Walz tours flood project, confident bonding bill will pass next week

Gov. Tim Walz toured a $25 million flood mitigation project in Henderson on Thursday while sounding hopeful a bonding bill can be passed by early next week along with a package of police reform measures.

Walz was joined by Minnesota Department of Transporation Commissioner Margaret Anderson Kelliher and several lawmakers in Henderson as they touted a project that could protect the town of just over 900 from frequent flooding. It’s just one of dozens of public building projects in a proposed $1.35 billion package.

"So we have a chance at historically low-interest rates," Walz said at a news conference near Highway 93, part of which could be raised eight feet in the planned flood mitigation. "We have an opportunity to try and get this right. I think the commitment is here to understand this. As Henderson goes, so goes Duluth. As Duluth goes, so goes Winona. As Winona goes, so goes St. Paul."

But not all Henderson residents support this particular project, fearing the cost estimate is too low and if the cost grows the project will get delayed.

"All the citizens of Henderson are for a flood mitigation effort, we just don’t believe this is the most effective cost option," Henderson resident Brendan Moore told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS.

Walz said he met with legislative leaders Thursday for lunch and is optimistic a compromise can be reached by next week on a bonding bill and police reform measures so the special session can end by Tuesday.