The Rushford Village Council unanimously approved setting the final tax levy at $475,000 for 2021. The amount represents a 5.5% increase over the $450,000 levied for 2020. The largest increases are for engineering needed for ongoing maintenance of public streets, particularly in South Rushford, and other Public Works needs, including road rock for the city’s extensive miles … [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.
Rushford ties up year-end items
The Rushford City Council met December 14, via online platform, to finalize the property tax levy payable in 2021. While the deadline to approve was not until the next meeting, concern over possible weather issues and pandemic restrictions saw Councilor Sally Ryman motion to approve it at this time. The preliminary levy was set in September at $1,017,000, which represented a … [Read more...]
Peterson Museum project pushes forward
Despite the challenging year, the Peterson Museum expansion project is continuing a steady push forward. The project entails a 720-square-foot addition to an annex on the 1877 former railroad station, now a museum and visitor’s center. The main purpose of the addition is to house recently acquired items from the former Peterson School District. The entire project is expected … [Read more...]
Rushford Village prepping for new year
City councils are wrapping up their year, tying up loose ends on old items and getting a jump on 2021. The Rushford Village council took their December 1 meeting to work towards finalizing a few items, but most will warrant future discussion. While the search for a new Public Works supervisor was listed on the agenda, there was no discussion during the public portion of the … [Read more...]
R-P sets guidelines for determining learning model
The Rushford-Peterson School District notified families of students that they would be moving to full-time distance learning November 7 following an increase in COVID-19 cases within Fillmore County, particularly in Rushford. Now, the district is setting guidelines for determining which learning model to use going forward. The guidelines are flexible, based on a specific set of … [Read more...]
Rushford considers potential land purchase
While the November 23 council meeting agenda was shorter than usual, it did comprise two items requiring a move to a closed meeting that likely garnered quite a bit of discussion. Up first was the potential purchase of the Farmers Win Cooperative properties in downtown Rushford. The cooperative merged with Farmers Co-op Elevator in 2018 and began selling equipment on the … [Read more...]
Peterson looking into traffic issues
Though it be little, it too has traffic issues. At the November 12 meeting, complaints of traffic issues garnered the majority of city council discussion with Councillors Loren Rue and Dave Colbenson adding the item to the agenda. Rue indicated complaints were received from a resident in the area of Park Street and River Street. The concern was mainly speeding. Park Street is … [Read more...]
R-P School Board election results
Rushford-Peterson School Board will see at least three new faces beginning January. While many districts saw far more than the number of candidates running for positions on their various boards, R-P ballots had only one name for four positions. After the candidacy deadline to be on ballots ran out, at least five additional candidates ran write-in campaigns. With write-ins … [Read more...]
Rushford utilizes all CARES Act funds
While all area municipalities received Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Safety Grant recipients, some struggled early on how to utilize the full funds, anticipating having to send unused funds to Fillmore County November 15. For the City of Rushford, who received $133,352, the funds were put to good use helping purchase supplies, fund hazard pay and benefits, … [Read more...]
R-P holds emergency meeting on activities
Families of the Rushford-Peterson School District were notified November 7 via email that the district will be moving to distance learning for all grades following a rise in COVID-19 cases. The district discussed the issues with Fillmore County Public Health November 6. An emergency meeting was held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, November 9 to discuss both the changes in learning … [Read more...]
Fountain tables discussion on land detachment
Fountain City Council has received notice that Steve Eickhoff, executor of property formerly owned by his father Donald Eickhoff, along with the joint-property owner, is seeking detachment from the city. The issue was brought forth at the November 4 council meeting by Mayor Jim Schott. The 111.22 parcel acres is entirely farmland, with the exception of one pole building on the … [Read more...]
Rushford Village scrambles for public works coverage
At last month’s meeting, Public Works Supervisor Kyle Chiglo dropped what he called a “bombshell,” tendering his resignation. It came after just five months in the position. Chiglo informed the council he had accepted a position with Fillmore County, effective November 2, as a means of providing benefits for his family. At the time, he noted he’d spoken with Mayor Dennis … [Read more...]
Peterson targets end of year items
The City of Peterson, like all other municipalities, is in the midst of approving end of year items including the 2021 budget and levy. The city council has been working at the budget for several months and the subcommittee, including Clerk Chris Grindland and Councilors Gail Boyum and Loren Rue, were able to locate areas for cost savings. This allowed for just a proposed 2% … [Read more...]
Rushford moving forward on project; nears end on timeline for CARES Act funding
The Rushford City Council held a public hearing October 13 in regards to the Highway 30 Reconstruction Improvement Hearing. City Engineer Derek Olinger, of Bolton & Menk, was on hand to answer questions from those in attendance. Four citizens were present at the meeting regarding the project, with two others attending virtually. The project area is roughly 300-feet west … [Read more...]
Rushford Village awards project bid; surprised by resignation
The October 6 Rushford Council meeting was led by Councilor Mike Ebner, serving as acting mayor in the absence of Mayor Dennis Overland. In attendance was City Engineer Derek Olinger, of Bolton & Menk, to discuss the final details of the first phase of the South Rushford Drainage Project. In this phase, the city will be aiming to address outfall grading in two areas. … [Read more...]