Greetings,
Hats off to all those who helped the Paynesville Area Community Foundation Board and Paynesville schools put on a gala which raised an impressive $600,000 for an endowment and over $75,000 for the school to use immediately for vocational career and training. This will be very beneficial in helping address some of the community challenges we face in Greater Minnesota and, once again, congratulations to the folks who made this happen.
On another note, area citizens are encouraged to attend an upcoming meeting next week in St. Cloud to discuss state ditch-mowing policies. This issue arose last year when MnDOT released plans to change its policies regarding statewide permitting standards for mowing and baling in ditches along Minnesota’s state roadways.
That announcement caused concern among the public and the Legislature responded by passing a bill last session which places a moratorium on new mowing rules along state highways – excluding county and township roads – until May of 2018. The legislation was not the all-out ban on government agencies expanding mowing regulations that many people wanted, but the moratorium at least provides the public with opportunities such as this meeting to communicate their thoughts to MnDOT.
The meeting will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9 at the MnDOT facility’s Sinclair Lewis Grand room (3725 12th St. N., St. Cloud). If you are unable to attend that particular meeting, others also have been scheduled throughout the state. Click here for the full schedule or here to fill out an online comment form.
Lastly, a special election will take place this coming Tuesday to decide a Rocori schools capital project levy question and I encourage district residents to participate in the process by exercising their right to vote. Here is the question as it will be asked, word for word:
School District Question 1
Approval of Capital Project Levy Authorization to Fund Technology
The board of Independent School District No. 750 (ROCORI School District) has proposed a capital project levy authorization in the amount of 1.836% times the net tax capacity of the school district. The proposed capital project levy authorization will raise approximately $250,000 for taxes payable in 2018, the first year it is to be levied, and would be authorized for ten years. The estimated total cost of the projects to be funded over that time period is approximately $2,500,000. The money raised by the capital project levy authorization will provide funds for the acquisition, installation and maintenance of technology infrastructure improvements, instructional equipment, and website updates.
Shall the capital project levy authorization to fund technology proposed by the board of Independent School District No. 750 be approved?
__Yes __No
Just for some simple perspective, approval of the referendum would translate to a property tax increase of $23 in 2018 for a $150,000 homestead. If the referendum fails, taxes on that same property would go down $13 in 2018 and $10 in 2019.
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and you can click here to find out your particular polling location.
Good luck,
Jeff