A legislative panel looked into the specifics of Gov. Mark Dayton's proposed $190 million relief package for Duluth and other areas hit by June flash floods, hoping a final decision can be made by the end of next week.
"I think that's very doable," the working group's chair, Rep.Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville, said of a tentative plan to approve the package in a special legislative session Aug. 24.
She and other members of the bipartisan panel looked into spending on helping businesses rebuild, dealing with damage to state park facilities, fixing roads and bridges and working on creeks, rivers and other waterways. No one confessed to "sticker shock," as was the case at a previous meeting, but Holberg said legislators want to make sure the money is being well spent.
"I think it would be irresponsible to approve more money than is absolutely needed," she said, emphasizing the need to focus the spending on disaster-related damage. Several members questioned new language in Dayton's proposed bill that appears to allow a funds from a business-assistance program to spent "to prevent the loss of jobs or other catastrophes."
Holberg said state officials are going through dozens of requests for assistance, and not all may be equally deserving. She mentioned one request from a home day-care center for $50,000 to replace damaged flooring, which she said might be excessive.
The floods of June caused widespread damage in Duluth and northeastern Minnesota, as well as parts of central Minnesota, and the bill also addresses a separate windstorm that damaged forests in northern Minnesota. Dayton said he hopes to meet with legislative leaders on Friday to begin ironing out an agreement for a brief, limited special session to pass the disaster relief bill.
