People making purchases in North Mankato probably won’t see the newly authorized half-percent local option sales tax until Oct. 1.

People visiting North Mankato probably won’t see the first in a long series of improvements around the city until 2009, starting with the expansion of the North Mankato Taylor Library.

But while the city officials will have to wait to see the results of the new tax, they were ecstatic Monday about finally receiving state approval after watching either lawmakers or the governor derail it numerous times.

“It was a helluva long process,” said Mayor Gary Zellmer of the multi-year effort to get legislative approval to impose the tax. “I learned way more than I wanted to about how the Legislature works and the governor works.”

Praise was lobbed back and forth between Zellmer and City Administrator Wendell Sande, who lobbied for approval; Rep. Terry Morrow, DFL-St. Peter, and Sen. Kathy Sheran, DFL-Mankato, who sponsored the legislation; and legislative leaders who fought for the provision in final negotiations in St. Paul.

House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, a Mankato native whose mother grew up across the street from where the library expansion will occur, complimented the work of all four while saying she was committed to making it happen this year.

For complete story, see the Tuesday, May 20, 2008, print edition of The Free Press or sign onto our e-edition.

Click here to access Free Press e-edition