At the December 5 meeting, the Rushford Village Council again discussed the 2024 budget. As the proposed 7% levy increase currently stands, the budget has a $50,000 cushion. If the council reduces the final levy to 5%, the cushion will be $40,000. Some on the council questioned whether or not that was enough. City staff removed several items from the proposed budget, including … [Read more...]
Kirsten Zoellner
Reporter
kirsten@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Kirsten has been a reporter for Fillmore County Journal since 2008. No awards to date, but her mother finds her articles riveting. She enjoys shining a light on the great people and events in the county and has aspirations to someday write a novel about them. A native of Rushford, she is a member of Root River Community Church, co-founder of Odyssey Homeschool Association, and was the founder for the Rushford-Peterson Valley Farmers' Market.
When not writing, Kirsten happily spends her time raising a family alongside Joel, her husband of 18 years. She homeschools their six children (Evin, Lauren, Logan, Ada, Kathleen, and Emelia) and does her best to ensure domestic bliss. Kirsten is an advocate for conservation and homesteading and operates Liten Dal Farm, where the family raises dairy goats, pastured poultry and hogs, alpacas, a few steers, and horses. Hobbies other than juggling include the outdoors, reading, vegetable gardening, cheesemaking, fermenting various things in Ball jars, and making everything from scratch despite the fact that it probably costs more.
Kirsten and her family proudly reside in rural Fountain on her great-great-grandfather's farm.
You can follow more about Kirsten on the family's Facebook page, Liten Dal Farm, or their blog: ourprairienest.wordpress.com.
Fountain Approves 2024 Levy
The Fountain, Minn., council zipped through a short agenda at the December 6 meeting. Having just one notice and two items of business, the council sped through approving the budget and levy for 2024. The final levy will be $223,500. The amount represents $123,500 from the general tax levy, $65,000 sewer tax levy, $25,000 capital improvement tax levy and $10,000 Equipment Fund … [Read more...]
Rushford to Seek Improvement Funding
At the November 27 meeting, City Engineer Derek Olinger of Bolton & Menk spoke to the council regarding the state’s Local Road Improvement Program Funding. The three-part program, administered by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, provides up to $1.5 million towards local road projects for regionally significant roads, resulting in safety improvements or addressing … [Read more...]
Rushford Hangar Up in the Air
A main topic at the November 13 Rushford City Council meeting was possible positive traction forward with the construction of the new Rushford Municipal Airport Hangar. The new hangar, a replacement for a six-unit hangar lost to fire in 2019, was scheduled to be completed last month. At the previous meeting, the Rushford Council learned that engineer Mead & Hunt would … [Read more...]
Peterson Water Inspections Nearly Complete
During a Public Works update at the November 7 meeting, the Peterson Council learned that more than 80% of the water connection inspections are complete. The inspections were part of the Lead and Copper Rule regulation. Originally published by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1991, the agency revised the rule, and the state put it into effect in 2021 to support actions to … [Read more...]
Rushford Village Considers Contracts
At the November 7 meeting, the Rushford Village Council discussed whether or not to renew the contract with Community Economic Development Associates for the coming year. They aim to work with cities and other entities “to help them be proactive and strategic about their development aspirations.” Over the last few years, some on the council expressed concern about whether the … [Read more...]
Fountain Forced to Make Repairs
At the November 1 meeting, the Fountain Council learned from Public Works Director John Hanson that the city must replace a part at the north lift station repair, located near the intersection of Highway 52 and County Road 11. “This past weekend, we noticed one pump was running almost 24 hours a day,” said Hanson. After inspection with Dan Shimota of W.W. Geotsch & … [Read more...]
Rushford Engineer Pressuring Builder
With the clock ticking, Rushford is putting pressure on airport hangar contractor Olympic Builders for a project to begin this past spring. At the October 23 council meeting, Acting Mayor Jim O’Donnell, filling in for Mayor Terri Benson, noted that City Engineer Matt Wagner of Mead & Hunt is pressuring the contractor after attempts to get a response went unanswered. The … [Read more...]
Rushford Village Completes Water Inspections
At the October 17 meeting, the Rushford Village Council received an update on water system inspections. The inspections were part of the Lead and Copper Rule regulation. Originally published by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1991, the agency revised the rule, and the state put it into effect in 2021 to support actions to reduce lead in drinking water. The Minnesota … [Read more...]
Rushford Looks at TIF District for Redevelopment
On October 10, the Rushford City Council voted unanimously to approve the terms of an internal loan in connection with a possible future redevelopment Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District within Municipal Development District No. 1. This move aims to assist with costs associated with the Rushford Redevelopment Project – COOP site (the former Farmers Win Cooperative site) … [Read more...]