Dakota, Scott officials assemble stimulus wish lists

Highway construction, a dog park and wind generators aren't often mentioned in the same conversation.

But with a giant federal stimulus package apparently destined to reach President Obama's desk this month, Dakota and Scott counties are thinking -- or perhaps daydreaming -- about what that money could pay for if some of Minnesota's $4.5 billion share flows south of the river.

Dakota County staff members, with board approval, pulled together a $136.4 million list of infrastructure and energy-efficiency projects and compiled a list of recommended social-service programs to support. The document was then shipped off to the local congressional delegation.

"Our objective is to demonstrate a need for this kind of investment and the ability to put these kinds of projects in the ground quickly," said Jack Ditmore, the county's director of operations, management and budget. "We weren't trying to create a bunch of special earmarks."

So, if given the funding, what might the county dig into?

Transportation projects top the list in both priority and total price tag.

New interchanges at Hwy. 52 and County Road 42 in Rosemount and at Hwy. 13 and County Road 5 in Burnsville would cost $40 million and $30 million.

Ditmore said the county does plan to seek more federal money for the Cedar Avenue project, which is currently $11.9 million short, through separate legislation.

Scott County's top priority would be a project across the river in Hennepin County, namely, an upgrade to the intersection of Hwy. 169 and Interstate 494 that would remove stoplights that now stall Scott County's commuter traffic morning and night.

"I'm encouraged to hear some interest from the state Department of Transportation (MnDOT) in including that in the package," said board chairman Jon Ulrich. "Does that mean it'll happen? No, but it was encouraging. We don't know whether it would be a candidate for funding, but we do know it's critically important."

A MnDOT list of potential projects did not include those Dakota and Scott County projects.

While there is no official Scott County document setting priorities for stimulus funds, said Lisa Kohner, the county's public affairs coordinator, a coalition of officials from across the county did go through the exercise not long ago of deciding what are the biggest needs -- a useful thing to have when money is freed up.

Outside the transportation realm, Dakota County's list includes energy efficiency projects for county buildings -- new boilers, upgraded heating and air conditioning systems and even a couple wind generators for the government center -- and more than two dozen upgrades to parks and trails.

The parks and recreation suggestions, drawn from master plans for the parks, include the Cannon River bicycle and pedestrian bridge at Lake Byllesby Regional Park and trail development for the Mississippi River Regional Trail and Miesville Ravine Regional Park Reserve.

And even man's best friend might be interested in the stimulus money.

A Dakota Woods Dog Park expansion made the list, to the tune of $125,000.