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Bill that looks for solutions <br /> <br />to development passes House <br /> <br />By John Welsh <br />TIMES STAFF WRITER <br /> <br /> ST. PAUL-- A bill requesting Central <br />Minnesota's government agencies to <br />look into solutions <br />for regional growth <br />problems easily <br />passed the Min- <br />nesota House of <br />Representatives <br />on Monday. <br /> Written by Rep. <br />Joe Opatz, DFL-St. <br />Cloud, and co-writ. <br />ten by four other Rep. Joe Opatz <br /> CO-WROTE BILL <br />local representa- <br />fives, the measure passed by a vote of <br />110-21. The Senate already is consider- <br />lng a companion bill, but no committee <br />hearing has been scheduled. <br /> Opam's bill requests that the St. Cloud <br />Area Planning Organization study growth <br /> <br />ismes such as the need for the possible <br />consolidation of local government bodies <br />or the redrawing of county borders around <br />St. Cloud. The bills asks that the APO, <br />which already has begun such a study, sol> <br />mit its report to local lawmakem <br /> Opposition to the bill came from <br />Republicans, many of whom have <br />expressed fears about regional govern. <br />ments being established in the Twin <br />Cities. One opponent, Big Lake's Rep. <br />Mark Olson, said the bill wasn't needed <br />since the APO already can do such a <br />study. He said he opposed any measure <br />that would consolidate counties. <br /> "Once it was established that we didn't <br />need the legislation, I felt comfortable <br />voting against it," Olson said. <br /> But another Republican, Rochester's <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />LEGISLATURE <br /> <br />Rep. Dave Bishop, <br />asked if the bill might provide a model for <br />other Minnesota titles experiencing rapid <br />growth. Noting that last year's merger of <br />St. Cloud and St. Cloud Township put an <br />end to a decades-long dispute between <br />the two jurisdictions, Bishop said Central <br />Minnesota might provide an example for <br />the rest of the state. <br /> "I know you had in St. Cloud one of <br />the most difficult conflicts," said Bishop, <br />who introduced a bill last year to elimi- <br />nate all of the state's townships. "Will <br />this structure be something Winona or <br />Mankato can use?" <br /> But 0para said he wasn't sure the leg- <br />islafion would work for other areas. He <br />said the bill's scope was limited, and any <br />growth solutions would have to come <br />from local residents. <br /> "All we are doing here is making a <br />request," he said. "There is no mandate." <br /> <br /> <br />