Regional jail included in House GOP bill, other area projects left out

By Brad Swenson

Pioneer Staff Writer

      Funding for a regional jail won Minnesota House Republican support, while new school construction funds at Red Lake didn’t.

      But on the latter, hope was placed on legislative approval of a state/tribal casino which could provide funding.

      The House GOP state building projects bill released Tuesday provides nearly $30 million in projects for Bemidji, but zeroed out funding for two projects in Beltrami County while penciling in the regional jail slated for Walker.

      In a bill carried by Rep. Doug Lindgren, R-Bagley, $33 million was requested for Red Lake Middle School and High School construction, as part of a phased schools construction project.

      Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty had recommended $22.13 million toward the project, while the House K-12 Finance Committee recommended $16.7 million.

      “They’re still finishing the project from two years ago,” House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon, said Tuesday. “I don’t think that’s quite completed yet.”

      The Red Lake School District won $12.4 million in 2002 bonding. The district, however, had requested $40.1 million to expand an early childhood center, expand Red Lake and Ponemah Elementary schools and renovating both Red Lake Middle and High schools.

      “The idea was we’d better finish that project before we go ahead and do another one,” Sviggum said.

      The House has supported a measure to allow slot machines at the privately held Canterbury Park, called the “racino,” but Sviggum said he personally supports a bill which would allow a northern Twin Cities casino in partnership with the state and the Red Lake and White Earth bands of Chippewa.

      Sviggum said he is a co-author of that bill, authored by Rep. Bill Haas, R-Champlin.

      “My hope is that we can get the Red Lake and White Earth bands self-sufficient with gaming activity,” Sviggum said.

      “Some type of gaming revenues will be forthcoming to this state,” the speaker said. “Whether that’s a renegotiation of the compact, or the casino, or Caesar’s (a private casino proposal), some competitive gaming revenues will be forthcoming.”

      Pawlenty earlier this year broached the idea of reopening negotiations with the state’s American Indian tribes. Gaming compacts with the state, however, were made in perpetuity without renewal dates.

      “Generally speaking, the citizens of Minnesota are saying that a monopoly that pays no tax and goes on forever is not acceptable now,” Sviggum said. “It may have been 15 years ago, but not now. You even hear the Democrats saying that, who tend to be wholly owned by the Indian casinos.”

      The House GOP bill includes $6 million for a “North Central Correctional Facility,” which is essentially a regional jail to be built at the current site of Ah-Gwah-Ching Nursing Home south of Walker.

      The bill, carried by Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker, would allow a regional jail operated by Cass County. Several surrounding counties, including Beltrami County, have indicated a desire to study the issue but have yet to commit to it.

      “I encouraged Rep. Howes to change the name from Cass County Regional Jail, because the question becomes, what role does the state play in county jails,” Rep. Doug Fuller, R-Bemidji, said Tuesday.

      “If you fund a county jail, it opens the door to other county jails,” said Fuller, who represents northern Cass County. “But in Rep. Howes’ defense, the state is going to own the facility and pay for half of it. The county will run it.”

      As a state-owned facility, it will be different than other regional jails, Fuller said.

      The House GOP, however, failed to fund another Howes request, for a Walker Community Center. Not on the governor’s list, a House panel had recommended $200,000, which would have had to be matched with $800,000 from non-state sources.

      A bill by Lindgren asking for $1.6 million for a Big Bog State Recreation Area visitor center at Waskish also wasn’t funded in the GOP bill.

      The House Capital Investment Committee is expected take action on the $683.5 million building projects bill today, with House floor action next week. The DFL Senate will release its package after the House passes its version.