As I'm writing this, former President Bill Clinton and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty are shaking hands on C-SPAN during a meeting of the National Governors Association. Pawlenty was very complimentary of President Clinton.

Just thought that was interesting. Not surprising, but interesting.

Good speech by the former president, too.

A press release written by Dane Smith, president of Growth & Justice:

There’s much ado these days about our crumbling public infrastructure, focused understandably on bridges, highways and even the falling slabs on the façade of the Minnesota Department of Transportation Building in St. Paul.

But neglect of public structures also is hitting home, literally.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty line-item vetoed the state bonding bill today, but to the relief of local officials, kept $1 million in for the Scott County Public Safety Training Center.

The training center, which is already partially built with local and state funding and ready to begin operations, wasn't part of the governor's bonding proposal. It was only included in the senate's bonding legislation, but still made it into the final bill agreed to by the House and Senate. The center is located at the historic Mudbaden site in Sand Creek Township.

The city of Jordan is reapplying for a grant it failed to receive last year from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

If the city is successful, the DNR’s local trail connection program would provide a 50-50 matching grant for a proposed trail system that includes a proposed trail along County Road 66 (aka Old Highway 169) in Jordan that recently escalated in price by about $20,000.

City Planner Casey MacCallum said a retaining wall is necessary along a segment of the county road.

A press release from the Office of the Governor of Minnesota:

ST. PAUL -- Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty this week released his bonding proposal for the 2008 legislative session, putting a strong focus on transportation infrastructure and statewide investment priorities that will yield significant long-term benefits. 

The proposal calls for $965 million in general obligation bonding, with a total of $1.09 billion when user-financed bonds, trunk highway bonds, and cash amounts are included. 

A press release from the Office of the Governor of Minnesota:

A press release from the office of State Rep. Loren Solberg, DFL-Grand Rapids:

From the Office of the Governor of Minnesota:

This is a follow-up to an earlier blog of mine. Read it at http://www.jordannews.com/node/5127.