Rice County will host a public meeting tonight for county residents to provide information and answer questions regarding the recent fire at the Rice County Solid Waste Facility.
Late in the day on Monday, May 22nd, firefighters from the Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Service were called to the landfill when the fire broke out. At that time NAFRS Chief Tom Nelson and Faribault Fire Chief Dusty Dienst determined, due to the size of the burning area and the difficulty in reaching it, that it was best to let the fire burn itself out.
Employees, contractors and consultants worked on containing the fire for nearly two weeks. With no water infrastructure in the area, millions of gallons of water were brought in via tanker trucks. Rice County Sheriff’s Deputies piloted a pair of drones over the area helping to determine where the fire was burning. Finally, thousands of pounds of dirt were brought in to bury and smother the fire where it could be reached.
During that period of time, the county was working with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency over that time as well. Rice County Public Health issued warnings to residents that the air quality was low, and those with pre-existing conditions should take precautions.
Despite those warnings, concerns have been raised regarding air quality in Northfield and Faribault while the fire was burning, and there have been complaints that not enough information was supplied about what was burning and what exactly was being put into the air.
The meeting will include a presentation by county Environmental Services staff and time for residents to ask questions about the incident, the county’s response, and the data that has been gathered.
The meeting is set for 6pm tonight in the Commissioners meeting room at the Rice County Government Services Building in Faribault.
Rice County promoting Elder Abuse Awareness
The Month of June has been designated as Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and this Thursday, June 15th, is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The Rice County Social Services Department is promoting information to help better understand the issue. A statement issued by the county said that between July 2020 and June 2021, the Minnesota Department of Human Services received an average of 4,600 reports of alleged maltreatment of seniors every month. One in every ten seniors will experience some form of abuse in their lifetime. The statement said about 90% of abusers are family members, and, despite the national numbers, the abuse often goes unreported.
The statement offers advice on how to recognize elder abuse and where to look for it.
Physical signs of abuse can be the most obvious. Bedsores, bruises or chafing could indicate a person is being restrained to a bed or wheelchair, or otherwise physically abused. A person who has lost quite a bit of weight recently could be facing malnutrition or dehydration. The statement said to also watch for poor hygiene.
Emotionally, it is important to watch for changes in the person’s mood. Depression, anxiety, a lack of energy or interest in things, or someone who is easily agitated could all be indicators of a larger problem.
The statement said abuse happens most often in the home where the elder lives, but the mistreatment need not be physical to qualify as abuse. In fact, financial exploitation and extortion are the most common forms of elder abuse.
For more information or to report a case of elder abuse contact the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center at 1-844-880-1574 or file a report may also be filed online by clicking here.
Mural dedication will precede Council Meeting tonight
And the Northfield City Council will meet for a work session tonight in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
Among the items on the agenda this evening are a presentation of the City’s 2022 Comprehensive Financial Report, from City Finance Director Brenda Angelstad, and a discussion about the new cannabis laws and how they affect municipal liquor stores. That will be followed by reviews and discussions of both the five-year Capital Improvement Plan and the five-year Capital Equipment Plan, as the City Council begins the work of setting the budget for 2024.
Prior to the meeting, the long delayed public dedication of the mosaic mural in the City Council Chambers in City Hall will be held, hosted by city officials and the Northfield Arts and Culture Commission The ceremony will include remarks from Northfield Mayor Rhonda Pownell, artist Lori Greene, and Director of Library Services Natalie Draper.
As always, the City Council and the Northfield City Staff are eager to hear the opinions of the public on any matter, whether the subject is on the Council agenda or not. The meeting tonight is a work session, so the Council will not hear from the public. However, those who do wish to make a point, air an opinion or ask a question can email their councilor directly or make use of the eComment function which can be found in the “Agendas” section of the city website.
The Mural dedication will take place this evening at 5:00. The City Council meeting will begin at 6:00.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
