Fergus Falls Community Zero Adult Provider Program; Judicial Response to Underage Drinking

The Fergus Falls Community ZAP project is a partnership between the Otter Tail Family Services Collaborative Chemical Health Work Group and the Otter Tail County Safe Communities Coalition. These two committees have the membership of over 35 different county-based organizations including, but not limited to local police departments, the Sheriff''s Department, Public Health, the County Attorney's Office, public school districts, the MN State Community & Technical College, chemical dependency treatment providers and specialists and Lakes Country Service Cooperative.

We know that persons under the age of 21 usually obtain alcohol directly or indirectly from those over the age of 21. We believe that by working with parents and other adults, youth, law enforcement, prosecutors, judges and others directly involved with chemical use issues, we can make a change in the community norms that will foster long term efforts and reduce underage drinking within Otter Tail County.

ZAP in Fergus Falls:

• Allows for enhanced enforcement of adult provider laws by increasing overtime hours for officers to fully investigate and identify the source of the alcohol when minors are found in possession of it within Otter Tail County.
• Provides for increased identification of the adults purchasing and providing alcohol to minors by finding overtime above and beyond those hours currently provided by law enforcement to increase surveillance and patrol during key community events when minors are often arrested for consuming alcohol.
• Strives to increase public awareness of the dangers and consequences of underage drinking and to reduce the amount of alcohol provided to minors by adults over the age of 21.

The program activities identified within this grant project will be carried out between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009. The specific dates for increased surveillance and patrol by law enforcement will include, but not be limited to: September 27 (MN State Community & Technical College Homecoming); October 3 (Fergus Falls High School Homecoming); November 28 (Friday after Thanksgiving when many college students are home from college); May - June 2009 at the DeLagoon City Park during adult league softball season; and June 2009 City of Fergus Falls Summerfest.

To date, added law enforcement hours through this program has charged 61 minors with underage consuming, as well as two adults for providing alcohol to minors.

For more information regarding the ZAP Program in Fergus Falls, contact:

Jane Patrick, Coordinator; Otter Tail Family Service Collaborative; 218-736-3458

Pam Ness, Coordinator; Lakes Country Service Cooperative; 218-739-3273

Bremer Emergency Fund

A joint response by the Foundation and Bremer Bank to the current economic crisis, the Bremer Emergency Fund will provide one-year grants of up to $100,000 to help organizations provide emergency financial assistance to individuals and families in Bremer communities who are struggling to continue to provide basics such as food, warm and stable housing, health care, and reliable transportation in the face of increased unemployment and high prices.

We recognize that timely financial assistance can sometimes make the difference between instability and security, enabling families and individuals to meet emergency needs and retain housing or jobs. Then, once basic needs are met and a crisis is averted, families are in a better position to access community programs that can help them achieve long-term stability and participate fully in their communities' economic, civic, and social life.

The Bremer Emergency Fund honors the legacy and vision of Foundation founder Otto Bremer, who believed that people could survive and flourish if they had help at critical times. In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, Bremer liquidated many of his personal assets to help the "countryside banks" in which he had invested ride out the hard times. The Bremer Emergency Fund reflects this commitment to the bank communities and to the support of those working to make their lives better. The Foundation's grant dollars will be supplemented by a donation from Bremer Bank.

We will be inviting proposals for this initiative beginning on November 14, with a submission deadline of December 15, 2008. We will notify recipients of grants by January 15, 2009. Eligible organizations are those whose beneficiaries are residents of the Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin communities served by Bremer Bank. Additional information on the Emergency Fund and application forms are available on our website, www.ottobremer.org.

Foundation decisions will be based on: demonstrated community need; geography; the organization’s experience and capacity; and the organization’s ability to provide follow-up and support, including links to additional community resources.

Randi Ilyse Roth, Executive Director
Otto Bremer Foundation
445 Minnesota Street, Suite 2250
St. Paul, MN 55101-2107
651-312-3723 (direct)
651-227-8036 (office)
888-291-1123 (toll-free)
Email: rroth@ottobremer.org
Web: http://www.ottobremer.org

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is pleased to announce the availability of the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) Biomass Heating Program.

This program provides grants and loans to local units of government for the installation of biomass heating projects in publicly owned facilities. The funding award limit is $250,000, with a required minimum local match of 1 to 1.

A total of $1 million will be awarded.

Applications for funding will be accepted until April 30, 2009, or until all funds are committed, whichever is sooner.

For more information, please go to:
http://www.deed.state.mn.us/Community/assistance/MIF_BiomassIntro.htm

City of Hoffman Awarded Grant

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development officials last month awarded the City of Hoffman nearly $1.8 million to fund two community development projects.

Paid from the 2008 farm bill, most of the money - more than $1.5 million - will go toward installing a new city water system. The rest will help replace Hoffman's aging fire hall.

The city has been working for the last year to secure federal funding for the two projects, reported City Clerk Pat Lawson. The current city water system was built in the 1950's. As part of the project, the city will also build a new 100,000 gallon water tower; twice as large as the old tank.

Construction on the new water system is set to begin next spring.

(Source: "Minnesota Cities" volume 93, issue 9 by the League of Minnesota Cities and Alexandria Echo Press)

2008 Fall Regional Alliance Meeting

Lakes Country Service Cooperative (LCSC) hosted the 2008 Fall Regional Alliance Meeting in the Eagle Conference Room at LCSC on September 10, 2008.

The 2008 Fall Regional Alliance Meeting offered approximately 30 city, county, nonprofit and other governmental agency members an opportunity to gain information on LCSC trends, grant opportunities, infrastructure financing, and to find out first hand what state and regional elected officials are doing to support their communities and agencies.

Featured speakers during the morning session included LCSC executive director Jeremy Kovash, LCSC coordinator Pam Ness, LCSC health and safety manager Melissa Mattson, West Central Initiative president, Nancy Straw and keynote speaker Terry Kuhlman, Executive Director of the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA). PFA is responsible for the administration and financial management of revolving loan funds and other programs to assist local government and others with the construction of public infrastructure.

The afternoon session featured an open forum for audience interaction with regional elected officials, as well as candidates running for public office. Panel members included State Representative Bud Nornes, State Representative candidate Greg Stumbo, Senator Dan Skogen, Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen, State Representative candidate Mark Murdock, State Representative Morrie Lanning, State Representative candidate Mark Altenburg, Brenda Elmer on behalf of Senator Norm Coleman, and Andy Martin on behalf of Senator Amy Klobuchar .

Panel topics of discussion included water and waste management, local tax levees, state funding for school districts, health care, state seat belt laws, and city financing, to name a few. All audience participants and panel members had an opportunity to comment on any/all issues presented.

West Central Truck Rodeo

The Otter Tail County Employees’ Safety Committee and the Otter Tail Highway Department sponsored and operated a truck rodeo at the Red Horse Ranch Arena on September 17, 2008.

The truck rodeo is a test of driving skills for highway maintenance workers who drive snowplow trucks. The trucks are set up with a snowplow in front of the truck, and a wing plow on the front right hand corner of the truck. The drivers’ skills and judgment were tested in approximately eight different configurations.

The course included: driving forward through and around a set of barrels, then backing up through the same set of barrels; with the side wing plow down, driving close around a curve without hitting posts; driving past a series of mailboxes with the same wing plow down without hitting the mailboxes; driving a marked straight line; with the truck box up, driving beneath a bridge (bridge is made of metal poles); backing up to a loading dock; driving down a narrow path without hitting the side markers; and stopping within a few inches of a line. Drivers are also given a specified amount of time to complete the course.

The truck rodeo provides drivers with the opportunity to sharpen their driving skills and become prepared for plowing snow in the winter months.

Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Operations Center Opens

First LEED-Certified Building in the County

The new Otter Tail County Sheriff’s facility in Ottertail completed construction on July 22 and celebrated with an open house for the public on September 13, 2008. It is the first building in Otter Tail County to meet the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification. LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. To achieve LEED certification, the building was constructed with such features as geothermal heat, use of recycled materials in construction, air quality controls, white membrane roof to reflect sunlight, automatic light dimming, use of native grasses to limit lawnmowing and more.

The new Operations Center will house patrol personnel, water safety patrol, two full-time detectives, a records technician, backup dispatch center and the county’s emergency management director. A booking room, temporary holding cell, evidence room, training area and a garage are also in place at the Center to assist deputies.

One feature of the Operations Center that will benefit law enforcement from around the region is the large training room for continuing education hours required by all law enforcement personnel. Otter Tail deputies will be able to have joint training sessions with law enforcement from other counties rather than traveling to the Cities for required training.

Prairie Wetlands Learning Center Expands

After years of planning and months of construction, the new education wing at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center (PWLC) is hosting Fergus Falls fourth and fifth grade students.

The PWLC’s new 12,000 square foot facility includes four classrooms, office space, restrooms and a greenhouse. In addition to many windows, classrooms were designed to give students the feeling of the outdoors even when they’re inside. Each of the classrooms has a wall of windows facing the prairie, as well as skylights.

About 240 Fergus Falls fourth and fifth grade students are attending the Prairie Science Class this fall. Of that total, half are attending PWLC in the morning and half attend in the afternoon, with a bus shuttling students back and forth. Students receive instruction in science, language arts and health. Last year the total student population attending PWLC was 108. The new additions have more than doubled the number of students able to attend.

The Prairie Science Class is a partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Prairie Wetlands Learning Center and the Fergus Falls Independent School District 544. Curriculum focuses on science, writing, applied math, and health while providing opportunities for building technology and inquiry skills. These curricular areas are studied through integrated, field-based learning experiences focused on the local prairie wetlands environment.
Potential future plans include expanding the program to include students in multiple grade levels, professional internship opportunities, a pre-service teacher training element, and graduate coursework in partnership with universities, providing training and research opportunities in integrated, project-based, and field-based instructional methods.

Introduction to Government Contracting

Are you interested in expanding your market share, increasing revenues, growing your business? Have you considered selling to the government? If not, let Minnesota's Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) show you why you should.

Learn what the government buys at $325+ billion dollar marketplace, who is buying, where they advertise, and how you can become registered, proactive and a preferred government supplier. Learn the basic government marketing tips, electronic business techniques and methods and how to locate the "right" people.

Topics to be covered include, but are not limited to: identifying the government market for your goods and services; basic procurement process and selling tools; FSS/GSA scheduling program; registrations (mandatory/optional); and available resources.

Monday, October 13, 2008
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.)
Minnesota State University - Moorhead
Center for Business, Room 103
1104 Seventh Avenue South
Moorhead, MN

Presentation by Sherri Komrosky, PTAC Program Director.
218-329-1571
skomrosky@meda.net


Pre-registration is required by Monday, October 1, 2008
Cost: $25 per person

2008 Greater Minnesota Public Transportation Plan

Stakeholder involvement is key to the success of this project. MnDOT will use stakeholder comments from the fall 2008 workshops to continue developing a public transportation plan and transit policies that will benefit greater Minnesota and reflects the input of the stakeholders.

The update to the Greater Minnesota Public Transportation Plan will define the future vision for public transportation across greater Minnesota and lay the foundation to achieve that vision.

The plan will:

• Identify steps needed to preserve the long-standing investment in current public transit services across the state.
• Look for opportunities to enhance mobility options for the general public.
• Focus on the target market groups of the elderly, low income, disabled and commuters.

Project Management:

• Project leader - Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Transit.
• Advisory Committee - Assembled to conduct public involvement and technical work needed to develop the plan; Members include MnDOT and consultant staff.
• Final Approval - The plan will be final following the approval of the MnDOT Commissioner.
  

Project Timeline:

• Project Launch - Spring 2008
• Telephone and On-Line Surveys with Stakeholders - Summer 2008
• Statewide Workshops - Fall 2008
• Plan Finalization - Winter 2008
  

Update Workshops Schedule: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

• September 9: Detroit Lakes DOT Building; 100 Highway 10 West; Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
• September 11: St. Cloud DOT Building; 3725 12th Street North; St. Cloud, MN 56303
• September 12: Marshall DOT Building; 1800 East College Drive; Marshall, MN 56258
• September 17: Duluth DOT Building; 1123 Mesaba Ave.; Duluth, MN 55811
• September 18: Bemidji DOT Building; 3920 Highway 2 West; Bemidji, MN 56601
• September 24: Rochester DOT Building; 2900 48th Street NW; Rochester, MN 55901
• September 25: Mankato Floyd Roberts Jr. Pavilion; Floyd Roberts Jr. Pavilion, Land of Memories Park; Mankato, MN 56001
  

For More Information Contact: Noel Shughart, Coordination Planner noel.shughart@dot.state.mn.us or 651-284-0085
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/transit/research