GUEST Column

BY DISTRICT 54B REP. TONY JURGENS

Jurgens sponsors

Hastings Veterans Home rebuild legislation

This week, I was pleased to meet with Hastings Veterans Home officials, as well as Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs representatives, to discuss the future of the Hastings Veterans Home.

As many of you know, the Hastings Veterans Home has served veterans for a long time and is in need of an upgrade. This is why I’m sponsoring capital investment legislation that would allocate $59.6 million to the Hastings campus in order to create a new facility. The proposal is already in the governor’s capital investment plan, and I am hoping House leadership will soon recognize the need for new grounds as well.

To be clear, this $59.6 million would not cover all construction costs. In fact, it only covers the state contribution of 35%. But the hope is with the state showing it is ready to make the investment in our veterans, the federal government will follow suit with the remaining 65% – which is the usual breakdown between the federal and state government construction costs of veterans homes.

I’m looking forward to helping move the Hastings Veterans Home bill forward this session, and will keep you updated on its progress.

I’m also chief author on a request for a $1 million grant to Dakota County to design an addition to the Dakota County Law Enforcement Center in Hastings. The Dakota County Law Enforcement Center population includes inmates with serious health needs. A jail addition will house 24–30 inmates with physical, mental or behavioral needs that require specialized care, and it will provide dedicated space for female inmates.