A newsletter for legislators, city officials and Minnesota residents from all corners of the state on the issues that impact our communities.
Insufficient land use planning adds up in road maintenance costs
Baldwin Township, an exurban township that grew by leaps and bounds during the housing boom and fell just as hard after the market crashed, has been a focus of land use discussions on MPR’s Ground Level blog. Without a growth plan focused on compact development, subdivisions popped out of Baldwin’s corn fields in a scattered manner, and consequently miles of new paved roads were needed to transport residents.
Local Government Renewable Energy Grant application process now open
The Minnesota Department of Commerce Office of Energy Security (OES) requests proposals from Minnesota school districts and local governments for the Local Government Renewable Energy Grant Program funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 Grants will be awarded competitively to eligible school districts and local governments.
City of Austin plans for safe disposal of unused prescriptions
This session, CGMC monitored legislation (S.F.1568/H.F. 1217) that aimed to create better mechanisms for disposing unused prescription medications. Unused pharmaceuticals are often flushed down toilets or buried in landfills and can seep into drinking water sources. Originally, this legislation would have placed the burden of safe disposal on drug manufacturers and wholesalers, but was subsequently revised to shift the responsibility to local law enforcement officers and the MPCA.
