"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"
Online Edition
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
One Moment, Please... Inspiring Youth
 
Spring Valley views new ambulance equipment
 
Catch-up week
 
Mock Crash has an impact on Lanesboro students
 
Chatfield moves forward to create Capital Improvement Plan
 
 
 
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R-P referendum forum hits at questions before big vote

By Kirsten Zoellner

Fri, Dec 14th, 2012
Posted in Rushford Features

There was a packed house with more than 100 local residents at the second R-P referendum open forum last Monday evening. Administration staff, school board members Angela Colbenson, Daniel Munson, John Nitecki, and Greg Smith, and representatives from both architectural firm ATS&R and consultants Ehlers & Associates were on hand to field questions from those in attendance following a slideshow presentation.

Four and a half years into thorough building evaluation, legislative lobbying, and several committees, task forces, and forums, the district is asking district residents to pony up for a new, $15 million early education through grade 5 facility north of the athletic fields.

With a projected interest rate of 3.9 percent over a bond length of 20 years, the facility, if approved, will cost the district $22,848,109 (principal and interest, less $126,904 in state aid), when it’s all said and done. Many argue that this is too steep a price to pay for local residents.

Should the R-P referendum pass, commercial properties with a taxable market value of $500,000 would see projected additional taxes of $2,113. The state average is $3,132. In contrast, a home at a $125,000 market value would have a projected $415 tax price tag. The state average is $462.

Agricultural homestead, which makes up a large portion of district residents, is the most difficult to calculate. They are taxed as the house, garage, and one acre. In this case, an agricultural homestead with a market value of $500,000 could see an additional $497 in annual taxes, while one valued at $1,000,000 could see an additional $711. Other acreage is taxed per acre and is dependent on land value.

Some argued that the district should instead set aside funds and work towards a new school without incurring debt. “Couldn’t we be putting aside money instead?” asked Linda Hovland. “Would that show the state a good faith effort or would that hurt us?”

Superintendent Chuck Ehler insisted that the district had done all it could to find funding assistance. “We’re still working with them. We haven’t given up on that avenue,” he stated. The district’s original plan was suggested with the plan of a 70/30 split on debt equalization. However, since the state has shifted its funding formula, and with declining values, state aid has eroded, according to Gary Benson. Should the referendum pass, the district’s debt l .....
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53

Marine Credit Union has made its move

By Barb Jeffers

Fri, Nov 23rd, 2012
Posted in Rushford Features
Comments

Marine Credit Union has relocated its Peterson Branch to Rushford, Minn. The new location was opened on Monday, November 12, 2012. Marine Credit Union is now located at 218 South Mill Street in Rushford. The new location offers more privacy for st ..... 
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Rushford Days 2012 featuring sanctioned Pedal Pull

By News Team

Fri, Jul 13th, 2012
Posted in Rushford Features
Comments

The Rushford Days Festivities Committee is thrilled to announce that this year the Pedal Tractor Pull will be a qualifying sanctioned event by the Minnesota State Pedal Pulls Association. Kids ages 4 through 11 compete against kids from their own ag ..... 
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RINTek to host nanotechnology conference, youth camp, and trek

By Kirsten Zoellner

Mon, May 28th, 2012
Posted in Rushford Features
Comments

Rushford Institute for Nanotechnology (RINTek) dubs nanotechnology as “the most all-encompassing enabling technology of our time” and rightfully, so. According to data, the nanotechnology field is currently a $200 billion industry. That number i ..... 
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Rushford pecking at proposed chicken ordinance

By Kirsten Zoellner

Mon, Apr 16th, 2012
Posted in Rushford Features
Comments

The city council has taken a proposed chicken ordinance draft, put forth by the Planning Commission, under review. The draft is exceptionally thorough and should be straightforward to maintain, as well as making it easy for the city to pull the lice ..... 
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“The Rushford Question” gets its answer

By Kirsten Zoellner

Mon, Apr 9th, 2012
Posted in Rushford Features
Comments

Prominent members of the Rushford’s council, the Rushford Area Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Authority, and the Rushford Area Branding Council were among the 30 gathered this past Monday to hear the results of “The Rushford Quest ..... 
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Rushford Library confined to Tew Memorial Library building

By Kirsten Zoellner

Mon, Mar 5th, 2012
Posted in Rushford Features
Comments

After weeks of back and forth debate, on a subject that ultimately spans more than a decade, it appears that the Rushford Public Library not only will not see a new building built downtown, but it will be confined within the existing space of the Te ..... 
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Rushford library decision comes to a head

By Kirsten Zoellner

Mon, Feb 20th, 2012
Posted in Rushford Features
Comments

Tensions were high Monday night, as members of the city council discussed the future of a proposed new library within the city. Library Board members and Friends of the Library present at the meeting no doubt wanted to see the council back their pla ..... 
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