There are 10 members of the Transportation Conference Committee who may have to vote on MnDOT's proposed repeal of the Coldwater preservation law. The new law, which went into effect May 16, protects the flow of water to and from the spring. Five committee legislators voted for the Coldwater bill, three voted against, two cast no vote. The Senate voted unanimously in favor of protecting Coldwater. In the House the vote was 110 for and 20 against-- so we had broad bi-partisan support.

Preserve Camp Coldwater Coalition Lobby Team leader Mary Weitz advises us to concentrate on the first four senators. If three senators vote against the repeal, that is, if three senators vote FOR Coldwater, the spring is saved from that committee. (MnDOT might try another committee.)

Please call or email the first four legislators (really the first six folks) to thank them for their support and ask them to hold onto their support for Coldwater. Be respectful; anything less hurts
Coldwater.

Coldwater is the Birthplace of Minnesota and the largest limestone bedrock spring in the Twin Cities, flowing at 140,000 gallons a day. The spring is more than 10,000 years old. The new highway is designed to last, at most, 50 years.

We have been told Elwin Tinklenberg, MnDOT commissioner, claims these legislators will do MnDOT's bidding regardless of how they voted on the Coldwater bill. Legislators might be interested in the fact that MnDOT repeatedly guaranteed "no adverse impact" at the November 18, 2000, Lower Minnesota River Watershed District meeting before they were granted a construction permit for the 55/62 interchange stormwater pond.

The stormwater pond and a bridge abutment seem to be the two sensitive points for the flow to Coldwater. Official minutes of the permit hearing state: "MnDOT stated that they guaranteed there would be no adverse impact and if there were any, at any time in the future, MnDOT would make whatever changes are necessary to eliminate that impact." This and other written guarantees have been ignored according to Eric Evenson, administrator for the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District which is responsible for the health and well-being of Coldwater Spring.

The Coldwater law has not stopped construction. Dewatering has been stopped however highway construction continues. LRT plans are not impacted by the Coldwater legislation although MnDOT has made such claims. The intent of the Coldwater law is to grant historic protection to the Camp Coldwater Spring area and to protect the flow to the spring.

Transportation Conference Committee
1. Sen. Dean Johnson, DFL, Willmar, ranking committee Democrat, voted for the Coldwater legislation,
sen.dean.johnson@senate.leg.state.mn.us 651-296-3826

2. Sen. Randy Kelly, conservative Democrat running for mayor in St. Paul, did not vote on Coldwater bill, perhaps absent,
sen.randy.kelly@senate,leg.state.mn.us 651-296-5285

3. Sen. Roy Terwilliger, R, Edina, voted for,
sen.roy.terwilliger@senate.leg.state.mn.us 651-296-6238

4. Sen. Jane Ranum, DFL, Minneapolis, Coldwater is in her district, voted for
sen.jane.ranum@senate.leg.state.mn.us 651-297-8061

5. Rep. Mary Murphy, DFL, Hermantown, Assistant Minority Leader, voted for
rep.mary.murphy@house.leg.state.mn.us 651-296-2676

6. Rep. Rich Stanek, R, Maple Grove, voted for
rep.rich.stanek@house.leg.state.mn.us 651-296-5502

7. Rep. Tom Workman, R, Chanhassen, voted against, rep.tom.workman@house.leg.state.mn.us 651-296-5066

8. Rep. Carol Molnau, R, Chaska, Assistant Minority Leader, ranking Republican on the committee, voted against the Coldwater bill,
rep.carol.molnau@house.leg.state.mn.us 651-296-8872

9. Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, R, Lakeville, Assistant Majority Leader, voted against
rep.maryliz.holberg@house.leg.state.mn.us 651-296-6926

10. Sen. Mark Ourada, R, Buffalo, did not vote, perhaps absent,
sen.mark.ourada@senate.leg.state.mn.us 651-296-5981

Researched and written by Susu Jeffrey for Preserve Camp Coldwater Coalition.