Dear Neighbor,
I want to publically congratulate the Randy and Billie Jo Forster of Aitkin County and Duane and Virginia Smart of Crow Wing County on their selection as Farm Families of the Year. The Forster and Smart families are among the 81 farm families throughout Minnesota being recognized by their local community and the University of Minnesota for their part in feeding our great nation.
The profession of farming is a fundamental calling that the rest of our society relies on for their food. Congratulations and thank you to both families for raising the food we enjoy and also protecting our environment.
Last night I attended the Aitkin County Association of Townships quarterly meeting at the Waukenabo Community Center. We received an emergency management update from Sheriff Turner. There are still some areas with flooded township roads and we sustained wind damage on Thursday evening in several areas of both Aitkin and Crow Wing County.
Both our County Emergency Management offices continue to take damage assessments from our cities and townships. It is important to submit that information as soon as possible, so each county can relay that data back to the state emergency management office.
Once that information is tabulated it is likely the damage to public infrastructure will be on a scale that will trigger access the state emergency management account for cost sharing on repairs of the damages to that public infrastructure.
At 6:30 this morning, the Mississippi River at Aitkin was at 13.4 feet, which is still just above the 13-foot flood stage. The water is slowly receding, however our lakes and streams feeding the Mississippi are still high, and it will be several more days before we are back to normal.
I will be suspending further email updates until after the November election to comply with the State Finance Campaign Finance & Public Disclosure Board interpretation of the state’s campaign fairness rules. While I don’t fully agree with that, I will comply.
Rest assured, I remain available to you and your family should you need assistance. If I can be of assistance please don’t hesitate to contact me at my local district number (218) 927-2495 or at rep.dale.lueck@house.mn. Have a great summer!
Sincerely yours,
Dale