The January 10 Peterson Council meeting packed in standard annual designations, as well as several items of review. For the most part, everything remains the same as in 2017 including liability coverage, Friends of Peterson usage of municipal locations, application of a Southeast Minnesota Arts Council grant, polling places and election judges. Items pulled for additional … [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 mulls over utility rates
The first meeting of the year for the Fountain council was largely comprised of continued discussion on proposed increases to the sewer/water utility rates. A community meeting to discuss the matter and take public input is slated for Wednesday, January 9, at 7 p.m., at the community center. In discussing the options, it appears there are more questions than answers for the … [Read more...]
Rushford approves final levy; talks savings
The last meeting of the year for the Rushford City Council, Monday, December 26, brought continued discussion of the city levy and budgets. For nearly 45 minutes, the council hemmed and hawed over where cost savings could be found, if any. Outgoing Councilor Vern Bunke had urged the council to review the budget and look for areas of potential savings, such as within the … [Read more...]
Rushford Village continues Public Works discussions
The Rushford Village Council ended the year with a quick 26-minute meeting, getting some details on items for the Public Works Department. Public Works Supervisor Travis Scheck was in attendance to discuss the items. Councilor Dennis Overland was absent. Last November, the council put the finishing touches on its modified Snow Removal Policy. In it, the council specified that … [Read more...]
R-P ends year with levy; audit
Finishing up a year of many changes, the Rushford-Peterson School Board held the last meeting of 2017, December 18. The meeting also encompassed the annual Truth In Taxation hearing. Just one member of the public attended the hearing where district Business Manager Toni Oian presented a summary of the 2018 levy. The approved levy was $2,287,123.45. Of this, $946,716, or … [Read more...]
Rushford deliberates on 2018 budget, levy
Monday, December 11, the City of Rushford held their annual public hearing on proposed tax levy. The figure was set in September at a maximum of $938,000, or an 8.19% increase over 2017. Adjustments were applied in November to debt service needs and the amount was reduced to $913,000, or a 5.3% increase over the 2017 levy of $867,000. Broken down, this net increase represents a … [Read more...]
Rushford Village approves 2018 levy
After deliberation and a brief Truth In Taxation hearing that brought no citizen comments, the City of Rushford Village approved the 2018 levy in the amount of $425,000. The amount has remained the same the last three years. There was consideration for raising it and the council was cautious as it plans for future needs. Mayor Gordon Johnson praised the work of City Clerk … [Read more...]
Fountain plans for public utility hearing
At the November council meeting, the City of Fountain heard the results of an analysis by Minnesota Rural Water Association. The city was provided with four scenarios aimed at making gains on the backwards trending sewer and water utility funds. Wednesday, December 6, the council met and further discussed the options, which ranged from maintaining the annual $30 base rate, … [Read more...]
Rushford reviews finances; preps for performance review
The Rushford City Council recently received a financial update and it appears the city is on target for financial goals. Consultant Mike Bubany, of David Drown Associates, indicated eight notable points in a summary to the council as the city sought to plan for the timing and size of tentative projects. The city continues to comply with a self-imposed $6,000 per capita debt … [Read more...]
Counterfeits in area prompt call for vigilance
Area businesses are being cautioned to give careful inspection of cash received following an early November incidence of counterfeit money in Rushford. An email from the Rushford Peterson Chamber of Commerce went out to local businesses November 13 warning them to be vigilant. “I’ve had a couple responses thanking the Chamber for passing along the news and I haven’t heard of … [Read more...]