Anoka County files suit over plan to build $6.2M Rum River Dam pedestrian bridge

Anoka County is suing the Minnesota Department of Transportation to block $6.2 million of transportation grant money from going toward a pedestrian bridge over the Rum River Dam in Anoka.

The bridge, championed by DFL House Leader Rep. Zack Stephenson, would be just the first piece of a larger installation that would eventually include a lock for boats and a whitewater surfing area. The estimated cost for the entire project is $55 million.

RELATED: Surfing on the Rum River? Anoka wants to turn dam into whitewater attraction

In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature established a 0.75% transportation sales tax to fund county projects like road replacements and safety fixes.

Anoka County Attorney Brad Johnson claims Stephenson misused the legislative process to divert more than half of the county’s share of that tax revenue to the City of Anoka for a “pet project” rather than to address infrastructure projects that benefit the county at large.

“Anoka County will be irreparably harmed if those funds are transferred to the City of Anoka,” the lawsuit states. “Once the subject funds leave MnDOT’s possession, those funds will be lost to Anoka County forever and Anoka County will never be able to use them for county projects that will have a county-wide benefit.”

A debate on funding

A spokesperson for Stephenson declined to comment on the lawsuit and instead pointed out that the measure was included as part of a larger transportation bill, which passed with bipartisan support in both chambers of the Legislature.

However, during debate on the House floor back in June, Republicans representing Anoka County staunchly opposed the use of the county’s transportation funds to finance a third pedestrian crossing over the Rum River within a quarter-mile span.

“This is only the beginning of a very, very large project for which there is no money,” said House Floor Leader Rep. Harry Niska, R-Ramsey. “It is absolutely ridiculous that we are telling Anoka County that they have to begin spending money on a project … that Anoka County does not want to spend its money on.”

Rep. Peggy Scott, R-Andover, added that the bill was “robbing” Anoka County without its consultation.

Stephenson countered that the measure was vetted in committee and had support when it originally came to the House floor, but a new version of the transportation bill cut $114 million, forcing the funds to come out of the county’s cut of the transportation sales tax.

He also rejected the notion that there was “no money” for completing the full Rum River Dam complex and that more funds would be appropriated over time.

“There are many projects throughout the Legislature that we fund on a staged basis. That is a very common practice here. We’re getting the ball moving,” Stephenson said.

Niska’s amendment to cut the Rum River Dam pedestrian bridge out of the transportation bill ultimately failed.
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