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Friday, May 24th, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
- 11:44:26, May 21st 2013 - airmaxs52274 - Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your a ... [Read More]
- 5:56:33, May 18th 2013 - modgudur - I guess the child is anti-gun control since Obama went to all that trouble ... [Read More]
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- 4:12:01, May 9th 2013 - Amanda Ziebell - Wow! Thanks to the Fillmore County Journal for this kind story. For a ... [Read More]
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- 10:25:25, May 7th 2013 - Thunder6 - Great article! I love to see the Youth of Fillmore County receiveing acco ... [Read More]
- 6:52:10, May 6th 2013 - Jason Sethre, Publisher of Fillmore County Journal & Olmsted County Journal - Maryh, ... [Read More]
- 7:29:56, May 5th 2013 - maryh - Where are OCJ's available for pickup...other than at the new office? ... [Read More]
- 2:41:47, May 3rd 2013 - Remark1976 - Mrs. Buckbee, I just looked up Senate File 796 and in it there are said p ... [Read More]
29
How will you keep your kids busy this summer vacation?
Ostrander progress story
Fri, Jan 22nd, 2010
Posted in Progress Edition
Posted in Progress Edition
Comments
For the last eight years Linda Schwenn has been the mayor of Ostrander, and we found her in city hall on Martin Luther King's birthday, working with City Clerk Rhonda Klapperich. It's common to find her in the office from 8am to noon most days.
Ostrander is typical of many small communities across Minnesota where it's tough to manage finances in troubled times. "I guess we are fortunate," said Schwenn, "that we are under 1,000 population and last year there were no cuts in LGA because of that."
Ostrander has finished up a major sewage treatment plant rebuild, costing roughly 1.5 million dollars. Like many communities, they were able to get a grant from the USDA for $400,000.00 to build the plant. The city discovered that the first cost estimate was not enough to meet the capacity required so they had to adjust the project. Now, the plant is up and running and is performing well.
There is a concern from Mayor Schwenn that over half of the residents of Ostrander are senior citizens and it becomes difficult to do required projects without raising taxes. "Putting money aside is difficult," said Schwenn, "when ongoing costs require action immediately."
She looks back and says that the streets are being evaluated. For the next three years the sewage lines will be inspected. It is also reported that the city streets are in reasonably good condition for a town the size of Ostrander.
"We were able to purchase a used fire truck from Spring Valley, and we hope to make the community center more useable," said Mayor Schwenn. The roster of firemen shows 10 volunteers and the numbers are dwindling because of retirements, but they are still active and reliable, along with the first responders.
On her wish list is a plan to install bathrooms in the city park to be available next to the shelter and ball fields. She also talked about the need for a convenience store that would pump gas... something they don't have now.
Mayor Schwenn said that the two bar/grills on the main street are very busy and appear to be holding up well during these tough times. "I just wish we could get a restaurant that would serve a noon lunch," said Schwenn.
As for cooperating with other cities, she replied, "We do that with Fountain. Our chief of police, Tom Mosher, is also the officer for Fountain, so we share those costs."
On a drive through the main street of town, you can't help but notice the impressive array of grain bins. "It's so heartening to see the remodeling and rebuilding by the Co-Op and people investing back into the community," she said.
Ostrander, like so many communities, is dealing with tight budgets, infrastructure replacement and rebuilding, but yet their vision is on the future and how this town can continue to serve its residents.
Ostrander is typical of many small communities across Minnesota where it's tough to manage finances in troubled times. "I guess we are fortunate," said Schwenn, "that we are under 1,000 population and last year there were no cuts in LGA because of that."
Ostrander has finished up a major sewage treatment plant rebuild, costing roughly 1.5 million dollars. Like many communities, they were able to get a grant from the USDA for $400,000.00 to build the plant. The city discovered that the first cost estimate was not enough to meet the capacity required so they had to adjust the project. Now, the plant is up and running and is performing well.
There is a concern from Mayor Schwenn that over half of the residents of Ostrander are senior citizens and it becomes difficult to do required projects without raising taxes. "Putting money aside is difficult," said Schwenn, "when ongoing costs require action immediately."
She looks back and says that the streets are being evaluated. For the next three years the sewage lines will be inspected. It is also reported that the city streets are in reasonably good condition for a town the size of Ostrander.
"We were able to purchase a used fire truck from Spring Valley, and we hope to make the community center more useable," said Mayor Schwenn. The roster of firemen shows 10 volunteers and the numbers are dwindling because of retirements, but they are still active and reliable, along with the first responders.
On her wish list is a plan to install bathrooms in the city park to be available next to the shelter and ball fields. She also talked about the need for a convenience store that would pump gas... something they don't have now.
Mayor Schwenn said that the two bar/grills on the main street are very busy and appear to be holding up well during these tough times. "I just wish we could get a restaurant that would serve a noon lunch," said Schwenn.
As for cooperating with other cities, she replied, "We do that with Fountain. Our chief of police, Tom Mosher, is also the officer for Fountain, so we share those costs."
On a drive through the main street of town, you can't help but notice the impressive array of grain bins. "It's so heartening to see the remodeling and rebuilding by the Co-Op and people investing back into the community," she said.
Ostrander, like so many communities, is dealing with tight budgets, infrastructure replacement and rebuilding, but yet their vision is on the future and how this town can continue to serve its residents.
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