Local cities to benefit through new training programs

With communities across southern Minnesota experiencing a shortage of water and wastewater operators, the Southeastern Minnesota League of Municipalities (SEMLM), worked with legislators this past legislative session to come up with a solution to address the issue.
It’s why during the legislative session, SEMLM worked with legislators to pass a $350,000 appropriation to be administered by the city of Austin, in order to create two new training programs at Riverland Community College, one for water facility operators, and the other for wastewater facility operators, according to a press release.
The legislation was sponsored by state Rep. Patricia Mueller R— Austin, and state Sen. John Jasinski R— Faribault, while state Sen. Gene Dornink “worked with the SEMLM and other senators during many steps of the legislative process,” the press release stated.
“Reaching out to cities all the way from La Crescent to Luverne, and to their legislators, the SEMLM built a broad and strong base of bi-partisan legislative support for inclusion of the request in the Senate and House Jobs Omnibus bill passed by both houses, and recently signed by Governor Walz,” the press release stated.
According to a press release from the organization, the programs will follow training guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health for water facilities and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for wastewater facilities.
“Riverland Community College has a long history of providing customized programs for city services, such as firefighter and EMT training,” the release stated. “Riverland’s President Kathleen Linaker is very pleased to have Riverland continue to expand their services to communities throughout southern Minnesota. She views this as a core function for the college.”