Fillmore County Journal - 10.13.14

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PRSRT STD ECR WSS US. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 70 MADELIA, MN 56062

A salute to Fillmore County Pork Producers in today’s Journal

POSTAL PATRON

“Where Fillmore County News Comes First” Weekly Edition

Real Time Flood Warning system? Pages 7-9

page

15

Monday, October 13, 2014

If a Trees Falls in the Forest... page

18

Volume 30 Issue 4

Mabel’s ball field renovation page

25

Lanesboro: Policy on frozen pipes page

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Canton • Chatfield • Fountain • Harmony • Houston • Lanesboro • Mabel • Ostrander • Peterson • Preston • Rushford • Rushford Village • Spring Valley • Whalan • Wykoff

SALUTE TO ALL OUR AREA’S BOUR y K aren R eisner PORK PRODUCERS karen@fillmorecountyjournal.com

November 4 is election day. Ag “Our issues were highlighted at roots run deep in our community.” a forum broadcasted by KFIL radio and hosted by Southwww.rushfordstatebank.com east Minnesota Ag Alliance on October 8 at the Fillmore County Fairgrounds. Area canRushford, MN didates for state house seats, 507-864-7755 including 28B candidates Greg Davids and Jon Pieper and 27B Houston, MN candidates Jeanne Poppe and 507-896-7755 Dennis Schminke, gave their perspective on a variety of Ag related questions. Eunice Biel, Minnesota Farmers Union, Greg Dornink, Fillmore County Farm Bureau, and Rick Smith, Minnesota Milk Producers Association introduced themselves and their farm operations before questioning the candidates. None of the dozen or so people in the audience offered any additional questions. Due to the circulation area of this paper, this article will con- Candidates for Minnesota House seats respond to Ag related issues. Dennis Schminke (R) 27B, centrate on the responses given Jon Pieper (DFL) 28B, Jeanne Poppe (DFL) 27B, and Greg Davids (R) 28B. Photo by Karen Reisner by Davids and Pieper running for House seat 28B, which rep- turmoil in the Middle East as an and school district levels. He Smith, asked about state help for resents Fillmore and Houston additional reason to let farmers supports continuing the phase beginning farmers. Davids noted out of the commercial-industrial that the average age of farmers is help with our energy needs. Counties. 58 to 59. He supports the open Biel started the questioning Dornink asked about the cur- property tax. referring to ethanol as the big- rent property tax system. Pieper Smith questioned the neces- ing of more programs to help gest issue, stressing the need for said if one group gets a break, sity of the current rigorous beginning farmers. He later said there to be consumer choice at another group will pay more, permitting process for farmers he would continue to support the pump and the elimination suggesting Local Government and the consistency within that funding for the Livestock Investof anti-competitive practices. Aid and County Program Aid process, suggesting that dairy ment Grant Program. Pieper All the candidates supported be returned to early 2000 values, farmers are good stewards of noted that the new farm bill the ethanol industry. Pieper allowing all property tax rates to the land. Davids said he agrees has funding to help new farmhighlighted his support of value be reduced. He added that Min- with the MN Milk position and ers, adding that the state needs added products, taking a prod- nesota has the second highest agreed permitting is not consis- to help give beginning farmers uct produced within the state commercial property tax rates in tent. Pieper insisted that there the skills they will need to take and processing it here instead of the country. Davids emphasized should be fairness and that more over. He stated he would supshipping it out of Minnesota. that he believed in local control should be pushed to the county port programs that help beginDavids called ethanol a bi-par- and property taxes are dependent level. See AG ISSUES Page 2  tisan issue and pointed to the on decisions at the city, county, A question from Biel, and later

Growler Sales: OcTOBER 10

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kirsten@fillmorecountyjournal.com

More than 230 people packed the R-P gymnasium Monday, October 6 for the second of two public forums related to the proposed $38,165,000 school referendum. Presented in town meeting format, the district revamped some of the meeting procedure after the forum held two weeks previous in Peterson had drawn heated discussion and what some deemed disrespectful conduct. Forum moderator Bonnie Prinsen noted the change early in the meeting, asking all in attendance to withhold comments until the third portion of the meeting, in which anyone who wanted could speak, limited to three minutes. Attendees were welcome to submit any question they wished of presenters, provided it was submitted in written form and submitted to district staff during the presentation portion of the meeting. Presentation panelists included Chuck Ehler, district superintendent, John Linder, school board chairman, Dean Beeninga, ATS&R project architect, and Greg Crowe, Ehlers & Associates financial consultant. Assisting was Toni Oian, district business manager, and district principals Angela Shephard and Jake Timm. A PowerPoint presentation detailed the process leading to the referendum. According to Ehler, a series of facility and educational adequacy evaluations, as well as a demographic study, two facilities task force committees, and recent state legislation prompted the district to See R-P FORUM Page 3  MON. & TUES. CLOSED WED. 4PM-8PM THUR. 12PM-8PM FRI. 12PM-9PM SaT. 11AM-9PM SUN. 11AM-8PM

Riverside

LaUNcH OF

By K irsten Zoellner

Hours

Local Minnesota House candidates speak on agricultural issues

R-P Referendum Forum draws hundreds

Riverside

Our commitment to responsible, sound and conservative banking principles reflects our long-term interest in providing the security you require.


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Fillmore County Journal - 10.13.14 by Jason Sethre - Issuu