Last week, the Rice County Board of Commissioners agreed to seek legislative approval in order to ask voters to consider approving a
countywide sales tax this November that would pay for the new Public Safety Center.
The Board of Commissioners approved construction of the new $48 million safety center last spring. The proposed tax, set at .375% would allow the county to repay the bonds sooner than their established 30-year time frame.
If approved, the tax would apply to sales throughout Rice County, excluding food and clothing, prescription drugs, and motor vehicles. Proceeds from the tax would only be used to repay bonds for the project, and a sunset date is set for the tax once those bonds are repaid.
The revenue source is proposed as a sales tax because the facility, which will house the county jail and offices for Rice County Sheriff’s personnel, will benefit a larger region. County Administrator Sarah Folsted and Rice County Chief Financial Officer Paula O’Connell recommended spreading the expense to those living outside of Rice County but spend money here.
County officials have already spoken to local legislators who have agreed to support the request. If approved by the Legislature, the question will be included on the November 6th ballot.
The Public Safety Center will include a 76-bed jail and offices for the Rice County Sheriff’s Department. The new facility is needed to continue to house inmates locally and came about after the Minnesota Department of Corrections downgraded the current jail, which doesn’t meet its standards for recreation and programming space.
Groundbreaking for the safety center is anticipated later this year.
Healthy Community Initiative partners with city, Chamber and others for Mental health First Aid
The Healthy Community Initiative has received a long-term competitive grant from the federal Substance Abuse Mental Health Services
Administration to offer Mental Health First Aid training.
Laura Turek with the HHCI said her organization was one of the 125 grants that went out across the country to help people in the community dealing with mental health issues.
Attendees of the program learn how to help someone experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis, how to identify someone in crisis, and strategies to assist people in both crisis and non-crisis situations.
“During the pandemic, we’ve seen a rise in substance abuse and a rise in mental health needs,” said City Administrator Ben Martig. “We can all learn more about how to take care of ourselves, and with that, how to take care of other people. This program can help with that.”
According to Turek, the program was first put together in Australia by a married nurse and social worker couple who were seeing people coming into Emergency Rooms where they would find no one equipped to help them. The program they developed has spread across the world and has been adapted to help the needs of people in Rice County.
Northfield Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Matt Hillmann said “There’s that stereotype of Minnesotans. We see someone who is struggling, and out of this sense of a perceived or almost mythical culture, we say ‘It’s not my business.’ But you can help people without prying, and we need to get to a place where we know how to say, ‘What can I do for you?’”
Turek said the training has been offered to people from all walks of life, including school personnel, law enforcement professionals, and health care providers. There is a program adapted for teens and high school students. And she said they have a version of the program for veteran, as well as families and care givers of veterans as well. But she stressed this training is for anyone who wants it.
“Anyone can come. We have many trainings. Anyone who interacts with people, this is good for you. It’s good for you to know for yourself and for your family. And it’s information that isn’t surprising, but it seems to really get to people where they have a skill now, and they feel confidant.”
The program is free of charge. Turek said there are several trainings scheduled throughout February and March, including two put on by the Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce on February 16 and March 10th. For information on all the scheduled trainings, email Laura Turek at laura@healthycommunityinitiative.org, or call HCI at 507-664-3524.
Rice County United Way granting process is now underway
The Rice County Area United Way is now accepting grant applications for 2023.
In a statement, the organization said grants are awarded annually to 501(c)(3) organizations in the Rice County area that are working to improve lives through education, health and financial stability.
This year, according to the statement, they will also seek to offer grants to organizations striving to achieve equity and are helping members of the community take steps towards stability and independence. Funding will be granted for general operations such as staffing and infrastructure, or for specific programs.
The grant application has been streamlined from years past to allow for as much equity as possible in the granting process. Executive Director Elizabeth Childs said the organization will soon make a Spanish language version of the application available as well.
Last year the Rice County United Way granted $280,000 to local non-profit organizations.
The statement said the organization has worked for more than 50 years to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of the community to advance the common good. They look to strengthen the building blocks for self-sufficiency – education, health, and financial stability – and a good quality of life.
All local nonprofit organizations are being encouraged to apply. An online application is available at ricecountyunitedway.org/grant-application. For the Spanish version, please contact info@ricecountyunitedway.org or call 507-664-3510.
Applications will be accepted through March 18.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
[recent_post_carousel slides_to_show=”1″ limit=”5″ slides_to_scroll=”1″ category=”10″ media_size=”medium” dots=”false” show_read_more=”false”]
