Water Quality Town Hall Meetings Across MN

ST. PAUL, MN – A series of ten Water Quality Town Hall meetings will begin on Monday, July 27, 2017 in Rochester. Governor Mark Dayton and his administration have organized the ten town halls to offer Minnesotans an opportunity to discuss the water quality challenges facing their communities and our state, learn from experts, and engage with policymakers. The town hall meetings continue Governor Dayton’s efforts to protect and preserve Minnesota waters, including is “25 by 25” Water Quality proposal announced earlier this year.

“All Minnesotans have a stake in water that’s safe for drinking, swimming, and fishing,” said Governor Dayton. “These town hall meetings will further the important conversations already happening across Minnesota around water quality. Together we can develop strategies and solutions that work for all of our communities.”

The town hall meetings will be attended by key members of Governor Dayton’s Cabinet who want to hear from Minnesotans about ways to improve the state’s water quality at the local level.

Attend a Water Quality Town Hall This Summer or Fall

Ten town hall meetings have been scheduled in communities across Minnesota. These town hall meetings are free to attend and open to the public. Each town hall meeting will run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. with registration beginning at 5:30 p.m. A complete list of dates and locations is available on the Environmental Quality Board website. RSVP for an event by visiting the Governor and Lt. Governor’s Facebook page. No advance registration is necessary.

·         Rochester– Water Quality Town Hall

Monday, July 31, 2017 – 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Registration opens at 5:30 p.m.

Rochester Community and Technical College - Heintz Commons

1926 Collegeview Rd SE

Southeast Minnesota Information Packet

Rochester Town Hall on Facebook

·         Mankato– Water Quality Town Hall

Wednesday, August 16, 2017 – 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Registration opens at 5:30 p.m.

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Centennial Student Union - 620 S Road

South Central Minnesota Information Packet

         Mankato Town Hall on Facebook

·         Marshall– Water Quality Town Hall

Thursday, August 17, 2017 – 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Registration opens at 5:30 p.m.

Southwest Minnesota State University Conference Center, 1501 State Street

Southwest Minnesota Information Packet

Marshall Town Hall on Facebook

·         Crookston– Water Quality Town Hall

Tuesday, September 5, 2017 – 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Registration opens at 5:30 p.m.

University of Minnesota – Crookston

Bede Ballroom –Sargeant Student Center, 2900 University Ave.

Northwest Minnesota Information Packet

Crookston Town Hall on Facebook

·         St. Cloud– Water Quality Town Hall

Wednesday, September 6, 2017 – 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Registration opens at 5:30 p.m.

St Cloud Community and Technical College Cafeteria, 1540 Northway Drive

West Central Minnesota Information Packet

St. Cloud Town Hall on Facebook

·         Ely– Water Quality Town Hall

Tuesday, September 12, 2017 – 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Registration opens at 5:30 p.m.

Grand Ely Lodge, 400 North Pioneer Road

Northeast Minnesota Information Packet

Ely Town Hall on Facebook

·         Bemidji– Water Quality Town Hall

Wednesday, September 13, 2017 – 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Registration opens at 5:30 p.m.

Bemidji State University

American Indian Resource Center, 1500 Birchmont Dr. NE

North Central Minnesota Information Packet

Bemidji Town Hall on Facebook

·         Minneapolis– Water Quality Town Hall

Tuesday, September 26, 2017 – 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Registration opens at 5:30 p.m.

Minneapolis Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Avenue North

Twin Cities Metro Information Packet

Minneapolis Town Hall on Facebook

·         Burnsville– Water Quality Town Hall

Wednesday, October 4, 2017 – 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Registration opens at 5:30 p.m.

Diamondhead Education, 200 W Burnsville Pkwy.

Twin Cities Metro Information Packet

Burnsville Town Hall on Facebook

·         Stillwater– Water Quality Town Hall

Thursday, October 5, 2017 – 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Registration opens at 5:30 p.m.

Stillwater High School, 5701 Stillwater Blvd N.

Twin Cities Metro Information Packet

Stillwater Town Hall on Facebook

Community Water Meetings

In addition to attending the town hall meetings, Minnesotans are encouraged to host their own community meetings about water quality from July through August. These community water meetings offer an opportunity for cities, schools, families, and friends to identify ways individuals can work at the local level to move Minnesota towards the 25 by 25 goal. Individuals interested in registering to hold their own community water meeting can find more information on the Environmental Quality Board website.

25 By 2025 Water Quality Goal

Earlier this year, Governor Dayton announced a new goal to improve Minnesota’s water quality 25 percent by 2025. Without additional action, the quality of Minnesota’s waters is expected to improve only 6 to 8 percent by 2034. If the goal is approved by the Legislature, a series of town halls and community meetings would engage local governments, farmers, scientists, environmental groups, and business leaders in a collaborative effort to address Minnesota’s water quality challenges.

Achieving a 25 percent improvement in water quality statewide would require Minnesota to take aggressive, yet achievable action. It also would help Minnesota meet existing commitments to reduce phosphorus 12 percent by 2025 and nitrogen 45 percent by 2040 in the Mississippi River. Additional information can be found on the Environmental Quality Board website.

MDA extends comment period on proposed nitrogen fertilizer regulation

St. Paul, MN - The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has extended the public comment period for its draft proposal for the use of nitrogen fertilizer in Minnesota. The purpose of the proposed Nitrogen Fertilizer Rule is to minimize the potential for nitrate-nitrogen contamination from fertilizer in the state's groundwater and drinking water. Public comments will now be accepted through Friday, August 25, 2017.

“We’ve heard from farmers, commodity groups, and other leaders in our ag industry that more time is needed for them to weigh in on this proposal,” said MDA Commissioner Dave Frederickson. “We need their input and we’re going to make that extension. We’re also going to hold additional meetings in Northwestern Minnesota at the request of ag leaders and members of the public in that region.”

Public listening sessions on the draft rule will be held at the following locations: 

Roseau: Roseau Civic Center, 121 Center Street East, Roseau, MN 56751 Wed. July 26, 6:30pm

Warren: Warren Community Center, 110 West Johnson Avenue, Warren, MN 56762 Thurs. July 27, 8:30am

Hawley: Hawley High School, 714 Joseph Street, Hawley, MN 56549 Thurs. July 27, 7pm

All comments regarding the proposed rule must be submitted in writing. After consideration of comments received, the MDA expects to publish the final draft of the rule in the fall of 2017. The rule is expected to be adopted in the fall of 2018.

Written comments on the draft Nitrogen Fertilizer Rule should be submitted by Friday August 25, 2017 via mail or email to:

Larry Gunderson
Fertilizer Technical Unit Supervisor
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN, 55155-2538

larry.gunderson@state.mn.us

All comments should, but are not required to, include a contact name, phone number and/or email address to provide for follow-up discussion on specific comments.

CRES Seeks Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses Interested in Partnering on Class Projects

CROOKSTON, Minn. – Entrepreneurs and small business owners can receive valuable assistance through an opportunity offered by the Center for Rural Entrepreneurial Studies (CRES) at the University of Minnesota Crookston. CRES is seeking regional entrepreneurs and small business owners interested working with U of M Crookston students on a class project for their business.  Potential projects may include, but are not limited to, marketing and management strategies, business plans, assistance with accounting software, marketing research, competitive analysis, social media marketing, and other projects identified by the client.  All projects are completed by U of M Crookston students under the guidance of qualified faculty at no cost.

Each semester, both spring and fall, CRES integrates projects into courses offered on campus. These projects become an integral part of the course curriculum and are designed to benefit small business owners and entrepreneurs while providing students with real-world business experiences.

Applications for the program are accepted anytime; however, priority is given to applications received prior to the due dates. The 2017 fall semester application deadline is Monday, August 14, 2017. Interested individuals and business can apply for assistance at www.umccres.org/apply.  All applications are screened by CRES and the projects that best fit the mission of CRES and enhance the learner outcomes for the course will be contacted for a follow-up meeting to determine guidelines, client expectations, and to review other relevant information regarding participation.

For more information about the opportunity, contact Rachel Lundbohm, director of CRES at 218-281-8190 (rlundboh@umn.edu) or visit the CRES Web site at www.umccres.org. The CRES office is located in Dowell Hall 117 on the Crookston campus.

“Mumble strip” installation begins July 17

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. – Motorists on several west central Minnesota highways will encounter short-term delays starting Monday, July 17, as crews install centerline “mumble strips” on the roadway.

The mumble strips alert drivers if they drift out of their lane similar to traditional rumble strips, but their design reduces the amount of noise heard outside of the vehicle.

The sections of highways receiving mumble strips include:

·         Highway 9 from Felton to the Clay/Norman county line

·         Highway 28 from Chokio to Morris

·         Highway 29 from Benson to the Swift/Chippewa county line

·         Highway 29 from Highway 210 to Wadena

·         Highway 32 from Highway 10 to Ulen

·         Highway 34 from Interstate 94 to Highway 59

·         Highway 55 from Elbow Lake to Barrett

·         Highway 75 from Highway 7 to Graceville

·         Highway 75 from the Clay/Wilkin county line to Moorhead

·         Highway 75 from Moorhead to the Clay/Norman county line

·         Highway 108 from Dent to Otter Tail County Road 41

·         Highway 113 from Waubun to Mahnomen County Road 4

·         Highway 210 from Breckenridge to Fergus Falls

·         Highway 210 from I-94 to the Otter Tail/Todd county line

Motorists may encounter brief delays while crews install the mumble strips.

Century Fence of Forest Lake is the prime contractor on the $500,000 project.

The work is expected to take about two weeks.

Rumble and mumble strips are installed as a low-cost safety measure to reduce crashes in which cars run off the road or cross the center line.

For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org or dial 5-1-1.