Committee backs work group approach for Hartman memorial state park, advances bill to State Government

Representative Fisher moved House File 3643 with a DE3 amendment that deleted the section formally naming a state park and instead created the Melissa and Mark Hartman Memorial State Park working group, charged with defining boundaries, responsibilities and funding. The committee adopted the DE3 amendment by voice vote.

Fisher told the committee the work group would bring together administration staff, the historical society, the DNR and other stakeholders to ‘‘figure out all those details’’—who would handle permitting, which program would be responsible, and where funds would come from—and to report back before the next session. "What this work group does is ... figure out all those details along with the boundary," Fisher said.

Bob Meyer, assistant commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, testified remotely in support and described coordination with the administration. "We have been working with him the entire administration in a one Minnesota approach," Meyer said, expressing the agency’s intent to return with a refined proposal next session.

After testimony and closing remarks, the committee approved re‑referring the amended bill to the State Government Committee by voice vote.