Legislative Platform
The McLeod For Tomorrow program has been created to develop a greater awareness of community, collaboration and shared vision for the future. The steering committee leading this effort sponsored two forums for elected and appointed officials of McLeod County for the purpose of identifying countywide priorities. In attendance were representatives from the county, cities, school districts, townships, SWCD, city chambers and economic development authorities.
The five items listed in this section were identified as the greatest challenges facing our county as a whole.
- Funding for K-12 Education
- Transportation
- Healthcare
- Energy / Natural Resources
- Economic Development
Funding for K-12 Education
Challenge
The students in rural Minnesota do not receive the same opportunities in education due to the inequity of funding for K-12 education from the state. Unfunded mandates, population shifts, tax base differences and increased operation and employee expenses are challenging rural school districts.
Consequences
- Outdated education system
- Request for more funding at local level
- Students further from schools
- Divided communities
- Educating students on a “shoe string”
Transportation
Challenge
Investment in transportation is not keeping up with the demand on the system and the system is aging. The cost of materials has out-paced the funding – we are just getting by maintaining what we have. Today’s “mobile society” results in more commuters from McLeod County to the metro area. The current design and infrastructure was not designed for the size and quantity of today’s traffic.
Consequences
- Increased fatalities
- “Road Rage” due to increased commute time
- More need for road repair
- Affect to businesses
- Deterioration of infra-structure
Healthcare
Challenge
The increasing costs of health care, the severe shortage of health care workers, and the rising number of elderly in rural communities are challenging health care providers, government agencies and McLeod County residents.
Consequences
- Individuals making choices if they can afford medical care
- Uninsured people
- Lack of quality care due to long hours by health care workers
- Missed appointments and missed medications
- Stress on the system and workers
- Stress on elderly, uninsured, and low income families
Energy / Natural Resources
Challenge
Creating workable, common sense renewable energy while creating workable, common sense natural resource conservation strategies. There is a need for more utilization of alternative sources such as wind and solar. Weak national energy policy, regulations not enforced as should be, the need for tighter emissions standard, and higher fuel economy standards contribute to the challenge.
Consequences
- Health impacts
- Destroyed environment
- Global warming
- Loss of wildlife
- Cost increase and benefit decrease
Economic Development
Challenge
A lack of high paying, diverse jobs in rural communities and a lack of jobs altogether in many small communities. Communities do not have the resources and assistance for economic development projects that would create jobs and increase the tax base.
Consequences
- Declining population of small towns
- Loss of main street businesses
- Out-migration of youth
- Affects funding for schools
- Reduction in critical services
- Extinction of “small town America”