FAIRMONT — Despite some objections, Gov. Mark Dayton on Wednesday signed a bill that provides $1.5 billion for projects throughout Minnesota.

The Fairmont area is among the places that will benefit.

The city of Fairmont’s plans to build a new industrial park at the intersection of Interstate 90 and County Road 39 is in line to receive up to $2 million. The funds would help extend utilities to the site, as well as construct curb and gutter along the road.

The city of Winnebago will receive $1.1 million for a major infrastructure project involving sewer, drainage, storm sewer and street repairs. State loans also are being made available to Winnebago.

St. James will receive a $3 million grant to build a stormwater retention pond, while Windom gets $3 million for a wastewater treatment plant. Jackson has won a $290,000 grant for a memorial park.

(A separate piece of legislation approved this session includes more than $2 million for a Fox Lake Conservation League/Pheasants Forever public hunting land project. Gunther said the project would involve converting land not suitable for farming into a game preserve.)

State Rep. Bob Gunther, R-Fairmont, sponsored these provisions, which were approved by both the Republican-controlled House and Senate before moving on to Dayton’s desk.

While signing the bonding bill, Dayton described his reservations in a press release.

“I am signing this bill, despite my objections, because areas throughout Minnesota need the projects and the jobs, which it will provide,” he said. “However, the GOP majorities set an arbitrary, ill-founded and woefully inadequate limit to the total size of the bill. It underfunds critical investments in higher education, state parks and water infrastructure, and assures that those needs will become more urgent and more expensive in the future.”

In his own press release, House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, offered a counterargument:

“Our Republican-led legislature delivered a strong package focused on roads and bridges, veterans homes, school safety and clean water infrastructure to Governor Dayton’s desk,” he said. “With the governor’s signature today, we conclude one of the most productive legislative sessions in modern history. Despite divided government, we balanced the budget, cut taxes for middle-class Minnesotans, made a historic investment in roads and bridges, and lowered health care costs.”

According to the Associated Press, the bill signed by Dayton borrows a total of $1.5 billion to pay for $133 million in water and sewer projects across the state, $544 million for road and bridge repairs and $32 million to build three new veterans homes. It also provides $90 million to expand affordable housing options, $25 million for schools to enhance their security and another $90 million for the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to fix ailing buildings.