House votes unanimously to end CLRSD

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The Minnesota House unanimously approved legislation Tuesday that directs and creates a pathway for the Central Lakes Regional Sewer District (CLRSD) to dissolve.

State Representative Torrey Westrom, R-Elbow Lake, initially drafted legislation to allow for disbandment of the CLRSD. In the meantime, the six townships that were a part of the sanitary district each voted to dissolve their involvement.

Westrom’s original bill was then amended, adding clarity to how the district will be dissolved, how assets will be dealt with, how liabilities will be paid, and who has what responsibility and options to pay those liabilities.

The bill (SF 1489) also details how town boards may take action to dissolve this sanitary district, which was formed in 2003.

Representatives from the CLRSD board, townships officers and residents who were part of the citizen opposition groups all testified in favor of this amended bill as it passed through House committees.

"I wanted ‘buy-in’ from all of the concerned parties as a condition of carrying this bill,” Westrom said. “I was glad to see all of them find common ground in supporting this legislation.”

Westrom added that the decision to dissolve the sewer district came down to supporting the interests of the citizens and township residents.

“Nobody supports failing sewers systems, but there was real concern over the cost of this style of a proposed sewer system expressed by taxpayers,” he said.

Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, carried the Senate version, which unanimously passed prior to the House’s action. Representative Mary Ellen Otremba, DFL-Long Prairie, co-authored Westrom's bill.

The bill now will be presented to Governor Tim Pawlenty for his approval.

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