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“Where Fillmore County News Comes First” Weekly Edition
Cute Kids of Fillmore County pages
12-14
Monday, February 13, 2017
Icy winter requires additional salt page
10
Wykoff Council eyes challenges page
14
Ostrander annexation page
19
Volume 32 Issue 21
Houston School Board schedule & breaks page
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Cole Schwichtenberg • Burros
Canton • Chatfield • Fountain • Harmony • Houston • Lanesboro • Mabel • Ostrander • Peterson • Preston • Rushford • Rushford Village • Spring Valley • Whalan • Wykoff
American Family Insurance Agent Preston discusses options to finance potential Kiel Anderson passes the torch development projects By K aren R eisner karen@fillmorecountyjournal.com
At the February 6 city council meeting funding options for a State Veterans Home and the Riverside Center projects were discussed. Both projects have been in early planning stages for some time. Councilman Robert Maust suggested that each project could cost an estimated $500,000. City Administrator Joe Hoffman asked the council to consider hiring David Drown and Associates to do a Capital Financial Plan. He listed several financing options including funding for Local Improvement Projects, USDA Community Facilities Loan, Abatement Levy Bond, EDA lease purchase, and a RefJeff Ellingson, left, is looking forward to taking over Preston American Family Insurance now that Kiel Anderson is retiring. Linda Means, center, will remain working in customer service, which will help lead to a smooth transition. Photo submitted team,” Anderson explained. “He be making the move to workBy H annah Wingert drove me home one night after ing in Preston. He started as an hannah@fillmorecountyjournal.com bowling and asked if I’d thought insurance salesman for American Family Insurance in 1980, taking “It’s going to be a learning about selling insurance.” curve,” Kiel Anderson said about Originally, Rustad planned to over for his grandfather when he his retirement. After 27 years, continue working at the offices in retired. Anderson is retiring from his job Preston and Anderson was going “I never saw myself in this as insurance agent for American to open a new office in Spring business when I was growing Family Insurance and passing on Valley, but right around the time up,” Ellingson admitted. But the torch to Spring Grove native that Anderson received his insur- somehow, a part-time job workance sales license, Rustad was ing for his grandpa turned into Jeff Ellingson. Anderson’s wife, Kristi recently promoted to District Manager in a life-long career. retired from her job at Foremost Iowa for the company. And so, Ellingson will continue to work Farms as well. “She’s liking it Anderson took over in Preston at his office in Spring Grove, splitting his time between his (retirement), so I’m sure I will where Rustad left off. When Anderson announced two locations. He recently hired too,” Anderson laughed. With his offices located in the his plans to retire, American another sales specialist to work Rustad Building in Preston, it’s Family Insurance opened up with in Spring Grove, which will no surprise that Anderson’s pre- his position, and Jeff Ellingson help to free up a little more of his time to focus on the Preston decessor in the insurance busi- accepted it. Ellingson, a long-time acquainness was Donnie Rustad. See ANDERSON Page 14 “We used to bowl on the same tance of Anderson’s, is excited to Prices Effective Februrary 13th - 19th, 2017
erendum Bond which would require a vote of 50% plus one. The council approved the extension of a land option with Robert Doherty for another year through the end of 2018 at a cost of $250, as recommended by the EDA. The land could be the future home of a state veterans home. The estimated half million cost for a veterans home is for the land purchase plus the necessary infrastructure upgrades. Maust favored the idea of a referendum bond. He maintained that “if we can’t get 50% plus one to support the project, we probably shouldn’t be doing it.” He argued it is a good time to borrow money, as we are at the bottom of the scale at what See PROJECTS Page 7
Rushford Village looks to determine policing as City of Rushford ends mutual aid contract By K irsten Zoellner kirsten@fillmorecountyjournal.com
“The meeting started with a kerplunk; well, abruptly. The City of Rushford will no longer provide police services to the City of Rushford Village or the City of Peterson,” said Rushford Village Mayor Gordon Johnson, at the Tuesday, February 7 council meeting. “I’m disappointed in the way it came about.” The City of Rushford requested a meeting last month, which was held January 25. Present were Village Mayor Johnson and Councilor Dennis Overland, Peterson Councilor Gail Boyum, Rushford Mayor Chris Hallum,
Councilor Jim O’Donnell, City Administrator Tony Chladek, Police Chief Adam Eide, and Fillmore County Sheriff Tom Kaase. “The dialogue was not always positive,” added Johnson. “I was a little defensive in nature. But, it was a good discussion.” The mutual aid contract was drafted by the City of Rushford and presented to the Village in previous years. The Village had reimbursed the City of Rushford directly for hourly man and equipment costs. This equated to just over $960 in 2016 and was based on $41 per hour, a See POLICING Page 2