COUNTRY
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020
Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
VOL. 37 NO. 19 www.countrymessenger.com $.75
NEWS : Staff urges City Council to consider sewer restructure. PAGE 2
May Supervisors meeting focuses on Water Roads
Digital photography class goes…digital CONTRIBUTED
Sometimes you just have to jump in with both feet and try it…. the switch to distance learning this past spring by elementary and secondary teachers, and students, essentially happened overnight, with very little preparation time. Teachers across the state and the country dove in and did their best, in very trying circumstances. As did the students, who not surprisingly missed their teachers and the ‘old’ way of doing things. While the focus was primarily on the regular school day classes, an instructor of an after-school digital photography class for students aged 9 – 14 years old at River Grove, a local K-6 charter school, recognized his class might appeal to students online. In addition, Carl Wegener was inspired by his daughter, a nurse working with COVID-19 patients, and he wanted to try to help health care families. Carl’s after-school classes combined unique ways to introduce his students to the workings of a camera together with in-person instruction. His contact at River Grove was Ele Anderson, the office manager and coordinator of after-school classes. Ele and Carl collaborated on moving the class to a distance-learning format, once the students could no longer attend school in person.
BY LESLIE MACKENZIE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
partner in Midco,” said Representative Bob Dettmer, who represents Scandia. “Access to reliable, high-speed Internet has long been a concern for our residents, and I am proud to have been able to play a role in bringing the city and Midco together to make it happen.” In January, Midco was
At the Sept. 3, board of supervisors meeting Mike Isensee of the Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District (CMSCWD) explained the results of a community engagement process that secured feedback from 310 residents in watershed communities. A citizen advisory committee, which includes five May Township residents, is reviewing the results now. The survey results will be used to guide the development of the next 10-year plan, which will be available for public comment in October. Eighty-five (85%) of respondents identified the most pressing issues for the next 10 years as 1. Aquatic invasives, 2. Terrestrial invasives, and 3. Stormwater runoff pollution. Additional concerns included 4. Erosion, 5. Ground water quality, and 6. Failing septic systems. When asked what the watershed district should prioritize, residents gave highest priority to aquatic invasives, enforcing existing rules and ensuring clean lakes, streams, wetlands and the St. Croix River. Isensee confirmed with the board of supervisors their top priorities for the CMSCWD were to: • Increase citizen-volunteer water monitoring programs • Secure two-thirds of the funding for the Panorama stormwater project, and • Keep the annual tax levy low. Isensee reported that the watershed board had recommended no increase in the levy for 2021. Isensee provided a written report on the impact of the work of the Watershed District over the past nine years. CMSCWD completed six large water quality improvement projects, with two more slated for 2021. In total, these projects will reduce phosphorus entering water resources by 187 pounds a year. One pound of phosphorus can feed 500 pounds of algae. Watershed staff provided technical assistance to 290 landowners, helping them complete 72 voluntary water quality improvement projects. Through its permitting program, CMSCWD helped property owners meet standards to safeguard or improve water quality during 176 redevelopment, new development or shoreline stabilization projects. The Watershed District also partnered with Washington County to increase boat inspections
SEE INTERNET, PAGE 2
SEE MAY, PAGE 2
SUBMITTED
Chairs – photographed by Remy Ost, age 11
“Carl has a wonderful approach to kids,” noted Ele. “He connects with the kids, making the class fun yet he is able to frame his constructive criticism in ways that the kids only see as positive, so they want to keep taking pictures and learn more.” Carl had previously created a program for students 9 – 14 years old called “Recycle Your Camera. com For Kids.” The mission of the program was “Empowering Kids with Knowledge and a Camera.” Carl found that as
most people primarily use a phone camera, many had digital cameras taking up space in their cabinets and drawers. Carl began collecting those digital cameras, whether operational or not, through donations from friends, neighbors and the general public. Carl then refurbished the cameras and provided them to his digital photography students, who would take home the camera at the end of the class. “Through SEE PHOTOGRAPHY, PAGE 9
Midco expands internet services to Scandia CONTRIBUTED
Midco is furthering its mission to bring broadband services to areas of Minnesota that are unserved or underserved. A ribbon cutting is scheduled for Sept. 16 in which the City and Midco will celebrate the communications company’s expansion of its Internet services. “I’m impressed with
the expediency in which Midco has implemented its Internet expansion in Scandia. From the award of the grant at the end of January, Midco is on schedule to complete this project by the end of October,” said Scandia City Council Member Patti Ray. “I’m also grateful to Midco adding even more homes to the project. This shows what a
good corporate partner Midco is to Scandia. The City looks forward to working with Midco on future expansions because it takes a strong government/corporate partnership to cover the costly installation of high-speed Internet in rural Scandia.” “This is a major accomplishment for the citizens of Scandia, and they have found a great
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