Last week, those concerned about a long-closed gravel pit reopening outside of Nerstrand, won a victory when the Rice County Board of Commissioners voted to extend the permitting process and to schedule a session for public comment.
Last Tuesday during their regular meeting, the Board of Commissioners discussed the recommendation of the county’s Planning Commission allowing the Milestone-Mathy Pit Mine to reopen after having been dormant for many years, in order to facilitate the reconstruction and repair of Trunk Highway 246.
The pit mine was originally dug in the late 1940’s and was used to build Highway 246. It has been closed and gone unused for decades.
Leading up to the meeting, residents of the area expressed strong concerns about the reopening of the pit. According to the Milestone-Mathy permit application, at its peak, there will be some 400 truck trips everyday between the mine and the construction site on Highway 246 and through Dennison. The mine is just north of Nerstrand, and the dust from the mining of gravel is a strong concern both there and in Dennison, as is noise from the mine, and the possibility of an asphalt plant being constructed on the premises that would be very close to the Prairie Creek Wildlife Management Area.
Proponents say the close proximity of the mine to the 246 construction could save a substantial amount of money on construction costs over the next two years.
The plan was approved last month by the Rice County Planning Commission over the objections of locals who are asking for an environmental impact study on the mine before it reopens. During the meeting, Commissioner Jim Purfeerst agreed saying he would like to see an environmental impact study done as well. Commissioner Galen Malecha concurred with Commissioner Purfeerst while also stating that he believes the Board of Commissioners has a responsibility to hear from the public on the matter. Commissioner Underdahl agreed with Malecha.
The Board of Commissioners will hold a public comment session at their regular meeting on June 11th, after which they could vote on the permit or table the discussion until July.
Heart attacks are top killers of law-enforcement professionals
The Northfield City Council is considering a request from Chief of Police Mark Elliott and the Northfield Police Department to add a cardiac screening program to the police benefit package.
A law enforcement career can be a dangerous one on many levels. Aside from the obvious threats of bodily harm from bad actors, police officers are scheduled for odd shift work hours, they have moments of extreme adrenaline surges and extreme stress, all of which will take a toll on the human body. Despite the fact that officers are expected to keep themselves at a certain physical condition, Chief Elliott said heart attacks are the top cause of death for police officers.
“We know that annually, nationally, heart related events for the last several years have been the number two or number three killer of cops on duty. When we add heart related events that happen shortly after an officer is off shift, so they wouldn’t be considered a line of duty death, it would become the number one killer of officers.”
Studies have shown that the average life expectancy for a male police officer is 57 years old, compared to 79 for all others. Police officers, on average, retire right around 55 years old, but another study has shown the average amount of time a police officer’s retirement will last is six years, meaning many retired officers die in their early 60’s.
While these numbers will be surprising to many, Chief Elliott said it is something police have known for quite some time. Elliott said every seasoned officer has a colleague or a friend in law enforcement who has suffered some type of cardiac event.
In order to better prevent heart attacks a cardiac pre-screening program has been adopted by police departments across the country. Officers will voluntarily undergo a series of tests, and medical professionals will use the data to determine if that person is at risk for a heart attack.
City Administrator Ben Martig said the city received state funds to aid police departments in 2023, and a program like this would be covered under those funds. Elliott and Martig both said the cost for a program like this would run at about $18,000.
Based on that cost, Elliott said not only is a program like this good for the department and the individual officers, but it is also good for the city as well.
“I view this as risk reduction. If we have officers that have an on-duty heart attack, when you look at the cost of workers compensation related to that and then increased group medical insurance costs, several studies have shown that it could cost an employer between $400,000 and $700,000 for an on-duty heart related event.”
The Council received the presentation during a work session, so no action was taken at the meeting. A few of the councilors did ask for Chief Elliott’s data to be verified. Martig indicated the numbers would be reviewed. The information will be returned to the council in June.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott can be heard here
Mayor’s race is getting crowded
And another former public official has announced that she will run for mayor this fall.
Ruth Dahl, a former member of the Northfield School Board for 17 years, announced her candidacy at the end of last week.
Dahl, like many of the other candidates, said she will run on a platform of fiscal responsibility. She Singled out projects like the proposed new municipal liquor store at 5th and Washington Streets and the ongoing construction of bicycle lanes throughout the city as ideas that do not make sense.
She said Northfield’s historic downtown area needs to be protected, street construction projects should be carefully considered, and the City Council must be mindful of other taxing authorities like the Northfield School District in its budgeting process.
Dahl’s statement said she is a lifelong Northfielder who has extensive years of management experience and has also served on the State of Minnesota’s Board of Dentistry for the past 8 years.
Dahl joins Erica Zweifel, Adam Gebler and Tim Baggini as announced candidates for mayor. Mayor Rhonda Pownell has not indicated if she will run for a third term this fall. The candidate filing period opens tomorrow.
KYMN Daily News 5-20-24
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
