Members of the Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee listened alongside Waseca Community leaders to a presentation requesting $8.9 million for inflow and infiltration repairs to infrastructure along with $1 million toward a water tower.
Waseca requests $8.9 million during committee visit
Thu, 11/13/2025 - 2:00am
"This is our number one priority." - Senator Jasinski
On Wednesday, Nov. 5, members of the House Capital Investment Committee began their fourth regional tour of the fall, visiting communities in southeast Minnesota. Their fourth stop of the day was the city of Waseca where they visited with local community leaders at Clear Lake Park pavilion.
City leaders presented a request supported by the County of Waseca, for $8.9 million for inflow and infiltration (I & I) repairs to water systems and $1 million for the water tower.
A purpose of the bipartisan tour was to gather information regarding possible infrastructure projects around the state; projects will be considered for inclusion in a 2026 Capital Investment bill.
The week’s tours included stops in Apple Valley, Lakeville, Northfield, Faribault, Waseca, Albert Lea, Austin, Rochester, Forestville, Winona, Wabasha, Hastings, Newport, and South St. Paul. In addition to these stops, the committee heard presentations on projects from the entire region.
Nearly 100 community leaders, along with local State Senator John Jasinski, State House Member Tom Sexton, and elected city and county representatives were on hand to greet committee members and talk about Waseca’s need for I & I funds.
“This is our number one priority,” Senator Jasinski told the crowd Wednesday. “This has to be the priority. It is not fair to the residents of Waseca to have raw sewage pumped into their lake. We want to make this a priority and get this done.”
“This is personal to me because I've been here since 1980 living the problem and working the problem,” said Waseca city manager Carl Sonnenberg said.
Sonnenberg called the need urgent, stating a total of about 8 million gallons of sewage were released at five different locations in 2025. Local residents also experienced contaminated water in their basements.
The other need is funds to either replace or renovate the 500,000 City Hall water tower, built in 1954.
Also speaking on Wednesday were Waseca Chamber of Commerce and Tourism President Mikhail Rostislavovich, Waseca Mayor Randy Zimmerman, Michael Corchran, incoming Kielser’s Campground owner and Waseca Councilwoman Stacey Schroeder.
“These are true infrastructure needs,” Senator Jasinski concluded. “This is very important this bonding season. A turnout like this, you understand the importance this has to our community.”