ST. PAUL – Minnesota employers added 10,200 jobs in May, according to seasonally adjusted figures released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). With those gains, the state has added 29,188 jobs in the past year, a 1% growth rate. The U.S. rate of job growth during that period was 1.7%. Minnesota’s seasonally adjusted unemployment … [Read more...]
USDA resumes continuous conservation reserve program enrollment
As part of a 33-year effort to protect sensitive lands and improve water quality and wildlife habitat on private lands, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will resume accepting applications for the voluntary Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Eligible farmers, ranchers, and private landowners can sign up at their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office between June 4 and … [Read more...]
County awarded funds
The Minnesota State Set-Aside Committee for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) has recommended $2,800 be awarded to Fillmore County for Phase 35. These Federal funds are awarded by the Department of Homeland Security-FEMA and used to provide emergency food and shelter to people in need of them. The local board is made up of Workforce Development, churches, Semcac, … [Read more...]
R-P School Board vacancy; deadline for candidate filing
The Monday, June 18 Rushford-Peterson School Board meeting saw the board officially declare a vacancy on the board. Last month, Board Director Julie Koop tendered her resignation, effective following the June meeting. With the vacancy, the board has also approved a resolution calling for a special election, to be held in November. The position will be a two-year term on the … [Read more...]
Planning Commission continues discussion of commercial solar power systems
At the June 14 meeting of the Fillmore County Planning Commission, a proposed Renewable Energy Ordinance and the regulation of large commercial solar power systems dominated the discussion. The county’s current ordinance does not regulate commercial solar power systems. At the commission’s last meeting in May representatives of Tradewind Energy, a Kansas based for profit … [Read more...]
Rushford Village waits on Benson Lane project; approves platting plan
At the June 5 Rushford Village Council meeting, Mayor Gordon Johnson stated his reluctance to spend $150,000-200,000 for the Benson Lane Project, currently in the engineering phase. Johnson questioned the idea of redirecting water, prior the problem crossing and the council opted to see what other options, with cost analysis, may be available other than installation of large … [Read more...]
Rushford preps for service for fallen WWII native
The brief Monday, June 11 Rushford Council meeting focused on just three agenda items. One notable update to the council was details of an upcoming ceremony honoring fallen soldier and Rushford native Joseph Morris Johnson. The navy seaman served on the USS Oklahoma and was killed in action at Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Johnson was just 22 when he was killed. He was … [Read more...]
Mabel manhole project in doubt
The Mabel City Council met in regular session June 13, with all members in attendance (Liz Folstad, Gary Morken, Mayor James Westby, City Clerk Karen Larson, Terry Torkelson, and Kirsten Wyffels). The council heard from Curt Marx (Davy Engineering) regarding the city’s manhole upgrade project. Marx explained, “I wish I had good news to report. We authorized Municipal Pipe … [Read more...]
Enterprise Drive project nears completion
The Chatfield City Council breezed through a light agenda at their June 11 meeting. City Engineer Matt Mohs explained that the final lift/wear course on Enterprise Dr. will be completed by the end of June. The fourth pay estimate to Edge Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $137,641.55 was approved. There is a 5% retainage in the amount of $30,579.29. The project at this point … [Read more...]
A “Full House” for the Canton City Council
Fillmore County Auditor/Treasurer hopeful Heidi ‘Bly’ Jones paid a special visit to the Canton City Council during its regularly scheduled meeting held on June 13. Jones stated her primary purpose of introducing herself as well as attaching faces to the names of the city’s councilmembers. She also detailed her background in having grown up in Fillmore County and currently … [Read more...]