Fall 2024 news tab (Mower County, City of Austin, Austin Public Schools, Mower SWCD)

NEWS Fall 2024

By Dr. Joey Page Superintendent, Austin Public Schools

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By Shaylie Meyer Supervisor of Health Services, Austin Public Schools

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NEWS

By Katie Baskin Executive Director of Academics and Administration, Austin Public Schools

JOB OPENINGS

AHS HOMECOMING On Sept. 27, Austin High students walked down Second Ave NW from campus to the Wescott Athletic Complex for a Friday afternoon pep rally at the football field.

Following the rally, the Homecoming parade started at Wescott and headed east on Fourth Ave NW to the high school. This included various AHS floats, including one with AHS Homecoming Queen Makkel Gibson and King Moreti Idjidina.

Austin High’s Saturday night Homecoming dance also was at the football stadium.

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NEWS

Dome days ahead at Wescott

By Todd Lechtenberg APS Executive Director of Finance and Operations

Fall in Austin means many things: the leaves are changing; use at no cost seven days a week. Walking/running at the dome there’s a chill in the air; and it’s almost time for the Packer is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 8 a.m.

Dome to go up for safe winter fun and activities! to 3 p.m. on Saturdays; and Noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

As of now, the dome is anticipated to go up in mid-November “Open dome” costs $5 per person, which includes use of the and remain open through some time in mid- to late April. Dome batting cages when available. Open-dome hours vary based on parking is on its west side off 14th Street NW. Entry to the the season and can be found on the dome’s new Facebook page: dome is on its north side near the parking lot. www.facebook.com/WescottSportsComplex Packer Dome is an enclosed area that covers the turf of Art Individuals and organizations also can rent the entire dome, Hass Stadium and is climate controlled to about 55 degrees. It just the fields or half of a field. This is a great place for a family features a walking/running area, batting cages and fields perfect gathering or birthday party. for organized athletic competitions or informal play.

For rental details or the dome schedule, go online at: While the dome does not have a formal, indoor track, a walking/running area is designated for walkers and runners to

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NEWS

Austin Public Schools has tremendous student talent led by incredible staff.

We are proud to provide public performances throughout the year and invite the public to see the wonderful productions put on by our students and staff.

Austin residents who are age 65 and older can get a free pass allowing entry to home sporting events, drama productions and music concerts. It is not accepted for tournament play and some special concerts. We hope to see you at this year’s APS activities, events and performances.

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NEWS

Austin is working to revitalize the Oakland Avenue corridor while making it a safe, welcoming and inclusive place for residents and businesses.

The City of Austin is requesting ideas from the public to improve this important community corridor.

This process for Oakland Avenue started July 10-11, 2024, with a public workshop where Austin residents learned about steps other communities are taking to encourage equitable development; shared their visions and goals for Oakland Avenue; and brainstormed specific actions that could be done to make the corridor more vibrant, attractive, welcoming and safe.

Now the City of Austin is seeking to gather more community feedback on these actions and add any key actions that are missing.

You can help by filling out an online poll by the City of Austin to rank top ideas under four goals: English: forms.gle/iram5xXBVm7HaCNFA Spanish: forms.gle/JWMbCFTKrLksEeFE7

2024 Election Information For the General Election on Nov. 5, the City of Austin’s polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

You must vote at your correct precinct but your polling site might have changed due to 2020 Census redistricting.

Please review the city map above to find your ward and precinct. You also can verify your polling location online or by calling the City Clerk’s Office at 507-437-9940.

Live: Vote at: 1 City Hall – Council Chambers. Ward 1, Precinct 1 2 Austin High’s Hastings Gym. Ward 1, Precinct 2 3 Southgate Elementary School. Ward 2, Precinct 1 4 Banfield Elementary School. Ward 2, Precinct 2 5 Mower County Senior Center. Ward 3, Precinct 1 6 Ellis Middle School. Ward 3, Precinct 2 The City of Austin thanks the team of volunteer election judges for their dedication and hard work!

If you have questions about voting, please contact City Clerk Brianne Wolf at 507-437-9940.

To verify your voting site, go online at:

pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us

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NEWS Leaves and salt: Help protect our local waters

By Michael Rask Water Quality/GIS Specialist, City of Austin

Fire-safety tips for all

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NEWS Upcoming Park & Rec activities

Starting in January: • Coed volleyball • Dome baseball • Youth archery MSF Youth Volleyball Tournament will be April 12-13, 2025.

Information on all these activities can be found the “Austin Park & Recreation Department” page on Facebook; registration details can be found and completed online at www.ci.austin.mn.us under “Parks, Recreation & Forestry – Online Registration.” For questions, call Park & Rec at 507-433-1881.

Austin Citywide archery deer hunt With confirmation from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the city is holding a special deer bow hunt again this fall to help keep the deer population at a healthy level.

All hunters needed to pass a proficiency test and complete their bowhunter education course before applying to participate in the hunt. Deer stands must be 100 feet from trails and 150 feet from structures.

• Maximum loan is $6,000.

• @ci.austin.mn.us

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NEWS

By Chief David McKichan Austin Police Department

MnDOT’s I-90 bridges project

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NEWS

Election reminders ahead of Nov. 5

By Scott Felten

County, city seek community input to shape future It is an exciting time in Mower County and the City of Austin as both are planning and reaching out to community members to shape the next decades and beyond.

County and city officials are partnering with Impact Austin and SEH to update their individual comprehensive plans together.

Initial activities focus on bringing people together to create an overall future vision for the county and city.

Once a vision is developed for both, the next phase will seek to understand our communities’ priorities for initiatives related to land use, economic development, transportation, housing, parks and recreation, infrastructure and community services.

By the fall/winter of 2025, complete plan revisions are expected to be ready for public comment and adoption by the Austin City Council or Mower County Board.

You can take the survey online at: atwww.compplan2045.com You will answer three questions to share your vision For more information, contact: for the City of Austin and Mower County. This is an • Valerie Sheedy (Mower County project manager) opportunity to reflect on what a high quality of life will at valeries@co.mower.mn.us mean for future generations.

• Holly Wallace (City of Austin project manager) at Other engagement opportunities will include a series of hollyw@ci.austin.mn.us surveys, community workshops, stakeholder focus groups, social media, email updates and pop-up events.

• Nick Novotny (Impact Austin project manager) at This project’s website also hosts an interactive map, nick@austindca.org. where you can drop pins and comments showing us what For updates on the comprehensive plans, sign up for you love; what you want more of; and what you’d like to see differently. email updates at: www.compplan2045.com

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NEWS

By Allison Scott

You might be unfamiliar with the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) but it is vital in gaining a snapshot of the current health status of a community like ours.

Mower County’s statistics are a cause for concern but we cannot stop there;. We need to understand why.

• Why was Mower County ranked 81st out of 87 Minnesota counties in “Quality of Life” in 2023?

• Why was Mower County ranked 73rd for “Health Outcomes” and 69th for “Health Factors”? various statistics such as these; however, barriers? Reliable transportation issues?

• In 2022, the Minnesota Student that usually is where the story ends without Food or housing instability?

Survey revealed that for the state, ever answering these questions.

The CHNA asks questions like this to about 25 percent of surveyed chilWe must ask: What is causing such an help identify the root cause of some of dren self-reported having experiencinflux in our county? these jarring statistics. es with suicidal ideation.

This assessment is set by the Minnesota • Why was Mower County consistent- The CHNA is not simply a snapshot of Health Department to be done by local ly ranked higher than this average in our community’s current health status. It dives deeper than the surface-level statispublic health departments every five years all surveyed groupings of 8th, 9th tics. While health is the CHNA’s main and nonprofit hospitals every three years and 11th graders? With 37 percent focus, it incorporates both social and envi- to keep information current. of our 11th-graders who reported ronmental factors that can lead to poor Using qualitative and quantitative data these experiences. health outcomes. collection, an action plan can be estabCountless surveys are done, reporting Accessibility to health care? Language lished to help mitigate some of these top

• As winter approaches, the public gets concerned about access to work, school and business.

People driving during the winter will encounter equipment removing snow and ice. Amber or blue flashing lights generally are the first indication such equipment is being used in the area.

The traveling public’s safety and convenience is of utmost concern to the Mower County Highway Department.

Our goal is to have all Mower County roads passable as soon as possible after the conclusion of winter storms.

The traveling public is reminded: • Exercise caution; drive with care.

• Keep in mind that the legal speed limits might not be possible de-

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pending on road conditions.

Serious injury or death can be avoided if motorists use caution around snow-removal equipment.

Snowplow safety awareness tips: • Yield to snowplows. They drive slower than posted speeds.

• Give the snow plow room to

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work safely on the roadway.

Slow down. Never use cruise control on wet or icy roads.

Stay alert. A snowplow weighs 17 times more than your car.

Never drive into a snow cloud.

Be patient. Follow a safe distance (8 seconds) behind a plow.

It is unlawful to deposit snow or ice from driveways onto or across public roads. Piles of snow and ice can freeze into a solid mass creating a hazardous situation. Any accidents or damages caused by piles placed in the roadway may become the liability of the property owner or offending party.

Parked vehicles are not allowed in the right of way (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 160.2715).

factors. This data is not just for the facilitating organizations but also is made public to inform community partners and the community itself. In turn, this produces a unified target for all county members.

We want to hear from YOU. Please get involved and make a difference in our community’s health and future.

Some of you have been selected randomly to fill out our official survey. If you were selected, you should have received this survey in the mail by now. We greatly appreciate you taking time to complete it.

But what if I want to contribute more than just surveys?

That’s fantastic. We are taking note of interest for focus groups or community listening sessions. If you are interested in either of those opportunities, please call or text Mower County’s community health educator at 507-481-4863 or via email: allisons@co.mower.mn.us Please note that participation is kept anonymous, with no identifiable traces of how you answered.

We look forward to hearing your voices because together, we can build a safer, healthier and stronger community for all Mower County residents.

Mower County’s Records’ Office has started a free “Property Watch” program for the public.

Anyone can sign up for the program that notifies you any time a document is recorded in the County Recorder’s office with your name on it.

To sign up, just provide your name and email address online at: If you have questions or need assistance with signing up for “Property Watch,” contact the Recorder’s Office at 507-437-9493.

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NEWS

Other Homestead Deadlines 4c(3)(ii) nonprofit – May 1 Mobile home homesteads – May 29 Veteran’s exemptions – Dec. 31 Exempt status – July 1

Homestead applications and special ag applications – Dec. 31 Relative homestead applications – Between Jan. 2 and Dec. 31

By Tyler Lendt

By Marcus Thompson

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NEWS Voigt Family Farms, of Taopi, is this year’s Conservationists of the Year for Mower County.

This annual recognition is chosen by the Mower Soil & Water Conservation District’s Board of Supervisors.

The Voigts — Devin, Darin, Dustin and Dallas with their parents David and Beth — run a farm operation that includes raising beef cattle, growing cash crops on a corn-soybean rotation and running a manure-pumping business.

Over the years, the Voigts have maintained and installed numerous grassed waterways that helps protect against field erosion on their cropland.

In recent years, the Voigt family also has focused on incorporating soil-health practices that include starting a strip-till system,

planting more small grains, using cover crops and adopting no-till on some fields.

In addition, the Voigts continue to collaborate with Mower SWCD and the Cedar River Watershed District on major flood-reduction projects and for 16 years have supported the SWCD-CRWD staff’s water-monitoring efforts.

“The Voigts are great examples of conservation-minded farmers,” said Cody Fox, Mower SWCD’s district manager.

“They have seen firsthand the value of rotating crops, applying cattle to the landscape and reducing tillage.”

In December, the Voigts will be honored with other conservation-minded farmers in Minneapolis at the annual meeting of the Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD).

Farmers interested in incentive payments for using soil-health practices — no tillage, strip tillage and/or cover crops — are encouraged to contact the Mower SWCD staff to find out more ahead of the 2025 growing season.

Strip till (as shown in the Mower SWCD drone photo at an Aug. 6 field event near Adams put on by Nexus Cooperative) involves narrow strips tilled in the soil but plant residue between the rows is left undisturbed. This allows for good soil drainage and air flow while maintain the soil’s biological health.

For more information, contact Mower SWCD district technician Micah Peterson at micah@mowerdistrict.org or call 507-434-2603, ext. 5.