MPCA Program Offers Cities Tools To Redevelop Brownfields and Revitalize Properties

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) Brownfields Community Outreach and Engagement Unit aims to support local units of government, tribal nations, underserved environmental justice communities, and property owners in redeveloping brownfields, which are properties that have real or perceived contamination on them.

Brownfields can be a challenge to redevelop and often sit idle for years. This can lead to neighborhood blight, unsafe structures, and contaminated spaces that can harm people and the environment.

The MPCA’s Brownfield Community Outreach and Engagement Unit offers resources for brownfield redevelopment and can provide guidance on:

• Investigating properties for potential environmental contamination before transfer of ownership or development.
• Understanding contamination liability issues before a transfer of ownership takes place, including:
• Tax forfeitures
• Inheritance
• Sale
• Gift or donated properties
• Funding available to support investigation of potentially contaminated properties.
• Resources for bringing underutilized properties back into the economy or addressing public health concerns.

Redeveloping brownfields can benefit local communities by improving public health and the environment, enhancing the livability of neighborhoods, creating new jobs, and adding to the tax base.

Contact the MPCA’s Brownfields Community Outreach and Engagement Unit today with your brownfield questions at (651) 757-2904 or [email protected]. Additional resources are available at bit.ly/BrownfieldMN_resources.

Faribault Backs Optional Water, Sewer Line Insurance for Homeowners

Residents in Faribault will soon have the option to enroll in a utility line insurance program aimed at reducing the financial burden of private water and sewer line repairs.

As reported by the Faribault Daily News, the City Council has backed participation in the National League of Cities’ Service Line Warranty Program by HomeServe. The voluntary program offers up to $8,500 in coverage per service call for external water and sewer lines, and up to $3,000 for in-home plumbing.

Monthly premiums range from $6.99 to $10.99, and the city will receive a 10% royalty from enrollment revenue. That money would likely go toward replacing lead service lines, according to Public Works Director Travis Block.

Homeowners are typically responsible for utility lines on their property — a fact many don’t realize until they face an expensive repair. While the program is optional, city officials say it could help residents manage those costs. More than 40 Minnesota cities already participate, and Faribault’s role will primarily involve informing residents of the option.

The League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) is a member of the National League of Cities, which endorses the Service Line Warranty Program. However, LMC does not take a position on the program at the local level.

Mental Wellness and Peer Support Featured in 2025 Fall Safety and Loss Control Workshops

As part of the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust’s 2025 Fall Safety and Loss Control Workshops, two training series will be available for Minnesota public safety professionals.

Pathways to Sustainable Wellness with Doc Springer is a three-part training series focused on trauma-informed wellness and suicide prevention, designed specifically for first responders.

Attend one or all of the following sessions:

• SEPT. 24: Understanding Mental Warfare: Suicide Risk in First Responders (webinar).
• OCT. 1: The Growth Edge: The New Rules of Human Performance After Trauma (in person, HERO Center, Cottage Grove).
• OCT. 8: Blind Spot: Why Standard Suicide Prevention Approaches Fail First Responders (webinar).

Led by Dr. Shauna “Doc” Springer, a nationally respected trauma expert, these sessions offer informed tools to enhance resilience, improve response to risk, and support wellness across public safety roles.

Peer Support Training, approved by the Department of Public Safety and Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), meets the 30-hour requirement to serve as a certified peer-to-peer counselor in Minnesota. This hybrid course includes flexible online content and a two-day, in-person session. Choose from three training dates:

OCT. 21–22: Willmar | OCT. 29–30: Bemidji | NOV. 4–5: Edina

For registration and more information, visit lmc.org/events.

NLC City Summit Slated for Salt Lake City

The National League of Cities (NLC) 2025 City Summit is happening Nov. 20-22 in Salt Lake City, Utah. This event brings together city staff and elected officials to learn about the issues affecting local governments and expand their professional network.

At City Summit 2025, NLC will feature workshops that cover trending and emerging topics that impact local governments, share timely resources that can help your community thrive, and provide executive education to build your leadership skills. During this national event, you’ll connect with experts as well as your peers from across the country, and network with thought leaders from the public and private sectors. Learn more and register at citysummit.nlc.org.