Rice County announced on Tuesday that two parcels of tax-forfeited land will be made available to the highest bidder in an auction next month.
The parcels – one in Bridgewater Township and another in Warsaw Township – have been classified as non-conservation lands and approved for sale by the Rice Soil and Water Conservation Board, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The property in Bridgewater Township, which is just under 40 acres, fronts Highway 19/Lonsdale Boulevard and includes nearly 33 acres of timber with a DNR-approved value of $33,380. The Warsaw Township property is located at 22901 Fertile Avenue in Morristown. It contains two lots on just about two-thirds of an acre.
The sale is set for Wednesday, November 8th at the Rice County Government Services Building in Faribault. Full payment, including fees and a 3% state surcharge, in accordance with terms set by the county, will be due at the time of the sale.
Those wishing to view and walk the property will be required to sign a waiver of liability that will be kept on file with Rice County. Waivers can be completed in person at the Rice County Property Tax Department or emailed to an individual at their request.
To tour the properties, contact the Rice County Property Tax Department at 507-332-6104.
City seeks further public comment about Highway 246
As the City of Northfield continues to prioritize safer roads for all modes of transportation, a study of Trunk Highway 246 has been underway to look at improvements that could be made running from Woodley Street at Highway 3 to Division Street, and then running south to County Road 81 and possibly beyond.
The study is for the city to evaluate the road’s condition, understand what would need to be done to bring the road up to the city’s standards, and to see conceptual plans for improvements that could be made there.
Opinions and feedback are being requested from members of the general public about improvements they would like to see, and the city has created an interactive website with three concepts for people to view, evaluate and make comments.
The first concept would create a median at the far end of Woodley Street, add sidewalks on the south side of the street up to Division Street, and a bike lane on the North side. An Enhanced bike lane would be constructed on the west side of the highway between Woodley and the high school, several enhanced crossings would be installed, and a compact roundabout would be built at the 246 County Road 81 intersection. Additionally, the plan leaves room to install a traffic signal at the entrance to the high school in the future.
The second concept would add several more compact roundabouts, and more enhanced crossings. Option 2b would add an expanded version of the median through the length of Woodley and onto Division Street.
As of right now, the State of Minnesota owns and controls the road. In order for any of these plans to be implemented, the state would have to turn the road over to the city, which is an idea that has been in discussion for some time.
The city intends to hold an open house in early November to hear from the public in person. For now, the concepts can be viewed, and comments can be given on the City of Northfield website at northfieldmn.gov
Input is open through the end of November.
‘Shop With a Cop’ program produces positive results on many levels
The annual Shop with a Cop event, sponsored by the Rice County Salvation Army is set for tonight.
Every year on the Wednesday prior to MEA, members of local law enforcement agencies are paired up with a youth from the community to shop for needed winter wear and toys or games. The Officer and youth shop and share a meal while getting to know each other.
Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas coordinates the event at Target in Northfield and another event at Wal-Mart in Faribault on the same night. Thomas has been part of the Shop with a Cop program for several years, and said he believes he has been involved with the event every year since its inception, except for the first one.
Thomas said the program helps twelve kids from Northfield and 12 kids from Faribault every year. The families in need are identified by the Community Action Center and the Salvation Army. Thomas said, from time to time, they also identify a youth from another part of the county as well.
Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott has endorsed the project as well, saying the event is something that officers look forward to every year. He believes supplying the kids with things they need and showing them a role model who also happens to be a member of law enforcement will produce a positive outcome on several levels.
This year each officer and youth pairing will have about $175 to spend. Sheriff Thomas said that can sound like a lot of money, but it never goes as far as they would hope, especially when they are outfitting the kids for winter. Despite the limitations, however, they always try to make sure the kids have a good experience.
“Sometimes, depending on the size of the kid’s feet – and you have to buy them boots because we all try to get them warm stuff – sometimes it goes a little faster than we’d like. But that’s our program. And then at the end we have a meal with them and talk about life or whatever they want to talk about.”
Thomas said the money for the program is built into the Rice County Salvation Army Budget, but donations are always happily accepted. For more information contact Sherif Thomas at the Rice County Sheriff’s Office.
Rich Larson’s full conversation with Sherif Jesse Thomas can be heard here
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
