News

 To pay for $440,000 in water and sewer utility work done this year and to finance the $450,000 construction costs for a new building, Benson city staff will be working on a bonding resolution for council approval.
The proposed construction project would double the size of the current city street department building and would allow the city to discontinue use of the former Benson Bottling building. That building is used by the city parks department and for city bus storage. It is also used for storage by the Benson Police Department.
The Benson Bottling building is in such bad condition that is becoming unsafe, the city council has been told.
With interest at around 2.6 percent, now is the time to consider the bonding to pay for the sewer and water projects, as well as for the new construction City Director of Finance Glen Pederson told the council Monday night.

When Swift County residents go to the polls Nov. 4 they will see a contested race for the county attorney’s office for the first time in 24 years.
Assistant Swift County Attorney Danielle Olson is challenging County Attorney Robin Finke for the job.
Finke was named county attorney by the county board of commissioners in 2000 when then County Attorney Dave Mennis was named to the 8th Judicial District Court bench. Finke served the remaining two years in Mennis’ four-year term and then won election to the office in 2002. He also won elections in 2006 and 2010. In all three races he was unopposed.
It was back in 1990, when Mennis first ran for the county attorney’s office that county voters had two candidates to choose from on the ballot. He was challenged by John Riches; both had law practices in Benson. Mennis easily won the election and was unopposed in both 1994 and 1998.

Possibility low, but preparation essential

Monday night Benson’s City Council unanimously rejected a petition that had been submitted in opposition to an amendment to city code addressing residential structures considered in disrepair.
But with the next motion the council also unanimously rescinded the amendment, which was set to become law Oct. 17.
Opponents of a proposed amendment aimed at addressing blighted and dilapidated residential properties gave the petition to the city council at its Sept. 22 meeting. Their goal was to force the city to take the proposed change in city law to the community’s voters Nov. 4.
The council had passed the amendment defining conditions under which the city could issue tickets for buildings and properties allowed to fall into disrepair at their Sept. 8 meeting. The proposed change was published in the city’s legal newspaper, the Swift County Monitor-News, Sept. 17. Under state law, published ordinances or amendments become law 30 days after publication.

Congratulations to all 4-H members that participated in the Swift County Fair to make it a successful event. The results of the 2014 Swift County Fair are listed by 4-H club.

BBA - Big Bend Aces         
BGG - Busy Go Getters
CLH - Clontarf Haymakers  
CC - Cool Club        
DV - Dublin Victory            
HK - Hayes Kildare   
HW - Hegbert Winners        
LHEB - Lake Hazel
MC - Mighty Clovers          
ME - Moyer Eagles
SFW – Swift Falls Winners

The lists of winners is in this week's Swift County Monitor-News, available at many stores in the Benson area or by on-line subscription.

Photo:  Pictured is Corbin Holmquist, the winner of the Dog Agility contest at the Swift County Fair.

Opponents of a proposed City of Benson ordinance addressing blighted and dilapidated residential properties presented a petition to the city council Monday in an effort to force it to a vote.
Nita Flodstrom handed the petition to the council at the start of its meeting saying there were 130 signatures on it. Nearly a dozen supporters were in the council chambers with her.
Mayor Paul Kittelson acknowledged receipt of the petition and said the council would act on it as required under law.  City staff and the city attorney’s office will review the petition to see if it conforms with requirements set down in the city charter and if the names of the signers are all legitimate residents and eligible voters in the city.   Photo:  File photo.
 

For the past several months the Swift County-Benson Hospital Foundation has been researching the possibility of building an assisted living facility that would include independent living quarters as well as a dementia unit.
Last Thursday, foundation representatives met with the Benson Economic Development Authority (EDA) to give it an overview of the proposed project and ask it to consider playing a key role in the initial financing. At its meeting Monday night, the council discussed the role Benson could play in facilitating the project through its EDA.
The idea for the facility started with a discussion at a SCBH Foundation meeting.
 “At one of our meetings, a member of the foundation board mentioned that people in the area had expressed concern that loved ones had to leave Benson when they could no longer live in their homes,” Foundation President Jerry Peterson said.

One Overdose is already linked to Drugs Stolen from Starbuck, Minn. Drug Store

The Starbuck Police Department responded to a report of a burglary at Samuelson’s Drug Store on Tuesday, September 16.
The Starbuck and Morris Police Departments are now warning the public about very potent prescription medications that were stolen during the burglary. One overdose is reportedly connected to the stolen drugs.

Increasing moisture levels helped improve pasture and row crop conditions for many Minnesota crops, but farmers would like to see warmer conditions to advance row development, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Temperatures have been slightly below average throughout the summer with the area only seeing two days reach 90 degrees. The cold weather forecast for the second half of this week is not going to be a help at all as highs fall to near record lows in the low to mid-50s.
Highs should be averaging 73-74 degrees during the middle of September, but there are no 70s in the forecast until next week.
Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels have significantly improved since this time last year when the area was suffering drought conditions. But rather than looking to the skies for more rain, area farmers would rather see blue skies and warm temperatures for a few weeks this September.

Benson Schools’ enrollment for the 2014-2015 school year is just over 800 students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.  That number does not include the students in Heartland Girls Ranch, the Chippewa River Day Program, and the Area Learning Center, which has another 50 students enrolled to start the school year.
The Benson schools’ total includes 372 students in grades 7-12 for an average of 62 students per grade, while the enrollment in kindergarten through 6th grade is 431 students, or an average of just over 61.5 students per grade.
Grade 9 has the lowest enrollment number with 53 students, but 2nd grade (54), 4th grade (55), 8th grade (56), 5th grade (57), 3rd grade (59), and 11th grade (59) are also all in the 50s.
The 6th grade class leads the way in enrollment with 76 students for the 2014-2015 school year, while the 12th grade (72) and 10th grade (71) also have over 70 students.