Friday, March 29, 2024

From the archives of the dodge county independent

50 years ago

February 21, 1973

Folmer Carlsen, Publisher

Wore POW Bracelet…

Pictured above is Julie Kurtz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Kurtz of Kasson, displaying the POW bracelet she will be returning to Lt. Commander William Shankel of San Andreas, California. Shankel was in the first group of prisoners released by the North Vietnamese last week. The 12-year-old sixth grade student at KM has worn the bracelet since last Christmas. The bracelets are worn by many students and adults and are supposed to be worn until their servicemen return home. The bracelets were acquired for a $2.50 donation which went to VIVA, Voices in Vital America, for lobbying and other efforts to return the prisoners.

30 years ago

February 17, 1993

Randy Carlsen, Publisher

High percentage of state bridges rated ‘deficient’

Several years ago, then Governor Rudy Perpich, flew into Mantorville via helicopter to make an announcement. One of his remarks centered around replacement of the Mantorville bridge, which served as a background for the media event in Riverside Park. A few months later the project was off the project list, a victim of the budget axe. Now the Mantorville bridge project is back on the docket and slated for new construction in the spring of 1995. The Mantorville bridge is one of nearly one-fourth in the State of Minnesota considered deficient. Another 2,000 are expected to be labeled deficient in this decade. Total cost of the projects is estimated at $1.2 billion. Nearly 88 percent of the current deficient bridges are under local jurisdiction — county, township and municipal. The estimated $1 million Mantorville project does not fall under that category. The Mantorville bridge does fall under the category of being one of the more than 38 precent that is 50 years or older. The average life-span of a bridge is 60 years. Funding for Minnesota bridges declined at the same time travel grew and the inventory of aging bridges increased. Federal funding for bridges has declined and travel on Minnesota roads has increased 28 percent since 1980. State and local funding for bridges decreased 12 percent between 1983 and 1988. Dodge County has 171 bridges. Of that total, 50 are rated deficient. In the 11-county district there are some 2,565 bridges and 800 are rated deficient.

20 years ago

February 19, 2003

Randy Carlsen, Publisher

Historic Mantorville bridge model holds County Highway Department sign

Expansion and improvements to the Dodge County Highway Department facility on Airport Drive in Dodge Center include a model of the old Mantorville bridge. County Highway Engineer Guy Kohlnhofer said the idea came from employee Kirk Rolfson to duplicate, in miniature, the old Mantorville bridge that was replaced several years ago, and use the model to hold up the sign that identifies the facility. Kohlnhofer was able to get the original plans for the old bridge from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and fed the specifications into a computer program to get a 1 to 16 scale. The model follows the basic design of the old bridge but isn’t an exact replica. Highway Department employees Bob Carstensen and Jim Kyllo were the bridge construction crew. The sign and landscape wall were put up the week of Jan. 22, and in the spring, grass, bushes and a flagpole will be added. Electrical wiring is in place for a floodlight that will light the sign and the flag 24 hours a day. “We thought we should have something more interesting than a plain brown sign,” Kohlnhofer said. “See, engineers are creative people, sometimes.”

10 years ago

February 20, 2013

Randy Carlsen, Publisher

Mantorville resident asks age-old question, “Why should I pay the city for a service I don’t use?”

At their meeting Monday, February 11, 2013, the Mantorville City Council members listened to resident Dan Root protest against the $3/month storm sewer fee the city charges to all residents. Root said he lives on the very edge of the city on Riverview Road, his property has no curb or gutter and he doesn’t use city water or sewer. He said there is a ditch near the property that carries water away down the street, eventually to the Zumbro River. City Clerk/Treasurer Cami Reber had provided a handout explaining that the city approved a storm water fee in 2010 for every parcel of land within the city limits with a structure. Many towns in southeast Minnesota have a similar fee to help pay for the repair or replacement of ditches, ponds, storm sewers, catch basins and the like. Runoff water must be managed to control flooding, prevent erosion, maintain water quality, pollution control, and because it is mandated by the federal Clean Water Act and state regulations. All council members agreed the city could not waive the fee. Council member Henry Blair said people are affected by run off water from the highest property down. The problem is drawing a line. “If we eliminate your property, do we eliminate the next, and the next and the next?” he asked. The council and members of the audience talked about changes to the city animal ordinance. After many comments including how many dogs should residents be allowed to have, whether or not chickens should be allowed in the city, and whether or not the city should regulate cats, the council decided to table the ordinance. A draft ordinance will be sent to the city attorney and the council tentatively scheduled a public hearing for March 11. City Clerk/Treasurer Cami Reber said the council was not required to have a public hearing about the ordinance, but there is so much interest in the issue, it is probably a good idea. Reber also said the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization (LBAE) meeting for city tax payers who have questions about their property taxes has been scheduled for April 29. Reber also said she has received requests for the city to clear snow from the trails and to fix the drainage issues on Hickory Lane and on Walnut north of Ninth. Council member Down Swanson said the Economic Development Authority is looking for businesses that could use the available low interest loan funds. Mayor Chuck Radford said the revolving loan funds the EDA has available are for capital investments that would stay in the city. Blair reported that the park board is reviewing the purchase of security cameras for the park shelter. Rog Nolte from the fire department presented changes to the Relief Association bylaws as required by changes in the state statutes relating to pensions.

 

 

Dodge County Independent

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