The Dakota County Fair got underway yesterday! There’s a very special exhibit called “9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit”. The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, begun in memory of the Fallen 9/11 Firefighter, created the exhibit. Dakota County Fair Board member Mark Henry commented that they were lucky enough to book the exhibit for the first three days of the Fair. He said it’s a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to see the exhibit. It’s on display from 10am to 8pm today and tomorrow. The display was escorted by over 100
Emergency responders including fire, rescue and law enforcement as it entered the fairgrounds. Henry said we all remember where we were that day, adding, “it brought a tear to my eye, I’ll be honest with you”. New York City Retired Battalion Chief John Bruckner was put in charge of the command post that day. He was there for 39 hours before he got relieved. He and other emergency responders share time traveling with the exhibit to talk with people. He told KYMN, “I’m not even sure I could’ve done this for 5, 6 or 7 years after 9/11, it was too close. But it’s good to come out here and see people who care, care about First Responders, police officers, firemen, Military veterans. People are interested, they want to know what happened, everybody remembers where they were that day, what was going on and we certainly do but I think it’s great that people want to remember 9/11”. As for what he wants people to get from the exhibit, “I want them to know that there are people who care, that people will take care of each other when something bad happens. Bad things are going to happen and I think the more we pay it forward the better off society will be”. The Foundation is building smart homes for multiple amputee Veterans, they’ve built 80 so far, with a goal of 200. Siller ran through the 2 mile Brooklyn Battery tunnel with his gear to get to the Towers because he couldn’t get through with his car.
Nfld Council hears personnel requests
The Northfield Council held a lengthy work session last night at the Police Station conference room. A few departments were asking for additional personnel, in particular was the Police department, Chief Monte Nelson pointed out the amount of dollars spent on overtime is not sustainable. Their budget for overtime is $110,000 a year, in 2017 they paid out $218,000. He’d like to add an Investigator at $102,000 and a Patrol Sergeant at nearly $122,000. There are currently 22 sworn officers, the same number as in 2000. Nelson is also asking for 2 more Interceptor SUV’s and a Polaris Ranger UTV, equipped to go anywhere including the trails where an ambulance can’t go. He could purchase last year’s demo model now for $10,000 less at $23,000. The Building Inspector wants another Permit Technician as that department can’t turn around the requests as timely as they should. Some waits are up to 4 weeks, when they should be just days. We’ll be hearing more on budgets as Council begins to consider the preliminary levy. Click for more information on budget: 1 – 2019 Budget Retreat 8.6
Vote 95 The One number ONE!
KYMN 95 The One and AM 1080 have, once again, been nominated for best radio station in southern Minnesota! We have won 5 years running… help us make it 6 in a row by voting every day now through September 3rd and vote for All Wheel Drive’s Jessica Paxton, best radio personality. Go to SouthernMinnScene.com . Click on “Best of”.
