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Inside today’s journal
Weekly Edition
Who will replace the mailman? Pages 12-18
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Monday, September 12, 2011
Local sports in full swing
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Volume 26 Issue 51
Lanesboro approves levy page
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Soil tests to reduce fertilizer expenses page
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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
Protecting the President By Jason Sethre
jsethre@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Nearly a month has passed since President Barack Obama visited Fillmore County, and people are still talking about this historic event. While most spectactors had a view from the sidelines of Highway 52, there was one Fillmore County resident who worked in the background to help protect the president. On Friday, August 5, Sheriff Daryl Jensen was notified that the president was going to be traveling through Fillmore County on Monday, August, 15. The Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office seldom interacts with the United States Secret Service, usually only when there is some sort of credit card fraud. When Jensen received a phone call from the U.S. Secret Service about the president’s visit, he knew there would need to be a tremendous amount of communication and coordination to provide the support needed to escort the president through Fillmore County. Sheriff Jensen recalled the last time he assisted with the motorcade escort of a U.S. president was when Bush came to Rochester. Since the U.S. Secret Service manages the security of the president at all times, they have very specific directives for all local law enforcement and supporting agencies. To prepare for the president’s visit, the U.S. Secret Service drove the route from Cannon Falls to Prosper, bringing up roughly 40 areas of concern. Every road and every driveway entering Highway 52 was viewed as a potential risk, and the U.S. Secret Service gave Jensen and his team the responsibility of securing those areas in collaboration with MnDOT, Olmsted County
Preston sets preliminary levy more detailed explanation of this change can be found in this kreisner@fillmorecountyjournal.com week’s County Board article.) According to Hoffman the The Preston City Council loss of market value credit will approved the preliminary levy not effect the city’s budget but reflecting a small decrease for 2012 at their September 6 will effect the property ownmeeting. City Administrator er’s tax statement. The change Joe Hoffman noted that city will reduce fluctuation in the staff made a number of adjust- future as the state has reduced ments and additional reductions payments from preliminary which resulted in a property tax estimates over the past several levy decrease of .04 percent or years. Hoffman stated that one of $270. The total levy for 2011 was $653,499, and for 2012 it the most important things we will be $653,229. Councilman do is create revenue by taxing the public and establishing David Collett abstained. Hoffman was quick to point priorities for the use of that out that this doesn’t mean revenue. Mayor Kurt Reicks property taxes for residents maintained streets have to be will come down, as there is a priority in the near future. the county and school district Hoffman noted some current levy and also the new prop- bonds will expire between 2015 erty tax exclusion law from the and 2017. Councilman Charles state which will effect property Sparks said something will have taxes. The state at their special to be started before then. Reicks added that a three persession eliminated the market value credit and replaced it with cent increase in the levy would the market value exclusion. (A See PRESTON Page 8 By K aren R eisner
Fillmore County Sheriff Daryl Jensen stands in his office displaying the original sign that hung in the window of the “pilot car” leading President Obama from Cannon Falls to the state line in Prosper. In addition, in his left hand resting upon the sign is a United States Secret Service patch Sheriff Jensen received when he traded one of his Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office patches with a U.S. Secret Service agent. Photo by Jason Sethre Sheriff’s Office, Winona County Sheriff’s Office, Fillmore County Highway Department, Preston Public Works, Preston Police Department, Harmony Fire Department and Harmony Public Works. There was a pretty big outreach of law enforcement support. Collectively, there were 60 officers securing the areas of concern throughout the entire stretch of Highway 52 in Fillmore County. As if there wasn’t enough excitement revolving around the president’s anticipated visit, on Thursday, August 11, Sheriff Jensen was notified that he would have the opportunity to personally escort the president from Cannon Falls to Prosper as part of the motorcade. Menu Specials Sept. 16, 17, 18
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“I worked closely with my Chief Deputy, Tom Kycek, to do most of the planning for this visit, and we had everything figured out by noon on Friday, August 12. Kycek was proud to be a part of that.” That day came on Monday, August 15, and Sheriff Jensen was up early and traveling to Cannon Falls. Jensen was then told he would be riding in the “pilot car,” which is the vehicle traveling right in front of the president’s black bus. “Our focus was on communications and monitoring the route between Cannon Falls and the state line,” said Jensen. All officers and assisting personnel See SHERIFF Page 2
County discusses elimination of market value credit Homestead Market Value Exclusion. The state will no long send kreisner@fillmorecountyjournal.com out homestead credits ($292 milCounty Assessor Cynthia lion) to local governments. In a nutshell, local governBlagsvedt at the county board’s ments will be picking up the September 6 meeting explained MVHC portion of the levy that the new 2011 special session prophas been paid for by the state, erty tax law. The state currently operates under the Market Value which will result in increases in Homestead Credit (MVHC) for- property taxes for most property mula where local governments owners. This increase will occur receive a market credit reimburse- even if the county were to keep ment from the state. With the its levy level from 2011 to 2012. Fillmore County is expected new law the MVHC will be eliminated for 2012 and thereafSee COUNTY Page 9 ter and will be replaced with the By K aren R eisner
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Live Music . . .Fri, Sept. 16
Trail Anniversary Reception Friday, Sept. 16, 4-6pm Museum Deck
Irish Minstrels @ Riverside 9:00pm -11:00pm
Ice Cream Social FREE