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“Where Fillmore County News Comes First” Weekly Edition
Monday, March 18, 2013
HORSES
Special horse section
Chatfield takes no position on Rochester sales tax
Pages 13-15
page
East Beasts
10
page
11
Volume 28 Issue 26
Grant application for Eagle Cliff Trail Spur page
25
Silica sand mining voted down page
26
Canton l Chatfield l Fountain l Harmony l Lanesboro l Mabel l Ostrander l Peterson l Preston l Rushford l Rushford Village l Spring Valley l Whalan l Wykoff
Rushford reverses decision due to grievance By K irsten Zoellner kirsten@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Shirley Endres stands before a map of the Old Barn Resort. The campground expansion would be located in the upper right hand corner of the map. Photo by Karen Reisner
Campground expansion planned at Old Barn Resort By K aren R eisner karen@fillmorecountyjournal.com
The conversion of this 206 acre farm with a multi-story old barn began a quarter century ago. The Old Barn Resort is promoted as “200 Acres of Fun.” The resort now features a 172 site campground, 38-bed bunkhouse/ hostel, an 18 hole Rivers’ Bend Golf Course, a swimming pool, and the Old Barn Restaurant and Bar. Being located in the center of Carrolton Township (Section 21) adjacent to the State Trail and the Root River, there is access for bicycling, canoeing, tubing, and trout fishing. The idyllic bluff country countryside adds more flavor to a visitor’s
experience. Once more, the owners Shirley Endres and Doug Brenna who purchased the property in 1996 have plans to make improvements to the resort. They plan to expand the campground by another 108 campsites for a total of 280. Shirley commented, “You don’t have to stay here to play here.” The resort provides entertainment for both locals and new people all the time. She loves living in a small community where people know everybody and the life style is slower paced. Shirley grew up on a farm and still enjoys the small community life. The natural beauty of the area just adds to the allure.
The additional 108 campsites are to be permanent seasonal sites. Thirty-seven of the current sites are permanent seasonal. Shirley noted there is a waiting list of 200 for permanent sites. For those who want to throw a tent, often younger families, there are 40 tent sites. The downturn in the economy over the last several years actually proved to be an upturn for the resort. She says the majority of visitors come from two hours away or less, but they have many from the greater Midwest area and a regular from Hawaii that comes for a family reunion in the area. A recent reservation was made by a person from the See OLD BARN Page 9
The on-going debate over staffing needs within Rushford’s Public Works department is on again. Public Works had long lobbied for staff member Curt Courrier’s 36-hour per week position to be transitioned to full-time, based on increasing workload within the department and that the position was budgeted to be full-time in 2013. Public Works director Jeff Copley, supported by Mayor Chris Hallum, noted the city could afford to keep Courrier on staff particularly in lieu of upcoming projects, but some members of the council denied the need. Councilor Vern Bunke has long stated that the department has shown no accountability of time or proof of need. Last December, the council had agreed to continue the parttime position through the end of March 2013. At the February 25 council meeting, Bunke led a motion to terminate the part-
time employment of Courrier, effective March 29. The motion passed, in a 3 to 2 vote, by Bunke and Councilors Robert Dahl and Roger Colbenson. On March 6, Local 1944 filed two grievances with the city based on this decision. The union cited two applicable violations; the first in relation to seniority and the second to discipline and discharge. Both violations called for an adjustment of reinstatement of Courrier and to “make Employee whole.” Essentially, this means employees are generally treated as though they never left their position. The grievances also requested that the city rescind “improper layoff” and remove all references of termination from Courrier’s personnel file. According to City Clerk Kathy Zacher, the paperwork first went to Public Works Director Jeff Copley, who was required to See RUSHFORD Page 7
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CodeRED on your phone County has seen a range of 10 to 11 inches of snowfall just in the jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com past seven days. Of course, with Some people say there are two a heap of snowfall comes a heap seasons in Minnesota: winter and of trouble for travelers. construction. Fortunately, for weary travelers, Yet, others may say the two Fillmore County has invested in seasons are snow storms and tor- CodeRED, a nationally recognadoes. nized company utilized in many While Minnesotans don’t face states throughout the nation the challenges of hurricanes and and in the state of Minnesota. earthquakes like their neighbors According to Daryl Jensen, the on the East and West coasts, they Fillmore County Sheriff, several do see a fair share of snowy con- counties in Southeast Minnesota ditions and twisters. utilize CodeRED. According to the National See ALERTS Page 16 Climatic Data Center, Fillmore By Jason Sethre
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