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POSTAL PATRON
“Where Fillmore County News Comes First” Weekly Edition
Pages 10-11
Monday, April 2, 2012
Chatfield considers water main improvements page
7
Community Services Director appointed page
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Volume 27 Issue 18
Fillmore Central approves program page
Spring Valley hears audit report
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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
County mining ordinance debated By K aren R eisner kreisner@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Gerri Nielsen received the Horace Mann Abraham Lincoln Fellowship.
Photo submitted
Fillmore Central teacher to walk in Lincoln’s shoes
She gets to visit his stomping grounds, where he lived as a jsexton@fillmorecountyjournal.com young man, and where he left Last year, Gerri Nielsen, who on the train when he became teaches English at Fillmore senator, for five days. Central High School, applied This year, Nielsen filled out for a Horace Mann Abraham an application stating why she Lincoln Fellowship, but she wanted to win the award. The did not win. This year, she contest also included getting was much luckier. On Monday, votes on Facebook, but Nielsen March 26, she was surprised at won because of her application. Only two people of the 50 that the school with the award. “I thought it would be kind won were from Minnesota. of cool to go to Springfield and According to Nielsen, there learn about Lincoln,” shared will be a lot of fun activities those five days. “We are going Nielsen. Winning this fellowship to see the house where he lived, means that this summer, Niels- his old law office, the origien gets an all-expense paid trip nal Springfield capital, and to Springfield, Illinois, where the new capital building,” said Lincoln was born and raised. Nielsen. “There is a Lincoln By Jade Sexton
museum there, and a lot of stuff in town. There will also be some side trips to see other things he did.” Lincoln is Nielsen’s favorite president, so this trip will be very interesting to her. “I want to go learn more about Lincoln,” she shared. “With this election coming up, and these crazy people, I just don’t know why we can’t have a president like Lincoln, where things just get done.” Nielsen said she feels that Lincoln was a real man for the people, and that today’s politi-
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See MINING Page 2
New Rushford trail nearly a reality By K irsten Zoellner kzoellner@fillmorecountyjournal.com
The proposed trail extension, which the city has fought diligently for, is now one step closer to reality. Tied to the existing Root River State Trail, the recreational draw is expected to run north from the current trail, along the eastern top of the levee system, past Creekside Park and the Hoiland Mill, and connect-
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See NIELSEN Page 6
The Sand Committee met for the third time on March 28. Member David Williams outlined his own recommendations for additions and language changes to the current ordinance. There were about fifteen people from the public present representing mining interests and those concerned about the effects of more and larger mining operations. Discussion from both committee members and the public on current regulations and proposed changes was ongoing. Zoning Administrator Chris Graves provided some definitions of various methods of mining. There seemed to be a general agreement that underground mining including tunneling, shafting, or hydraulic dredging would not be allowed. Commissioner Duane Bakke maintained that the surface mine is what we are looking
at. County Attorney Brett Corson said the current ordinance doesn’t bar any specific type of extraction right now and doesn’t mention underground mining. Graves said the ordinance needs to clearly define what is allowed. County Engineer John Grindeland said what starts as a surface mine becomes a pit mine. Bakke noted current sand pits and quarries go below grade now. Paul Leduc, Pilot Mound Township, suggested they have a restriction requiring a limit as to how close they can be to the water table. Bakke suggested geological surveys should help in determining that. Planning Commission member Gary Ruskell questioned whether there should be language as to what is a large or small mining operation. Bakke said the state has rules regarding those over 40 acres where an EAW is required and 160 acres where an EIS is required.
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ing with the Magelssen Bluff Trail System. The trail will also run south from the trail, along the west side levee system, following the joining of the Rush Creek and Root Rivers. The city had hoped to have the trail cross under the north end Rush Creek bridge, but the Army Corps of Engineers denied their request citing downstream water flow impacts. A cooperaSee RUSHFORD Page 10
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