WILLMAR -- Former state senator Dean E. Johnson will become a lobbyist on behalf of the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission during the upcoming year.
The Economic Development Commission's joint operations board voted Thursday to retain Johnson for $12,000.
The former Minnesota Senate majority leader will go to bat for the EDC as it seeks funding for a veterans' home and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation program in Willmar.
Steve Renquist, executive director of the Economic Development Commission, said he hopes Johnson's efforts can help bolster the work of local legislators Joe Gimse and Al Juhnke.
"We will use both of our legislative officials to their fullest capacity," he said. "This is just using another asset."
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Johnson also has been signed on as a legislative consultant both for Kandiyohi County and for the city of Willmar.
The county is seeking funding to help restore the Grass Lake basin. The city wants assistance for building a new $80 million wastewater treatment plant.
A legislative allocation in the 2008 bonding bill for a veterans' home would put the project on a priority list for additional federal funding.
In other action Thursday:
n Larry Knutson was recognized for 11 years of service on the Economic Development Commission joint operations board. Knutson is stepping down when his term expires at the end of this year.
A replacement is expected to be named within the next month.
Milan Schmiesing, whose term also expires this year, has been recommended for appointment to another three-year term.
The governing board of the EDC will approve the appointments at its quarterly meeting in January.
