Senate OKs Peace Garden building payment

BISMARCK — The Senate has restored money to a state parks budget to help the International Peace Garden build its new interpretive center.

The money is in House Bill 1019.

The Senate approved putting back $349,254 in state funds for a payment on the new interpretive center.

Sen. Karen Krebsbach, R-Minot, told senators that the House had passed the bill allowing the Peace Garden to spend the money for the interpretive center, “however they took it out of the parks and rec department, which we felt was not fair. So we restored that to the general fund.”

The Peace Garden’s CEO, Doug Hevenor, told the Senate Appropriations Committee last month that the money was important but he didn’t want to receive it at the expense of the parks department’s budget.

The budget also includes $86,600 for landscaping, walking path and road construction at the International Music Camp in the Peace Garden.

If federal stimulus funds are available, the bill provides the Parks and Recreation Department can spend $300,000 for a pedestrian bridge at Turtle River State Park near Grand Forks, $200,000 for the Turtle Mountain Scenic Byway’s trail acquisition and rehabilitation of the Civilian Conservation Corps building at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park.

The Senate approved the restoration in amendments passed by voice vote Monday, then passed the full bill on a 47-0 vote. The amendments also restored 2.5 new employee positions to the state Parks and Recreation Department, as well as salary equity money and funding for positions that are currently vacant at the department.

The House will have to accept the Senate amendments or send the bill to a conference committee for negotiations.

Cole works for Forum

Communications Co., which

owns The Jamestown Sun

Tags: house bill, peace garden, news, senate, budget, 1019