The Rushford City Council learned at their regular August 25 meeting that letters had been sent out to owners of approximately 35 vacant and unused properties in Rushford. The letters included a short questionnaire regarding the property, asking whether the owners were planning to sell the property and if they needed help with any problems such as utility availability, high cost, rules, etc.
The letter explained that the city was looking at small lots that would be suitable for tiny homes as well as empty houses in addition to regular size empty lots. It was not asking people to sell or build anything; rather it was simply asking for information so the city could think about ways to help. Rushford has Local Housing Trust Fund Grant Funding available to help with repurposing existing buildings and vacant lots.
The Rushford EDA (Economic Development Authority) is sponsoring another Open Doors event in conjunction with Rushford-Peterson Valley Chamber of Commerce. This self-guided tour of business opportunities will be held September 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDA representatives will be at Studio OneSeven to discuss available business programs with interested people. There are seven Rushford properties and three Peterson properties on the tour. The former Farmers Win Cooperative site will be included in the Open Doors event to gauge interest in the existing buildings and site.
On Wednesday, August 27, a public input open was scheduled to be held in the school theater. Plans for the session included a presentation of four possible scenarios for the use of the property; these were generated based on the results of the recent public survey of citizens in the area. The scenarios included a townhome housing development, a mixed use development, commercial development and an active community green space.
Future plans are to hold community engagement group meetings to provide further citizen input in the process.
A letter from Allison Whalen of CEDA (Community and Economic Development Associates) written on behalf of the Fillmore County EDA was shared with the council. The letter asked for people willing to be part of a core team of 10 to 20 members to address the child care shortage in Fillmore County through the Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP) which will be led by First Children’s Finance.
The council received a copy of another letter from the Coalition of Greater MN Cities to MN Public Utilities regarding altering line extension policies for natural gas service lines. The new policy would make the landowner pay the whole cost of the extension. CGMC feels that this policy could discourage new builds. City Clerk Kathy Zacher informed the council that the city continues to spread the cost out in Rushford rather than having the landowner requesting service pay the full cost.
In general business, the council passed a resolution granting an exemption from lawful gambling license to the Rushford Volunteer Fire Department Relief Association for a fundraising raffle to be held at Nordic Lanes February 7, 2026. This raffle will include a gun raffle as well as other items.
The council also passed another resolution to authorize the city to join the Statewide Volunteer Firefighter Plan which is administered by the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). Up until this time the retirement plan for Rushford firefighters has been administered by a private party. Joining the Statewide program will save a lot of paperwork for the city clerk and the fire department.
Kathy Zacher updated the council on work done around the city:
- The sewer manhole at the intersection of Park and Maple was excavated, reinstalled and the area was reblacktopped recently;
- Annual sewer line cleaning is being set up;
- The star in Brooklyn is being reconfigured with hopes to reinstall it before deer hunting season;
- Work continues on the underground electric project from Industrial Drive south.
In closing the council meeting, Mayor Terri Benson shared that she will be attending a steering committee meeting for the public library. The library is looking at redoing its mission statement and creating a new comprehensive plan for the library and wants public input.
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