County Spends Extra $14 Million to Make Bridge Look Really Cool
Written by Jeff Johnson
Thursday, 12 November 2009 14:44
Golden Hydrant goes to Lowry Avenue Bridge
We’re in the midst of budget hearings and property tax discussions on the Hennepin County Board, so it’s been awhile since I last awarded a Golden Fire Hydrant, but I can’t pass this one up. The newest Hydrant goes to the Board’s decision to spend an extra $14 million to make the new Lowry Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis a “signature” bridge - meaning it will look much fancier than most other bridges in Minnesota.
A little background:
The Lowry Avenue Bridge was built in 1905 and spans the Mississippi at Lowry Avenue in North Minneapolis. For over 100 years, the bridge carried motorists over the Mississippi almost uninterrupted until it was closed last year based upon the discovery that one of the bridge piers had shifted.
After that discovery, the county appropriately decided that the old bridge was no longer structurally safe and needed to be demolished and rebuilt.
In 2008, the Board was asked to approve one of two options for the new Lowry Avenue Bridge. One option, a “concrete box” design, would look much like most other bridges in the state of Minnesota. The other option, a “tied arch” design, was described as a “signature” bridge, one that would look quite beautiful and unique. Both bridges would be equally functional and safe.
Senators Franken and Klobuchar, both on the Senate Finance Committee, vote on Obamacare this week. Call them and tell them to Vote "NO" on Obamacare.
You can reach Sen. Franken's office at 202-224-5641 and Sen. Klobuchar's office at 202-224-3244.
Results and Speeches from the Gubernatorial Forum & Straw Poll
Written by Chris Walden
Monday, 14 September 2009 23:33
Thank you to all who attended last week's Gubernatorial Candidate Forum and Straw Poll held at Cambria Suites in Maple Grove. Over 100 people were in attendance to hear soap-box speeches from all nine Republican candidates. The speeches are posted below for those who could not attend.
99 ballots were cast in the straw poll, with the following results:
Tom Emmer 34, Pat Anderson 15, Marty Seifert 9, Paul Kohls 7, David Hann 6, Mike Jungbauer 4, Bill Haas 3, Phil Herwig 2, and Leslie Davis 2. There were 17 undecided votes.
