Amid several comments of celebration at the June 7 council meeting, the City of Fountain finally saw its stipulation agreement with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) end. As reported in the Fillmore County Journal in August 2017, the agency approved the new plant in 2009 and began operation the following January. In 2015, MPCA notified the city of a violation. The … [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.
Village guide in the last steps
The City of Rushford Village has worked to hammer out a functional and comparable-benefit employee guide for the last year. After multiple discussions and revisions, the update is nearly complete. The final review by Public Sector Human Resources Consultant Paul Ness, with whom the city contracted, was done last month. Now, City Attorney Joe O’Koren is reviewing the draft … [Read more...]
Ambulance Service needs shift for Rushford
At the May 8 meeting, the Rushford Council learned that longtime Ambulance Director Lynn Humble is retiring effective mid-June. Humble has worked for the service as a director for the last 10 years and as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for 39 years. Before Humble, Julie Zielbell Scuderio served from 2000-2013, and Anne Roberton served as volunteer director until 2000. … [Read more...]
Peterson gears up for property walkabout
The Peterson City Council will conduct its annual spring walkabout this month. It’s an opportunity for the mayor and councilor to look around the city at properties that may be out of compliance with city ordinances. The areas of concern are junk/clutter and the nuisance vehicle ordinance. The city adopted its nuisance vehicle ordinance in November 2018 after property owners … [Read more...]
Fountain approves 50-year lease of city-owned land
At the May 3 meeting, the Fountain Council unanimously approved a 50-year lease of city-owned land to Harmony Telephone Company. The plot of land at 91 Pine Street is roughly 50 feet by 50 feet. A 10-foot by 20-foot “hut building” will be constructed to house the company’s fiber optic equipment. City Clerk Mary Tjepkes contacted the cities of Wykoff, Lanesboro, and Preston … [Read more...]
Rushford Village looking at property assessments
Fillmore County has let Rushford Village know it’s on the list for 2023 property assessments. At the May 2 city council meeting, Clerk Mary Miner clarified that assessors are not expecting a tour of properties. Still, they do want to get inside as many as possible. “They just want to step inside to do a quick look,” she added. “They do ask that you let them in. It didn’t sound … [Read more...]
Rushford gets ahead of “forever chemical”
At the April 24 meeting, the Rushford Council approved entering a PFAS ( Perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) Cost Recovery Program. The National Rural Water Association and Minnesota Rural Water Association recommend the step. While there is no current PFAS issue, the city opted to register for the program in advance to recover any expenses that the city may incur … [Read more...]
Rushford Village preps for shed project, road work
With the last blast of winter that showed up, the City of Rushford Village is eagerly waiting to get started on spring road work and its maintenance shed project. At the April 18 meeting, the council received updates on both, plus the digital water meter installation and a modification to the Village Hall rental policy. Public Works has a priority list for work on crushed rock … [Read more...]
Peterson okays road work
The Peterson council voted unanimously at the April 12 meeting to proceed with improvements to North Church Street. Its condition has been a concern for the last several years while the city has worked to prioritize and improve its streets. Fred Kruckow of Dunn Blacktop was present at the meeting to discuss the details and cost estimates. The street’s base is solid and will … [Read more...]
Rushford Council hopes to add ambulance position
On April 10, the Rushford Council held the first of its two monthly meetings. While general business had several minor items, including various approvals for upcoming festivities and fundraising events, the council approved two other notable items. The first was approving an Assistant Director/EMS Training Coordinator job description. Accordion to the agenda, the position is … [Read more...]