There’s been a growing concern in the metro area over the role of the Met Council. Formed in the 1960s, the Met Council is a 17 member board appointed by the governor. Over time, their role has expanded from wastewater management to include transportation, parks, urban planning and housing.
On Wednesday, Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) and Chair of the House Government Operations and Elections Policy Committee Tim Sanders (R-Blaine) announced the formation of a new Subcommittee on Metropolitan Council Accountability and Transparency.
“We are forming this subcommittee to hold the Met Council accountable and ensure they are meeting the needs of people in the metro area,” said Speaker Daudt. “This unelected board has grown more powerful over the decades, and legislators want to ensure that the Met Council is listening to the needs of all its constituents both in the cities and suburbs, providing the services for which they were given authority.”
The seven counties in the metropolitan area are Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington…Members appointed to serve on the committee include Chair Linda Runbeck, Rep. Jim Nash, Rep. Tony Albright, Rep. Kelly Fenton, Rep. Laurie Halverson, Rep. Carolyn Laine and Rep. Yvonne Selcer. All members appointed to the subcommittee live within the jurisdiction of the Met Council.
This new sub-committee will cover a policy area highly important to BATC. We’ve already had conversations regarding the Met Council with several legislators and looks forward to being engaged in these policy discussions’.
