October 15, 2023 | South Central News & Media
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Former St. Peter Mayor’s Islam Comments Draws Controversy Within Community By Robert Lawson Publisher info@nicolletcountyledger.com
Saint Peter resident Bill Nelson and a woman who also lives in Saint Peter approached the Saint Peter City Council during visitor discussion on Monday, October 9 to address comments the former Saint Peter mayor made in reference to a bid by the Islamic Center to purchase the old fire station. Nelson is
the co-president of the Saint Peter Good Neighbor Diversity Council. Several other members of the group were present at the meeting. Nelson introduced the group and its goal to the council: “Our mission is to provide crosscultural communication, leadership and advice to enable Saint Peter to be a caring, supportive and welcoming community for people of all racial, religious and other diverse backgrounds,” Nelson explained. Their Council Coordinating
Group membership, according to Nelson, is comprised of about 30 citizens, many of whom were at the council meeting, who are of varying ethnic, religious and age groups that include Somalis and other Africans, Caucasians, Indigenous, Asians, Hispanics, African Americans, Christians, Jews, Muslims and other religious groups. They’ve sponsored cultural events and offered community education programs. “We come before the city council
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County Attorneys (L-R) Michelle Zender-Fischer, Nicollet County; and Chuck Hanson, Brown County.
Counties Transition to New Pot Laws By Robert Lawson Publisher info@nicolletcountyledger.com
As counties prepare to transition to the legalization of recreational cannabis use, there remains some unanswered questions for law enforcement and county leaders as the state tries to come up with an economic development plan for the weed business. This story is part of an investigation dubbed “Minnesota
Home Grown: From Prohibition to Recreation” and interviews with local leaders and others will be aired on New Ulm Cable Access Television (NUCAT). The Ledger has also applied for additional funding from a PBS grant called the Local Journalism Initiative. In the run up to the November 2024 election, nearly half of all U.S. states have legalized cannabis in some way. We are focused on the new legislation and its impact on Nicollet County and nearby Brown County.
So far, the Ledger has interviewed two sources at the county level. Those interviews included Brown County Attorney Chuck Hanson and Nicollet County Attorney Michelle Zender-Fischer. Both interviews were supposed to include each county’s respective elected sheriff to get a law enforcement perspective. Former Saint Peter Mayor Peter Rheaume told the City Council there may need to be increased need for Those interviews had to be resched- police presence at the old fire hall if it were to become the home of the Islamic Center. uled due to personal matters of both Brown County Sheriff Jason Seidl and Nicollet County Sheriff David Lange.
Lafayette Memorial Park Dedication On August 28, The Lafayette Legion Post #300, City of Lafayette and Lafayette Band invited the public and their families to share in a special dedication ceremony of the Lafayette Memorial Park. The dedication was sponsored by the Lafayette
Legion #300. The ceremony took place on Sunday, September 17, 2023 at 4:00PM in the park located at 720 Main Avenue, Lafayette, MN 56054. The ceremony featured Lafayette Band performances, Lafayette Legion Color Guard,
a handful of guest speakers, the presentation of the pavers, and a display of past military uniforms in the community center. Following the ceremony, there was a complementary at will donation meal served to guests at the event. Members of the Saint Peter Good Neighbor Diversity Council approached the Saint Peter City Council to show support for the Muslim community after the former mayor implied their operation of a local Islamic Center in the old fire hall could be a public safety threat due to their religious beliefs. The Islamic Center was one of three groups who submitted a bid to the City of Saint Peter to purchase the property.
Saint Peter City Council Discusses Job Description, Safety Contract, Fun Run Help and Some Business License Applications By Robert Lawson Publisher info@nicolletcountyledger.com
The Saint Peter City Council met on Monday, October 9 to discuss a construction maintenance worker description, the MMUA safety contract, Halloween Fun Run assistance County Board of Commissioners were presented with this trophy for Continuous Improvement on March and business license applications. Saint Peter resident Bill Nelson and 14.
a woman who also lives in Saint Peter approached the council during visitor discussion to address comments the former Saint Peter mayor made in reference to a bid placed by the Islamic Center to purchase the old fire station. The woman was a Saint Peter high school graduate and daughter of the other co-president of the Saint Peter Good Neighbor Diversity
Mayor Fred Froehlich called the Special Meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. on September 27, 2023 in the Council Chambers. In addition to Mayor Froehlich, Council Members Mary Wels, Matt Anthony, and Kevin Ostermann were present at
The Truth and Taxation Hearing was set for Monday, December 4, 2023 at 6:00 pm with a regular city council meeting to follow. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:49 p.m. (Photo by Tony Webster).
Council. Nelson is the other copresident. They described comments made by the former mayor as misinformed and disparaging and are concerned with growing antimuslim sentiment in the community (see “Former St. Peter Mayor’s Islam Comments Draws Controversy” story from front page). They will be
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Nicollet City Council News Updates the meeting. Councilmember Phil Radel was absent. Nicollet city staff present at the meeting included Vanessa Drill. The purpose of the special meeting was to set the preliminary levy, preliminary budget for 2024, and
set the Truth in Taxation Hearing date for December 2023. Resolution # 09-27-23 – Adopting the Proposed 2024 Levy of $610,524.00 was approved on a motion made by Anthony and seconded by Ostermann. It was
approved unanimously by the city council. Resolution #09-27-23A – Adopting the Proposed 2024 Budget was approved on a motion by Wels and seconded by Anthony. It was approved unanimously.
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