ST. PAUL -- Three Minnesota senators say current flooding in their area proves Gov. Jesse Ventura made a mistake when he withheld spending $15 million for flood prevention projects.
"Given the damage that has been caused this week by heavy rainfall in northwestern Minnesota, it's clear that these flood prevention projects need to move forward quickly," Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon, said.
Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe, DFL-Erskine, and Sen. LeRoy Stumpf, DFL-Thief River Falls, joined Langseth in sending a letter to Ventura protesting his decision last month to withhold $15 million in flood prevention funds.
The Legislature approved spending $30 million for flood prevention statewide, but the governor said the state's slumping economy meant he had to cut back spending.
Projects likely to get the $15 million Ventura authorized are in East Grand Forks and Warren, but other projects that would protect the entire Red River Valley would not get funded, Langseth said.
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"We are right in the middle," he said of flood prevention efforts, and funding needs to continue for a couple more years to complete anti-flood work inspired by the 1997 floods.
Ventura spokesman Paul Moore said the funds are "not the kind of money that is going to help right now."
Moore said he may have a response from the governor today.
Langseth said Ventura would not have to authorize spending the $15 million before his trade mission concludes, but "I would hope that as soon as he gets home, he would release it."
It is important to free up the money this summer so work can begin on the anti-flood projects this year, the senator said.
Langseth said the letter was sent Wednesday because the public "would have a better understanding right now for the need of prevention."
If the governor releases the $15 million, future Minnesota legislators still would consider another $4.5 million for a project in Breckenridge, $13 million for an East Grand Forks project and another $2.5 million, Langseth said.
"We have made a lot of plans here and we are moving," the senator said, "but I'm always nervous that it is going to be too late."
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Readers can reach Forum reporter Don Davis at (651) 290-0707
