Saint Paul, Minnesota — The Minnesota House of Representatives today released the full agenda for the mini-session being held October 2-4, 2019 in southeastern Minnesota. The mini-session events will take place in the City of Winona and surrounding communities. Fourteen mini-sessions occurred from 1987-1997, with this year marking the 30th anniversary of the 1989 mini-session in Winona.
“Minnesotans deserve a Legislature that is easy to connect with and that listens,” said Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman. “The mini-session is part of our ongoing effort to make the Legislature more accessible and responsive to Minnesotans. The Minnesota House of Representatives is looking forward to spending time with people from southeastern Minnesota. I’m also hopeful that we’ll further a bipartisan spirit with Democrats and Republicans traveling together to listen and learn.”
“Returning to the tradition of mini-sessions will help to better bring the experiences of Minnesotans from outside of the Twin Cities to the Legislature,” said Rep. Gene Pelowski (DFL-Winona). “The hearings, tours, and presentations being held in Winona and the surrounding communities aim to highlight the economic needs of southeastern Minnesota, and I look forward to sharing our city with my colleagues.”
Wednesday, October 2
Austin Day Trip |
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| Time | Committees | Event Description | Location |
| 10:00am-12:30pm | Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy | Tour of the Hormel plant and Hormel Institute.* | Hormel Plant
1101 Main St N, Austin, MN 55912 Hormel Institute 801 16th Ave NE, Austin, MN 55912 |
| 10:00am-12:30pm | Capital Investment
Environment and Natural Resources Finance Environment and Natural Resources Policy |
Bonding and Environment tour stops: Riverland Community College; Austin Wastewater Treatment Plant; and Cedar River Watershed District Phase 2 Implementation projects. Presentations and drive-by of 4th Ave Riverview State Water Trail Enhancement and Ramsey Scientific and Natural Area Site Improvements.* | Riverland Community College 1900 8th Ave NW, Austin, MN 55912 Wastewater Treatment Plant, 1205 Main Street S., Austin, MN 55912 CRWD project stops at locations surrounding Austin. Drive-by: Ramsey Dam, 3620 11th Place NE, Austin and 4th Ave, 689 4th Ave NE, Austin, MN |
| 10:00am-12:30pm | Higher Education Finance and Policy | Tour of Riverland Community College and Hormel Institute.* | Riverland Community College
1900 8th Ave NW, Austin, MN 55912 Hormel Institute 801 16th Ave NE, Austin, MN 55912 |
| 10:00am-12:30pm | Education Finance
Education Policy |
Tours of local area schools in Austin and Riverland Community College.* | Riverland Community College
1900 8th Ave NW, Austin, MN 55912 Sumner Elementary School 805 8th Ave NW, Austin, MN 55912 Austin High School 301 3rd St NW, Austin, MN 55912 |
| 10:00am-12:30pm | Subcommittee on Elections | Public hearing on the 2020 Census preparation and redistricting. | Austin City Hall, 500 4thAve NE, Austin, MN 55912 |
| 12:30pm-1:30pm | All members and staff | Member lunch at Steve’s Pizza.* | 421 Main St N, Austin, MN 55912 |
| 2:30pm-4:30pm | Water Division
Environment and Natural Resources Finance Environment and Natural Resources Policy |
Tour of Niagara Cave
Discussion of Karst Region* |
29842 Co Hwy 30, Harmony, MN 55939 |
Rochester Day Trip |
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| Time | Committees | Event Description | Location |
| 12:00pm-1:45pm | Health and Human Services Finance
Health and Human Services Policy Long-Term Care |
Health education workforce tour at the Mayo Clinic.* | University of Minnesota-Rochester Campus, 111 S. Broadway, Room 417
Rochester, MN 55904 |
| 2:00pm-4:00pm | Health and Human Services Finance
Health and Human Services Policy Long-Term Care |
Public informational hearing on Prescription Drug Prices | University of Minnesota-Rochester Campus, 111 S. Broadway, Room 417
Rochester, MN 55904 |
| 12:00pm-4:00pm | Energy and Climate Finance and Policy | Public hearing on Rochester clean energy initiatives, tour of energy facilities.* | University of Minnesota-Rochester Campus, 111 S. Broadway, Room 417
Rochester, MN 55904 |
| 4:00pm-5:00pm | All Rochester Attendees | Tour of Mayo Clinic.* | 200 First St. SW
Rochester, MN 55905 |
| Winona | |||
| 6:30pm-9:00pm | All House members and limited staff | Reception at Winona History Center
All House members will attend a reception with a dinner, one hour program with local leaders addressing members, remarks from House leadership, and a one hour social hour with community booths set up. |
Winona County History Center
160 Johnson St Winona, MN 55987 |
Thursday, October 3
Winona |
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| Time | Committees | Event Description | Location |
| 8:00am-12:00pm | Education Finance Education Policy
Early Childhood Finance Higher Education |
Breakfast and a community conversation w/ Winona Senior High School teachers and students and WSU faculty and students. Tour of Education Village at Winona State University – a brand new education training center for early and secondary education.* | Winona High School
901 Gilmore Ave Winona, MN 55987 WSU Education Village 352 Center St Winona, MN 55987 |
| 9:00am-10:30am | Taxes
Property Taxes |
Public informational hearing at Winona City Hall on local property taxes, including testimony and discussion on what costs are increasing the most and the impact on the community. | Winona City Hall
207 Lafayette St. Winona, MN 55987 |
| 8:00am-12:00pm | Capital Investment | Tour Winona State University’s Gildemeister/Watkins Hall with presentation on Center for Interdisciplinary Collaboration project. Tour of the Education Village. Tour Minnesota State College-Southeast HEAPR needs. Tour Port of Winona, after viewing Harbor and possibly unloading of windmill blades, travel the Gateway to Levee Park meeting in the parking lot at 60 Main Street.* | WSU Education Village, 352 Center St, Winona, MN 55987.
Will walk to Gildemeister/Watkins Hall. Minnesota State College-SE: 1250 Homer Rd Winona, MN 55987
Winona Port, 978 Riverview Dr., Winona MN 55987. Levee Park, Riverfront Winona, MN 55987 |
| 8:00am-12:00pm | Jobs and Economic Development
Greater Minnesota Jobs and Economic Development |
Roundtable discussion open to the public with Project FINE and the REACH Program, focusing on economic and workforce development; tour of WSU’s Composite Materials Engineering Program; tour of RTP Co. Headquarters, a global compounder of custom engineered thermoplastics.* | Roundtable discussion: Winona Area Chamber of Commerce – 902 East Second Street, Suite 120, Winona, MN 55987
WSU Composite engineering program, 175 W Mark St Winona, MN 55987 RTP Co. 580 E Front St. Winona, MN 55987 |
| 8:00am-12:00pm | Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy |
Tour of the Winona County Courthouse followed by a round-table discussion with the State Court Administrator and judges from the 3rd Judicial district; topics will include the new District-wide Veterans’ Treatment Court; Juvenile Truancy Court program and Greater Minnesota’s access and growing need for Interpreter services. Following this event will be an open to the public round-table discussion with Winona County Attorney, and Chair of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to discuss Criminal Justice Reform in general in Greater Minnesota, the planning for a Family Treatment Court in Winona, the Juvenile Diversion program, re-entry programs and probation. The morning session will conclude with a brief discussion with WSU Criminal Justice Department Faculty about POST certification. | Winona County Courthouse
171 W 3rd St Winona, MN 55987 |
| 8:00am-12:00pm | Environment and Natural Resources Finance
Environment and Natural Resources Policy |
Cal Fremling Boat Tour on Mississippi River: Details to be finalized but will include presentation on the history of the floating classroom, presentations by U.S. Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Natural Resources, and presentations from Winona State University faculty and students on work done on Mississippi River. The boat will make a stop at an island and a lock and dam.* | Cal Fremling Floating Classroom event will take place on the Mississippi River |
| 8:00am-12:00pm | Health and Human Services Finance
Health and Human Services Policy Long-Term Care |
Public presentation on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) community education and trauma-informed services by Winona State University. Roundtable discussion with county human services staff regarding implementation of the Families First Prevention Services Act.
Tour of Hiawatha Bluffs Living, a supportive housing facility administered by the Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center.* Tour of the Friendship Center, a facility that supports the quality of life for older adults and is the only nationally accredited senior center in Minnesota.* |
Roundtable discussion: Winona County Office Building, 202 W 3rd St, Winona, MN 55987
Hiawatha Bluffs Living, 1433 W Service Dr, Winona, MN 55987 Winona Friendship Center, 251 Main St, Winona, MN 55987 |
| 8:00am-12:00pm | Transportation Finance and Policy | Tour various transportation sites across the city of Winona and surrounding region, including but not limited to: local county roads tour, Winona Port Authority, Winona Railway Station, among others.* | Tours will be throughout city of Winona |
| 12:30pm-1:30pm | All House members and staff |
Box lunch* |
Winona Friendship Center
251 Main St Winona, MN 55987 |
| 3:00pm-4:30pm | Taxes
Property Taxes |
Public informational hearing in the city of Caledonia on local property taxes, including testimony and discussion on what costs are increasing the most and the impact on the community. | Four Seasons Community Center
900 N Kingston St Caledonia, MN 55921 |
| 1:30pm-6:00pm | Education Finance
Education Policy Higher Education Finance and Policy |
Public community conversation about bridges to post-secondary education opportunities at Southeast Technical College.
Public community conversation about Higher Education at St. Mary’s University. |
Minnesota State College Southeast – Winona Campus
1250 Homer Rd, Winona, MN 55987 St. Mary’s University 700 Terrace Heights, Winona, MN 55987 |
| 1:30pm-6:00pm | Greater MN Jobs and Economic Development
Energy and Climate Finance and Policy |
Tour of the MiEnergy Cooperative in Rushford, MN.*
Following the tour will be two public roundtable discussions. The first will focus on broadband development and disaster aid, and the second will focus on energy policy and initiatives. |
MiEnergy Cooperative
31110 Cooperative Way, Rushford Village, MN 55971 |
| 1:30pm-6:00pm | Legacy Finance
Environment and Natural Resources Finance Environment and Natural Resources Policy |
Tours of: Winona History Center, Garvin Brook, Farmers Park (Lewiston, MN), a Clean Water Partnership Rain Garden.
Public roundtable discussion with community/student input on Pollinators and Plastics. |
Tours across Winona and surrounding area
Roundtable will be at Stark Hall Auditorium, 175 W Mark St, Winona, MN 55987 |
| 1:30pm-6:00pm | Transportation Finance and Policy | Cal Fremling boat tour of transportation sites, including a presentation on the new bridges in Winona and the Winona port.*
Public hearing at the Winona City Hall on local transportation issues in Winona and the SE Minnesota region. |
Informational hearing location: Winona City Hall
207 Lafayette St. Winona, MN 55987 |
| 1:30pm-6:00pm | Early Childhood Finance
Housing Finance Jobs and Economic Development |
Childcare in Greater Minnesota public hearing with presentations and testimony on the childcare shortage in Minnesota including informational overviews, economic impacts, and public testimony. Following the childcare discussion will be presentations from the city of Winona, Winona County and mental health providers to discuss housing issues in SE Minnesota. | Winona County History Center
160 Johnson St Winona, MN 55987 |
| 6:30pm-9:00pm | All House members and limited staff | Reception at Minnesota Marine Art Museum
All House members will attend a reception at the museum. |
Minnesota Marine Art Museum
800 Riverview Dr Winona, MN 55987 |
Friday, October 4
Winona |
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| Time | Committees | Event Description | Location |
| 8:00am-11:00am | Veterans and Military Affairs | Veterans Committee trip to visit/tour the Veterans Cemetery in Preston, MN.* | Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery – Preston
715 US-52, Preston, MN 55965 |
| 8:00am-11:00am | House Members TBD | Open community meet and greet at the city of Winona Bandshell. | On Lake Winona in Veterans Memorial Park, Winona, MN |
| 9:00am-11:00am | House Leadership and Ways and Means | Public meeting of House leadership and the Ways and Means committee members meet with City of Winona community leaders. | Winona City Hall, 207 Lafayette St., Winona, MN 55987 |
| 11:30am-1:30pm | All Members and Staff | Brunch with All House Members and Staff. | Winona State University – Tau Rotunda |
| 2:30pm-4:00pm | House Members and Staff | Depart from Winona for St. Paul. | |
| 3:30pm-5:30pm | TBD | Depart from Winona for Prairie Island Indian Community, topics to be covered are TBD. | |
*Due to site limitations, all tours are for legislators and staff only.
More information about previous mini-sessions is available here. A presentation about the history of mini-sessions given by Rep. Pelowski to the Greater Minnesota Jobs and Economic Development Division is available here.