Committee on late Thursday. At least publicly, the House plan is little more than a broad outline of how much the state will spend on broad categories of state spending. Over the next several weeks, additional information will be unveiled as committees develop their plans around the targets. Consistent with the Governor, the plan does not involve any new taxes but instead, relies on revenue from a proposed casino at the Canterbury Downs racetrack in Shakopee to cushion the budget cuts. The plan also addresses the state deficit by proposing a two- year freeze in spending for state employee health insurance, a reduction in the state vehicle fleet and reductions in "low-priority" programs such as the income tax political check-off. The plan would restore $91 million in state aid to cities and counties, $50 million for higher education programs and $70 million for nursing The plan would also establish an "internet auction" procedure where vendors would compete and bid online to provide goods and services to the state. Coincidentally, earlier this year when we surveyed our members for streamlining ideas, many of our city officials suggested a similar process for city purchases. During the Ways and Means committee discussion, House Democrats raised concerns about the reliability of the state's tobacco settlement in the wake of a recent Illinois state judge's order that Philip Morris post a $12 billion bond in order to appeal a recent class action lawsuit defeat. In response to that judge's order, Philip Morris suggested that the requirement could force the company into bankruptcy and jeopardize the tobacco settlements. Representative Abrams acknowledged the issue and indicated that the status of the Illinois lawsuit would be closely monitored. Where's the bill? This week's legislative activities included dozens of hearings on hundreds of bills. With hearings extending into late afternoon on Friday, we decided to briefly summarize the status of a few of the most visible bills of interest to cities in the table on the next page. Next week-- which marks the second committee deadline--we will have more information on these and other bills in the Cities Bulletin. For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 License tabs Increase license tab fees to raise Considered by the Transportation Awaiting action in the HF 1372 (Beard) additional revenue for Finance Committee on April 2. No Finance committee. SF 1284 (Johnson, D.) transportation projects, vote was taken, but the bill will be discussed next week and considered for possible inclusion in the committee's omnibus finance bill. Fiscal disparities Abolish the metropolitan area Both considered by the Taxes No Senate companion. HF 514 (Lenczewski) fiscal disparities program committee March 27. The chair of the taxes committee said the bills are "dead for this year." HF 495 (Johnson, J.) SF 635 is awaiting action SF 635 (Belanger) in the Taxes committee. Concealed carry Establishes a "shall issue" policy HF 261 passed Ways & Means on SF 222 was returned to HF 261 (Boudreau) for permits to carry a pistol in April 3. the author on March 20. SF 222 (Pariseau) public. SF 369 (Murphy) Requires specific reasons for No house companion. SF 369 passed Crime pistol permit denials. Prevention on April 2. Wine in grocery stores Requires cities to issue on-sale Companion not likely to move in the Failed in Commerce & HF 938 (Sykora) wine licenses to supermarkets, house since the bill died in the Utilities on April 4. SF 914 (Scheid) senate. Youth access to tobacco Sets administrative penalties for Passed as amended in Civil Law on Awaiting action in HF 561 (Gerlach) unlawful sale of tobacco to April 4. Commerce & Utilities. SF 992 (Knutson) minors and prohibits local ordinances that set greater penalties. Public employee wage Institutes a public employee Government Operations committee Awaiting action in State freeze wage freeze for state employees, amended the bill to apply only to & Local Government HF 793 (Gerlach) state employees on April 3. Operations. SF 773 (Neuville) Local government Allows local governments to Passed State Government Finance as Scheduled for a hearing impact notes request local impact notes on amended and was referred to Ways & on April 7 in State & HF 624 (Seifert) agency roles from the Means on April 1. Local Government SF 1070 (Senjem) Commissioner of Finance. Operations. Racino Authorizes placement of gaming Passed Taxes as amended without Scheduled for a hearing HF 646 (Buesgens) machines at Canterbury Park recommendation and was referred to on April 8 in State & SF 576 (Day) racetrack. House Ways & Means on April 2. Local Government Operations. Pay equity compliance Transfers pay equity compliance Passed Local Government & Metro Awaiting action in State HF 975 (Jacobson) to the State Auditor and allows Affairs and was referred to State & Local Government SF 1005 (Knutson) the office to charge a fee. Government Finance on April 4. Operations. Pay equity reporting Allows pay equity reports to be Passed Local Government & Metro Awaiting action in State HF 1253 (Brod) filed every 5 years. Affairs and was referred to State & Local Government SF 1151 (Fischbach) Government Finance on April 2. Operations. Political subdivision Transfers the authority to grant Passed Local Government & Metro Awaiting action in State compensation limit waivers from the law limiting Affairs and was referred to State & Local Government HF 1133 (Kielkrucki) political subdivision employee Government Finance on April 4. Operations. SF 1132 (Knutson) compensation limit to the State Auditor and allows the office to charge a fee. Alternative Notification Would allow cities to use web Passed Local Government & Metro Awaiting action in State HF 1122 (Adolphson) publication and newsletter Affairs and was referred to Civil Law & Local Government SF 1076 (G. Olson) publication for legal notices on April 4. Operations. For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 City Day at the Capitol WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9 CITY OFFICIALS · BUSINESS LEADERS · RESIDENTS Join communities from all over Minnesota to send a message that the Governor's state budget proposal and Senate property tax freeze proposal won't work for Minnesota dries. Bring a business leader and resident to the Capitol with you on April 9 to show legislators that the impacts reach beyond city hall to your community's residents and businesses. The agenda includes: i1 a.m.-t2 p.m. G=oup A---~gislative briefing (Chd# Lutheran Church, 105 Universi~? Ave. I~.) Group B--Box lunch (I_MC b~iLek'ng) 12-1 p.m. Group A--Box lunch a-~lC building) Group B--Legislative briefing (Christ Lutheran Church) 2:15 p.m. Assemble on front steps of Capitol 2:30 p.m. Press conference, Capitol steps 3:30 p.m. Appointments with legislators Before and after the press conference, you are encouraged to schedule appointments to meet with your legislators (visit www. leg.state, mn.uMleg/legdir, a$p for info on legislators). Parka'ng ~ill be available in the LMC lot, as well as in designated areas of Sears, located on P~'ce Street. Further dxtails mill be posted on the LMC :veb site (rewm. lnmc. org) as availabk. For more details on this event, visit www. lmnc.org or call (651) 281-1200 Make your voice heard April 8! Strengthen your community's voiceminvite a business leader and resident. 1LfVP is encouraged to ensure an accurate meal count. There is no charge for event. YES! ~ Name ~-' 1. We will make a difference by padicipating in City Day at the Capitol on April 9. We'll bring a business leader and resident with us--add our city to the list! Tille City TO RSVP: Fax to 651.215.4141, ore-mail slake~lmnc.org LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIESo 145 UNIVERSITY AVE. W,ST. PAUL, MN,55103o(651) 281-1200 For more information on city legislative issues, contact any member of the League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations team. 651.281.1200 or 800.925.1122 P) ll ' Number 14 Aped 9, 20O3 House Republicans and Senate Democrats' release budget plans Gary Carlson Nearly six weeks after the governor unveiled his budget recommendations to the Legislature and the public, the House and Senate released outlines of the separate directions they would like to steer the state budget. On Monday, the Senate Democrats added their proposal to balance the state budget to the mix at the Capitol. Late last week, the House Republicans released their committee targets. Both bodies now appear ready to begin the final process of crafting a biennial budget for the state. Both the Senate and the House appear intent on moderating the $435 million in state aid cuts included in the governor's original biennial budget proposal. House budget plan The House plan includes an estimated $91 million in additional resources for city and county aid programs. The proposal does not currently specify how the additional resources will be allocated. The House proposal also includes $50 million for higher educa- tion programs, and $70 million for nursing homes and other programs for the elderly. The final decision on the structure of the restoration of the aid cuts will be made by the House Tax Committee. Consistent with the governor, the House plan does not involve any new taxes. Instead, it relies on revenue from a proposed casino at the Canterbury Downs racetrack in Shakopee to cushion the budget cuts. The plan also addresses the state deficit by proposing a two-year freeze in spending for state employee wages and health insurance, a reduction in the state vehicle fleet, and reductions in "low-priority" programs such as the income tax political check-off. The plan would also establish an "Internet auction" procedure where vendors would compete and bid online to provide goods and services to the state. Although the proposal only applies this bidding procedure to the state, many of our city officials suggested a similar process for city purchases. Senate budget plan The Senate plan includes a combina- tion of tax increases, spending cuts, and payment shifts to balance the state's two-year projected $4.2 billion shortfall. For the biennium, state revenues would be increased by approximately $1.3 billion, spending would be cut by $1.2 billion, and expenditure timing shifts would provide an additional $160 million in one-time cost savings. For cities, the Senate plan includes a restoration of a portion of the market value homestead credit and local government aid (LGA) cuts proposed by the governor. The plan does not provide many specifics, but the total targeted relief for cities and counties is currently pegged at $200 million. The tax increases in the Senate plan include a new top income tax bracket of 9.4 percent, which would be applied to couples filing joint returns with incomes over $250,000 and to individual filers with incomes over $135,000. This ne~v income tax bracket would generate an additional $421 million for the biennium. The Senate plan would also raise the cigarette tax from the current $0.48 per pack by $1 per pack, which would generate an estimated $571 million for the biennium. The Senate would also close several current corporate tax deductions to raise an estimated $160 million in additional state revenues. According to Sen. Rest (DFL-New Hope), the Senate Tax Committee would be charged with reviewing corporate tax deductions. Although Rest identified two possible tax code changes, she indicated the committee would study the tax code and make recommenda- tions to the full Senate. Agreement by May 197 Work on the state budget will begin in earnest within the next few weeks. The major question remaining is whether the House, Senate, and the governor will be able to reach any agreement on a state budget before the scheduled end of the legislative session on May 19. ~- Page 1 of 2 Klaers, Pat From: Peterson, Lynn [Ipeterson@LMNC.ORG] Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2003 2:18 PM To: General legislative Subject: [legislative] Legislative Update Is the economy getting better--or worse? Today, the Department of Finance released its April economic update and the news was mixed. The good news was that revenues for February and March exceeded projections by $60 million or approximately 3.3%. The bad news is that the report suggests that the state and national economies continue to struggle and that Minnesota's job losses continue to outpace the national averages. Total state payroll employment is now 2.2 percent below the levels observed more than two years ago in February 2001. Minnesota's national economic consultant, Global Insight has now reduced its economic forecast for 2003, 2004 and 2005, but their forecast remains optimistic. The April baseline forecast by Global Insight calls for real GDP growth of 2.6 percent in 2003, followed by 4.2 percent growth in 2004, and 3.1 percent growth in 2005. In February forecast was expecting growth rates of 3.0 percent in 2003, 4.6 percent in 2004 and 3.8 percent in 2005. These new, lower growth estimates will not immediately impact the state's projected deficit--unless the governor and Department of Finance state decides to issue a special state budget forecast. The next regularly-scheduled official state budget forecast will not be released until late November. Another tax proposal Today, the House DFL released the outlines of their proposed budget solution. Unfortunately, details of the plan are sketchy at this time. The plan apparently includes an income tax increase for upper income Minnesotans, similar to the Senate plan, but affecting persons with individual incomes in excess of $250,000 and joint filers with incomes greater than $500,000. The plan apparently cuts the income tax rates for lower income earners. For cities, the plan will apparently reduce aid cuts to about one-fifth of what the governor proposed. The plan would, however, delay the payment of December aids (or a major portion of that aid payment) until sometime in 2004--presumably in July. By shifting the aid payments into a subsequent state fiscal year, the House DFL plan would be able to minimize aid cuts. Although the plan would minimize aid cuts, the payment delay could create cash flow problems for some cities. We'll have more on the House DFL plan in tomorrow's FridayFax. You are currently subscribed to legislative as: To a blank email to islative-4444U~listserv.lmnc.org This email has been for by the MessageLabs SkyScan service. For more anti-virus service working around the clock, around isit http://www.messagelabs.com You are currently subscribed to legislative as: ~ers~c~.elk-nver.mn.us To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-legislafive-4444U~listserv.lmnc.org This email has been scanned for all viruses by the MessageLabs SkyScan 4/10/2003 Minnesota Department of Transportation News Release Office of Communications $g5 John Ireland Blvd.- Mail Stop 150 St. Paul, MN 55155-1899 April 8, 2003 For Immediate Release Office Tel: 651/296-3581 Fax: 651/297-4776 Statewide Contact: Jeanne Aamodt 651/297-3597 Twin Cities Metro Contact: Todd Kramascz 651/582-1465 Mn/DOT launches 2003 road construction season Without new state funding, construction set to drop by nearly half next year ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Department of Transportation today announced the beginning of the state's 2003 highway improvement program. Mn/DOT will start or carry-over nearly 200 construction projects designed to relieve congestion, improve interregional corridors and enhance safety on the state's 12,000-mile trunk highway system. The 2003 program includes 137 projects in Greater Minnesota and 62 projects in the Twin Cities. Of that total, there are 79 projects carded over from the previous construction season and 120 new ones valued at $600 million for this construction season. Mn/DOT officials warned, however, that investments in highway construction and preservation projects will drop dramatically beginning next year unless the state Legislature approves additional transportation funding this session. "The $459 million in one-time funding allocated by the 2000 Legislature has boosted spending on transportation to record levels for now. Without that funding, Mn/DOT could not have accelerated projects like the Hwy 371 bypass in Brainerd, the Wakota Bridge in South St. Paul and improvements to Hwy 52 in Rochester," said Lt. Gov. and Transportation Commissioner Carol Molnau. "But this one-time money will be spent by June 30. Without additional financing, construction next year could be reduced by as much as 50 percent." Last month, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Molnau unveiled a transportation-financing package that would invest $1-$1.2 billion to accelerate critical highway and bridge improvement projects by as much as nine years. This proposal also includes $50 million for highway improvements that will support transit needs in the Twin Cities metro area and $5 million for transit programs in Greater Minnesota. (more) 2003 Road Construction Season - Page 2 According to Bob Winter, Mn/DOT District Operations Division director, the department is on track to use the full allocation it received in 2000. "Much of the 2003 program represents the value of the one-time funding package to remove Metro area bottlenecks and improve highway corridors across the state," he said. Major projects around the state specific to the one-time funding include: · Four-lane expansions of Hwy 53 (Piedmont Ave.) in Duluth; Hwy 23 from Cold Spring to Richmond; and Hwy 60 from Heron Lake to Wilder · Six-lane expansions in the Twin Cities on 1-494 from Hwy 5 to France Ave and on 1-94/1-694 from the 1-494 split to Hwy 252; and in Rochester on Hwy 52 in southern Minnesota · Bridge replacements on 1-494/Hwy 61 (Wakota Bridge) in South St. Paul on Hwy 52 in Rosemount; and on Hwy 100 in Golden Valley The start of the construction also signals the need for drivers to use extra caution because the number of highway work zones will grow rapidly with the onset of warmer weather. Mn/DOT urges motorists to focus fully on their driving, especially in work zones. That means, Molnau said, not using cell phones, observing work zone speed limits and staying alert for workers and equipment in or near work zones. The department will use public service announcements, billboards, highway signs and other measures to warn drivers about work zone safety, but motorists carry their share of responsibility for safe driving in work zones as well. To help travelers plan their trips to avoid major highway projects, Mn/DOT urges drivers to use its new Traveler Information System by dialing 5-1-1 or via the Internet at http://www.51 lmn.org. Attention media: For more specific information on statewide construction and specific District 3 construction projects, visit our web site at www.dot, state.mn.us/construction Kiaers, Pat From: Sent: To: Subject: Vickie Paul [Vickie. Paul@dot.state.mn.us] Friday, April 11, 2003 10:26 AM pklaers@ci.elk-river.mn.us; tmaurer@ci.elk-river.mn.us Hwy 169/CR 33 Interchange Work - News Release h169-c~3-madw0r k.d0c (132 KB... - released to media - Thursday, April 10 @ 4:25pm Minnesota Department of Transportation News Release District 3, Baxter/St. Cloud 3725 12th Street North St. Cloud, MN 56303 Contact: Mike Travis, Public Affairs St. Cloud Office (320) 255-4786 Toll-free 1-800-657-3961 mike.travis@dot.state.mn.us Contact: Cathy Clark, Public Affairs Baxter Office (218) 828-2464 Cellular (320) 293-9434 Toll-free 1-800-657-3971 cathy.clark@dot.state.mn.us FOR !~A~.~$E - ,~ril 10, 2003 ~,~'C~°rk on U. S. Highway i'~;!~ north of Elk River to start ~?~ sT'~ 'cz0~/"Minn.- Road construction is set to begin the week of April 14 on U.S.~ii~a'~ ~..~?~~e 'C(~ty R~a~[3~ O~ the north end of the Elk River city limits, reports the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) St. Cloud office. According to project supervisor John Leeberg, the highway improvement involves building a full diamond interchange approximately one mile north of 197th Avenue, with Sherburne County Road 33, running east/west, going over Highway 169. A realignment of Sherburne County Highway 21 on the east side is also part of the work. The $6.1 million project is expected to last into November. The 1.3 mile work zone area begins about one half mile north of 197th Avenue, the last set of traffic signals, on the south end; and one half mile south of 213th Avenue (County Road 77) on the north side. Crews will be working from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday, with possible Saturdays. Construction equipment will be operating in the median, and on both sides of Highway 169. Motorists using Highway 169 should expect varying degrees of delays and inconvenience throughout the construction period and plan accordingly. Two driving lanes for each direction of travel will remain in place during the construction with some restrictions. However, traffic flow will be shifted slightly towards the inside shoulder of the highway, driving lanes will be narrowed from 12 feet wide to 11 feet with no shoulders, and a reduced speed of 55 miles per hour will be in effect. Drivers should also be on the alert for an influx of large belly-dump trucks entering the traffic flow within a couple of miles of the interchange area in both directions of travel. Temporary lane closures on Highway 169 in the southbound and/or northbound directions can be expected during off peak travel times throughout the project time frame. Southbound lane closures WILL NOT BE ALLOWED between the hours of 5:00 to 9:00 a.m. Monday through Friday. Additionally, NO LA_NE CLOSURES WILL BE ALLOWED between 12:00 p.m. noon on Friday through 9:00 a.m. Monday. Northbound lane closures WILL NOT BE ALLOWED between the hours of 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday; and from 12:00 p.m. noon Friday through 6:00 a.m. Monday. Sherburne County Road 33 will be detoured on both the east and west side of Highway 169. Drivers will not be able to access Highway 169 at the current County Road 33 intersection. The detours, both running northward, will take effect around May 10 and last for the duration of the project. The detour route on the west side is via Sherburne County Road 77 and 213th Avenue. The east side detour is via Sherburne County Highway 21 (Brook Road), Sherburne County Road 70 and Sherburne County Road 24 (Twin Lakes Road). There will be another short detour put into effect in the southeast quadrant of the interchange work later this fall as well. This project is one of seven in central Minnesota to be advanced under Mn/DOT's "Moving Minnesota" initiative to improve safety, reduce congestion, increase mobility, and enhance the performance on many of the state's Inter-Regional Corridor highways. A one-time allocation of nearly $560 million was authorized by the Minnesota state legislature in 2000, of which $68.3 million was designated to Mn/DOT District Three in the central part of the state. For information about state transportation topics in central Minnesota, log on to Mn/DOT District Three's web site at www.dot.state.mn.us/d3. Click on "Construction" or "News and Views."