Politics & Government

Masin, Morgan Push for $15 Million Investment in Minnesota Zoo

Keep track of local politics with Patch's weekly southeast metro legislative review.

A proposal to appropriate $15,000,000 for improvements to the Minnesota Zoo has the support of Rep. Sandra Masin (51A, DFL). Masin is listed as a co-author on HF 928, authored by District 56B Rep. Will Morgan (DFL). Under the bill's provisions, the money would be used to improve the infrastructure and exhibits at the zoo.

In other political news from around the southeast metro:

District 20 (Northfield)

Rep. David Bly (20B, DFL) believes the food and agricultural systems in Minnesota are in need of improvement, which is why Bly authored HF 874, which would establish a 20-member Minnesota Food Council responsible for communication, research and reporting of policy recommendations to improve the food system in Minnesota, with a special eye toward sustainability. Commissioners on the council would be drawn from the University of Minnesota, stakeholder groups and House and Senate committees.

Find out what's happening in Apple Valley-Rosemountwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

District 52 (Mendota Heights, Inver Grove Heights)

Rep. Rick Hansen (52A, DFL) wants to impose stricter regulations on silica sand mining operations in Minnesota. Hansen authored a proposal, HF 906, that would require the Environmental Quality Board to develop standards and criteria for mining, processing and transporting silica sand—used in fracking operations. The criteria would be used by local governments to develop ordinances, and would include setback restrictions, groundwater monitoring, dust control, mandated inspections and reclamation plans.

District 56 (Burnsville)

District 56B Rep. Will Morgan (DFL) has authored a proposal to appropriate $15,000,000 for improvements to the Minnesota Zoo. HF 928, introduced on Feb. 25, also has the support of Rep. Sandra Masin (51A, DFL). Under the bill's provisions, the money would be used to improve the infrastructure and exhibits at the zoo.

Find out what's happening in Apple Valley-Rosemountwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

District 57 (Apple Valley, Rosemount)

Sen. Greg D. Clausen (57, DFL) has backed a bill that would protect the mailing addresses, email addresses and other online contact information of volunteers participating in community crime prevention programs. The proposal, SF 681, would classify that information as "non-public" data, which means it could not be retrieved through data requests or inquiries.

District 58 (Lakeville)

Forgot to load up on booze before your big Super Bowl party on Sunday? That may not be a problem, if a proposal authored by Rep. Pat Garofalo (58B, R) is approved. The bill, HF 912, would allow Sunday liquor sales at on-sale and off-sale businesses on Feb. 2, 2014—the date of next year's Super Bowl.

Editor's Note: Each week, Patch publishes a legislative review recapping the efforts of a selection of state legislators from across Dakota County. Check back next week for additional updates.


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