A letter from Representative John Ward, District 12A

Hello from State Representative John Ward, District 12A, I represent the following townships; Center, Crow Wing, Irondale, Lake Edward, Long Lake and Oak Lawn.

Recently I had the honor and privilege of being one of the judges to determine the winners of the 2008 MTA Scholarship Program. The other two judges were Julie Skallman and Jon Stafsholt. The three of us received the 31 final essays from the original hundreds of entrants to decide who the winners would be. Each essay was assigned a number and did not include the student’s names or location.

Being a former teacher, it was with great joy to read each of these 31 essays and see the quality of all of them. Each essay was very organized, had excellent composition skills and was researched to the fullest. Many included personal stories of their own involvement in township government. I learned many things about township governments that I did not know before. I could sense the pride and excitement these students had for their individual township. It made our job very difficult as they all were winning essays!! The winners will receive their scholarship award at a MAT banquet on November 21, 2008 at the Arrowhead Resort in Alexandria, MN.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the participants on a job very well done. Also, thanks to the MTA for sponsoring such a wonderful program and giving me the opportunity to be involved. With students like these, our country's future is bright and promising.

 Respectfully, Representative John Ward, District 12A

Spotlight on shingobee Township

Shingobee Township is actually two adjacent townships covering approximately 72 square miles in the northwest part of Cass County. 
As unusual as that seems, Cass County has a number of “double townships”.  Much of the township is comprised of the Chippewa National Forest, the Leech Lake Reservation and Leech Lake.  The township will be one hundred years old in 2013.

Shingobee or “Zhingobiig” in the Ojibwe language, as translated by an interpreter at the Bug O Nay Ge Shig School in Bena, MN, means Balsam firs (plural) an abundance of which can be found the Walker area.  In the Anishinaabemowin, Ojibwe language, the double “ii” makes the English sound of a double “ee”.

The township employs a full time road superintendent in addition to
the part time clerk/treasurer position.  The township owns its road equipment and is responsible for maintaining over 40 miles of roads,
half is paved and half is gravel.  Maintaining and plowing roads is a cooperative effort in this part of Cass County.  The numerous lakes and rugged terrain create challenges when roads are plowed; the best plowing route for some roads may be from an adjacent townships.  For example, Hiram Township plows roads in southern Shingobee Township because it is the more efficient method.  Shingobee, likewise, crosses into Turtle Lake Township, directly to the east, to clear selected roads because the terrain makes it more efficient to approach from that direction.

The township had an estimated population of 1,788 in 2003, much larger than the cities in the area and second only to the southern Cass County township of Sylvan.  Their annual budget is over $650k.  In 2006, Walker, the nearest city, had an estimated population of 1,114.  Many township residents live close enough to Walker to consider Walker their address; residents in the southern portion of the township identify Hackensack as their address while others in the southwestern portion use Akeley as their address.

The township is in the second year of a ten year moratorium on annexation with the city of Walker.  Fire protection and emergency services are contracted through the cities of Walker and Hackensack; police service is provided by the Cass County Sheriff.  Shingobee is a civic minded township which supports and makes annual donations to a number of non-profit organizations in the area.  Renee Geving of the Cass County Historical Society reports that she is especially thankful for the support of the township. 

Shingobee Township is governed by a five member board of supervisors which meet the second Wednesday of each month; additional meetings are held on the 4^th Wednesday of the month from April to September.  The chairman is Orville Rosenberry; supervisors are Brad Fagerman, Tim Orton, Connie Kaylor and Ron Geiser.  Ann Swanson is the clerk/treasurer which is an appointed position.  The supervisors stressed that the cooperation, respect and willingness to talk things out between representatives of the cities, county and townships is outstanding.  Connie Kaylor, the vice chair and life long resident, is quoted as saying ”It’s a good place to live.”

RURAL RESIDENTS MUST BE THEIR OWN WATER MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS  
By Kari Tomperi, Wadena County Local Water Resource Technician

Too many rural residents relying on private wells do not know the quality of their drinking water; they are not testing their water often enough or not at all. Properly constructed and maintained water wells can provide many years of trouble-free service, but like any other mechanical devices, wells will eventually deteriorate or become damaged, and allow surface contaminants to enter the water. In addition, some groundwater can contain one or more chemical substances in concentrations above state health limits. City residents are fortunate they have a technician who makes sure the public water supply the city provides meets the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act or notify you if the water fails any of 80 tests.

There are no laws currently requiring a rural resident to test their water, however, state regulations now require licensed water well contractors (and anyone constructing a new well for his or her personal use) to have the water from each new drinking water well tested for nitrates, coli form bacteria and recently enacted, once for arsenic. The test result must be provided to the well owner before placing the well into service. This one time test is a good baseline but coli form bacteria should be tested yearly, especially if you have opened up your water system for repairs or component replacement. Nitrates, if not over the 10 ppm standard, should be every two years or so. Arsenic is usually a one time test, either it is present or not. There are many other tests but rural water sources are most commonly tested for lead, usually found from piping and not the well, pesticides, Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) and fluoride.

Testing should be completed by a certified lab. Costs will very but nitrate and coli form bacteria tests average $25 to $40. Nitrates and coli form bacteria are the two most common tests because nitrates are the most volatile in the water column and are a good indicator or screen for potential contamination. Testing for nitrates is critical if there is an infant or someone who is pregnant in the home. Coli form bacteria is a screen for the “living” things that could be present in your water. Although not a certified lab, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has been offering a free nitrate testing clinic throughout the region for many years. If nitrates register, then it is recommended to proceed with a certified lab but this is an opportunity for a quick check.

 As a well owner, it is important to assure the long term safety of your investment in safe drinking water. While a well requires a surprisingly small amount of maintenance and care, here are some of the things you should check on:

• Test your well water at a state-certified laboratory.

• Maintain the minimum setback or "isolation" distances between the well and buildings, electric lines and gas pipes, and sources of contamination, such as sewers, septic systems, and fuel tanks.

• Protect the well from damage by being careful not to bump the well with lawn mowers, snowplows, or other equipment.

• Keep the well and plumbing connections watertight. Make sure the well has an approved well cap or cover and keep it on tight.

• Prevent backflow by making sure that hoses and faucets have backflow prevention devices. Do not submerge hoses in any liquids.

• If you have a septic system, keep it in good condition by having a complying system, evaluating the amount of solids in the septic tank at least once every three years, and not disposing of hazardous materials in the septic system.

• Prevent contaminants from entering the well by keeping the top of the well casing and the well cap or cover at least 1 foot above ground, preventing the well from being flooded, and keeping the area around it free from hazardous chemicals.

• Disinfect the well with chlorine following pump replacement, repair of the well or plumbing system, or if flooding has occurred.

• Inspect your well for cracks, subsidence of the ground around the casing, a missing or loose cover, or other problems. Have the problems corrected.

• Have service work done only by a qualified contractor licensed to work on wells.

• Seal unused or abandoned wells to protect groundwater and your own well from contamination. State law requires unused wells to be sealed by a licensed well contractor, or be under a state maintenance permit.

• Keep records of the well, maintenance, water sample test results, and well sealing with the other important papers about your property.

As a township officer, water and sewer is a difficult subject to address but it is important to understand what your local water issues might be for your township and be pro-active in education and awareness. Many of the soils in the Region Five area are sandy soils with high water tables. Those with Planning and Zoning need to be aware of the setbacks and distances to protect drinking water.

Several townships in Wadena County have offered the free nitrate screening through the MDA, Thomastown offers this clinic every year in April. Contact your Local Water Plan Coordinator to see if this option is available in your county. Much of the information in this article is made available at the Minnesota Department of Health website.

Cold Weather Rule

This message about cold weather can help to keep your family warm in your home.

First, in Minnesota there is a Cold Weather Rule that says residential customers who cannot pay their bills in full will not lose their heat from October 15 to April 15. If you receive a shut off notice you may qualify if it affects your main heating source. You may apply for one of three plans.

In the first, the Inability to Pay Plan, you must:

• be paid up before October 15

• meet federal income guidelines

• be unable to pay your bill, but willing to make a payment plan

If you were not fully paid up by October 15th, there is also a 10% plan. You pay 10% of your monthly income each month toward your bill.

Finally, there is a Reconnection Plan if you did not pay your bill in full before October 15. YOU MUST APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION WITHIN 7 WORKING DAYS after receiving a shut off notice to qualify for the reconnection plan.

To qualify for the Cold Weather Rule you may have to attend credit-counseling services. For more information about cold weather shut off, call your local utility or for Energy Assistance call the number below.

Foreclosure Prevention Program Now Available in Cass County
Elizabeth Misco, Bi-County CAP, Inc

Bi-County CAP, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides a wide range of services aimed at helping low-income people become self-sufficient.  Bi-CAP, an anti-poverty agency that serves the communities located in Beltrami and Cass Counties, was established in 1965 under the Economic Opportunity Act.  Bi-CAP’s purpose is to help low-income people empower themselves as they move towards self-sufficiency and to motivate the larger community to be more responsive to their needs.  Bi-CAP achieves this through a variety of programs that provide housing and homeless prevention programs, assistance with utility costs, education for parents and children through our Head Start, Early Start and our Birth to Three programs and by instilling pride and a sense of responsibility in at-risk youth through our Youth Build program, which was awarded the 2003 Best Practice Award by the Minnesota Community Action Partnership.

In February of this year, the federal government, through the NFMC, awarded $130 million to be appropriated through NeighborWorks of America.  Various state agencies were to provide counseling to families and individuals facing the threat of foreclosure. An NFMC grant was awarded to Minnesota Housing, a State Housing Finance Agency.  Bi-County CAP, Inc. was awarded funds as a sub-grantee of Minnesota Housing and the Home Ownership Center of Minnesota.  As an agency that seeks to meet community needs, Bi-CAP recognized the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling program as an opportunity to address the alarming trend of foreclosures throughout the communities we serve.

The foreclosure prevention outreach effort was designed to make Minnesota’s at-risk homeowners aware of their options.  Out-reach efforts encourage homeowners to act before they get behind on their mortgage payments.  In 2008, an estimated 80,000 home owners are expected to become delinquent on their mortgage payments. As the foreclosure crisis continues, more and more Minnesota homeowners face the possibility of losing their homes. For many homeowners, taking action early will allow them to keep their home. Working with a foreclosure counselor will help many homeowners avoid foreclosure. Bi-CAP’s housing counselors and loan servicers work with homeowners to explore potential solutions such as extending their mortgages to make up missed payments, temporarily lowering payments or lowering their interest rates to make loans more affordable.  Bi-CAP’s foreclosure prevention initiative is designed to reach homeowners early in the process and help them understand their options.

Bi-CAP is also conducting a public awareness campaign targeting home owners living in our communities hardest hit by foreclosures. We are working to educate front line staff at libraries, schools, public and social service agencies and local government to increase their awareness of the foreclosure prevention options available for our residents.  Part of this is a series of free workshops, called Borrowers Workshops.  Designed for homeowners who are worried about making upcoming mortgage payments or are already facing foreclosure, these workshops will provide information on what happens during foreclosures, homeowner’s rights, and solutions for long-term housing needs. Participants will be able to ask questions and get free advice - confidentially - from mortgage lending and/or foreclosure specialists.

For further information on this program contact Elizabeth Misco at 218-547-3438 or at eamisco@arvig.net.

Region Five gets Vista Worker to coordinate a Local Foods Initiative

I am very happy to announce my start as the AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer serving with the Pine and Lake Country Local Foods program. For those unfamiliar with the program, our goal is to aid in the creation and implementation of a sustainable local foods system in central Minnesota. Through a collaborative approach, we will connect locally based small agricultural businesses with regional locations that prepare and sell food, such as grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals and more. For the next year I will be working with the Pine and Lake Country Work Group, the University of Minnesota Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership and the Region Five Development Commission to move closer to this goal. My specific roles will include: researching local foods activities throughout the region, the state and the country; building partnerships with other organizations that focus on local foods; developing a plan to promote our local foods program; and generating a catalog of potential local food producers and retail outlets.

If you are interested in becoming involved in or contributing to this initiative, please contact me at bborck@regionfive.org. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions, advice or feedback you may have regarding this project.

I am truly looking forward to contributing to the development of a region-wide local foods program.

Minnesota Internet Survey

Since 2001, the Center for Rural Policy and Development in St. Peter, MN has conducted an annual internet survey.  The annual survey was started to measure the extent (or lack) of access to broadband for rural households.  Today, in 2008, the “Digital Divide” is closing, more than half the households in rural Minnesota subscribe to a broadband service and the percentage of households that simply do not have access to broadband continues to shrink. 

In 2005, broadband adoption rate was at 27.4% of rural households vs. 43.9% in the metro area.  In 2006, broadband was used in 52.3% of rural households vs. 62.9% of metro households.  The survey estimates that at the end of 2007, 73% of rural Minnesota households reported owning a computer, compared to 77.9% of metro-households and 94.3% are connected to the internet.  Over the years, rural Minnesota has lagged in broadband adoption for a variety of possible reasons, including the older average age of the populations, lower average income, and the technical and financial issues of providing high-speed broadband to a population spread out over greater distances. 

Dial-up users in both rural and metro regions gave “too expensive” as the most common reason for not purchasing broadband. The most common reason cited for not having a computer is simply that they do not need one; this response is equally true for both rural and metro areas.  It should also be noted that having school age children has a significant impact on computer ownership and broadband adoption.  Rural households with school age children are 31.5% more likely to use broadband.  The full report can be accessed at http://www.mnsu.edu/ruralmn.

TOWNSHIP – SMALL CITIES FINANCIAL HEALTH CHECK WORKSHOP

 Sponsored by Region Five Development  Commission

Topics for this workshop:
♦ Financial Stability
♦ Internal Controls

 When:
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. OR      6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Larson Allen Building
14275 Golf Course Drive
Suite 300, Baxter

Who should attend?
 Clerks, Treasures, Chief Financial Officers, Chairpersons, Board members of Townships and Small Cities who run on a cash basis and have a population of 2,500 or less.             

Space is limited to first 30 responders to each session.

If desired: Bring your 2007 Fiscal Year financial reports – Discussion leaders will help draw out “insights” regarding your government unit’s financial position/results.

Information provided:
Doug Host and Tom Koop all CPA’s from Larson Allen will discuss the required reporting practices and “government financial best practices and procedures”.

These speakers are highly respected professional CPAs who will be able to answer your specific financial questions.

Take advantage of “No registration” fee for this workshop!

RSVP by 11/1/2008 to Nicole Scheler at 218.894.3233

Opportunities

Of General Interest