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The city earlier this week obtained a $4.28 million state loan to front the cost of building the federally mandated radium-filtration plants, which are under construction now. Now — for the third straight year — Goodview leaders are eyeing water-rate increases to repay the loan amid uncertainty over a $3 million federal earmark they hoped would cover much of that cost.
Federal lawmakers authorized the earmark in November 2007, but Congress must appropriate the funds before they reach Goodview, which may not happen anytime soon. In today’s economic climate, Congress faces “a very tough budgeting environment” for appropriations like the Goodview funding, said a spokeswoman for Rep. Tim Walz, DFL-Minn.
Mayor Jack Weimerskirch also isn’t holding his breath for the federal earmark authorized last year thanks to support from Minnesota lawmakers such as Walz and Sens. Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar. But the money still must be appropriated, and Weimerskirch said earmarks in general are viewed suspiciously by many legislators.
“We look at it as funding of an unfunded federal mandate,” Weimerskirch said. “But it’s still looked at as an earmark, and it has all those dirty connotations.”
Minnesota’s Public Facilities Authority is issuing the low-interest loan to Goodview for the filtration plants, which must be in place by June 2009 per an Environmental Protection Agency directive to lower radium levels in Goodview’s drinking water.
A 2004 state report found gross alpha emitters and radium 226 and 228 exceeding the drinking water standard in Goodview. Some people who drink water containing radium-226/228 or gross alpha emitters in excess of standards over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer, according to the EPA.
Weimerskirch said the city council hasn’t discussed how much it may increase water rates for 2009. Goodview officials increased water rates by 25 percent in 2008.
Mark Sommerhauser may be reached at (507) 453-3514 or at msommerhauser@winonadailynews.com.
therealdeal wrote on Oct 24, 2008 7:53 AM: