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Citizens speak out on mining By K aren R eisner kreisner@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Bryna Kohn, along with her sons Dyllon (left), Devan (right), and Dolten (front) will be moving into the Habitat for Humanity home in Harmony next year. Photo by Jade Wangen
Habitat for Humanity home to be built in Harmony By Jade Wangen jwangen@fillmorecountyjournal.com
A couple of years ago, Fillmore County built their first Habitat for Humanity Home in Rushford. In 2012, the second home will be going up, this time in Harmony. Bryna Kohn of Preston was recently chosen among the applicants to be the next partner in the project, and the next homeowner. Kohn originally came from Rochester, but she prefers living in a small town, especially since becoming a mother to three boys. She has been working at the Branding Iron for the past two years. Late in August, she heard about the Habitat for Humanity home and was encouraged to
apply for it. “I found out after about a month,” said Kohn. “I was really excited.” The home will be located on Niagara Court. Kohn said her boys, Dyllon, Devan, and Dolten, are very excited, too. “They want a dog,” she laughed. “I told them we have to build it first!” The house will have three bedrooms and one bathroom, and the kids will have a nice, big yard. There will be no basement, but Kohn will have the opportunity to add on to the home later if she wants. To qualify for a Habitat for Humanity home, a person must meet certain income guidelines,
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must have good credit, a need for a home, and be able to pay a mortgage. The homeowner must put in 300 hours of “sweat equity” work on the house and attend certain classes, such as home maintenance, budgeting, and landscaping. According to Megan Grebe of Habitat for Humanity, Kohn must now make payments toward a $1,700 down payment on the home. She will have a 30-year, zero percent interest loan. The plan is to start building the home in the spring, and Kohn says she should be in her home by Christmas of 2012. Kohn has never owned a house before, and she is really looking See HABITAT Page 15 Book Your Holiday Parties NOW!
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The Fillmore County Board at their November 22 meeting heard from four citizens during the citizen input portion of the meeting on the potential of significant growth of mining in the county, especially sand mining. About a dozen people were in attendance because of the mining issue. Vern Crowson, Chairman Pilot Mound Township Board, explained they had invited Richard Frick and his associates to their board meeting the week before to gather information for the potential sand pit at the Randy Boyum farm. Crowson said he had to wonder about several things as a land owner himself. Frick had talked about a sand vein that runs for about a mile. Crowson wondered about how many land owners could be involved and how large of project it could be if they all chose to participate. Crowson noted other counties have already decided to put a hold
on new projects so the issue can be studied. He suggested new conditional use permits could make Fillmore County a leader in the “frac sand” venture. Rita Leduc, Fountain, noted she had been doing a lot of reading on mining in Minnesota. She believes some state agencies are actively solicitating miners as the state has a large range of mineral resources. Leduc maintained that aerial surveys taken in the past have identified heavy metals in the region. A 2007 article suggests exploration has been done and potential project areas worthy of further exploration include Peterson Sill in Fillmore County. The exploration company was Prime Meridian Resources, a Canadian owned company. Leduc was concerned this county could be a target for heavy metal mining. She said this kind of mining has some of the same concerns as silica mining, plus other concerns. George Spangler, Preston, See MINING Page 3
Chatfield School Board discusses passage of levy son’s presentation, and the 20102011 financial report. mwalbridge@fillmorecountyjournal.com A topic of discussion at the At the monthly Chatfield school meeting was the recent passage board meeting on November 21, of the school’s two operating levy 2011, a wide variety of topics were questions on the November 8 balbrought in front of the board. All lot. The first question, to renew board members were present at the school’s operating levy, passed the meeting along with Superin- with a reasonable margin between tendent Edward Harris and other the “yes” and “no” votes. However, school administrators. Some of the second question, to add addithe main items on the agenda were tional revenue to maintain current the superintendent’s presentation, high school Principal Randy PaulSee CHATFIELD Page 14 By Mitchell Walbridge
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