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“Where Fillmore County News Comes First” Weekly Edition
Thoughts about Christmas page
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Monday, December 14, 2015
Warming the hands and hearts page
Lanesboro’s Energy Ordinance
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Volume 31 Issue 12
Reuse of Dairy & Farm page
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Canton • Chatfield • Fountain • Harmony • Houston • Lanesboro • Mabel • Ostrander • Peterson • Preston • Rushford • Rushford Village • Spring Valley • Whalan • Wykoff
Permit to Carry:769 Almost 1 in 20 adults in Fillmore County armed
New Year’s Eve 7am-9pm New Year’s Day 8am-6pm A faded sign banning guns from the property hangs on a corkboard in the entryway of the Preston Post Office. Photo by Jason Sethre By Jason Sethre jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com
During this recent Black Friday shopping event, which was November 27, 2015, USA Today reported that there were more than 185,000 firearms purchased throughout the United States -- which meant the FBI was very busy conducting background checks. According to an October 9, 2015 article in the L.A. Times, there have been 144 shootings on school campuses in the U.S. since 20 children and six adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, Conn. on December 14, 2012. On November 13, 2015, the horrific and calculated
terrorism attacks on Paris claimed 130 lives while leaving another 368 victims injured. Then, on December 6, 2015, 14 people died and 21 more were injured during a terrorist attack from what has been identified as a radicalized couple. So, how does all of this relate to the rest of us in Southeast Minnesota? More Americans are buying guns. And, more Americans are applying for a permit to carry, evidenced by trends established over the past five years. Fillmore County In Fillmore County, according to reports provided by the Fillmore County Sheriff’s
Department, from 2010 to 2014, there have been 769 individuals licensed to carry a firearm. To become licensed, these individuals must be 21 years or older, pass a background check, pass a permitto-carry course, along with passing a firing range test. They must also abide by all laws pertaining to a permit to carry. Permits expire after five years. The Sheriff’s Department is the clearing house for approval or denial of permit to carry issuance. Back in 2010, only 72 individuals applied for a new or renewal application to have a permit to carry a firearms in Fillmore County. In a matter See PERMIT Page 2
Christmas Eve 7am-4pm Closed Christmas Day
Chicken ordinance in Canton? By Liz Giese liz@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Chickens were on the agenda at the regular meeting of the Canton City Council on December 9. Mayor Donivee Johnson advised the council that Canton resident Julie Pugh has chickens in her backyard. She stated that Ms. Pugh has said that she keeps the chickens for therapy for her children, however the city has a legal obligation to enforce the current ordinance, which bans farm animals in town. Johnson added that the chickens are an issue for the neighbors, as the lot is only 50’ wide and the neighbors are close. She asked whether the council wanted to enforce the ordnance or change the ordinance. Councilor Carl Ernst stated that he was open-minded to the idea of a chicken ordinance, not-
ing that other towns in the area allow a limited number of chickens, but ban roosters. Mayor Johnson said to think about it as creating another policing issue and questioned whether it would be opening the door to other animals. She also pointed out that narrow lots and runoff could be a problem. Johnson provided excerpts from the current zoning ordinance for the council to review. She noted that the ordinance does not allow for a variance in this situation, so the law would need to be modified, which requires a public hearing. She added that we don’t make a zoning ordinance to appease a few people, it is for everyone. The council will review the relevant ordinances, but for now the current ordinance must be enforced. Ms. Pugh was not presSee CHICKEN Page 3
Mabel encourages residents to apply for parking permits By H annah Wingert hannah@fillmorecountyjournal.com
The Mabel City Council met on December 9 at 7 p.m. Council member Terry Torkelson was absent. A public hearing was opened to discuss the sale of a property from Loren McCabe to Wayne Buxengard. The property had a house on it that had to be torn down, and the detached garage is the only left standing. Mayor Jim Westby pointed out that the property is in a flood zone so getting a loan to build on it would be very difficult. Buxengard said that he intends to use the garage as is as a storage shed and has no plans to build anything on the property.
The council had to deny the permit request as the current zoning does not allow it. Mayor Westby said that while he supports the sale and doesn’t see why it would be a problem, the city ordinances have to be followed. The city attorney recommended that the current ordinance be reviewed and updated. The model ordinance from the League of MN Cities can be used as a starting point. The council was in favor of updating the ordinance and will pursue it. The public hearing was closed and the regular council meeting was opened. The Truth in Taxation hearing was opened and closed with no See PARKING Page 9