Rice County sets levy at 5.65%
Rice County Commissioners set the preliminary levy at 5.65%. At that time Commissioner Malecha said no one advocates to raise taxes but there’s a definite need. And raise them they did. Yesterday morning the Rice County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the levy at 5.65%. Malecha explained that they’ve gone years with very little tax increases so they have to make adjustments. They could’ve lowered the levy but the County had labor negotiations and health insurance increases this year in each of the departments adding personnel cost. The total increase in the net levy in dollars, including the Rice County HRA comes out to $1.1 million.
A Solar Garden to be planted in Nfld. thanks to local group
The seeds of a Solar Garden to be planted in Northfield. Northfield Area Community Solar is a group started last year after the climate summit. NACS co-founders Mary Jo Cristofaro and Erica Zweifel announced that a Solar Array will be installed at Eastgate Farms in partnership with developer Minnesota Community Solar. A solar “array” is a group of solar panels. This particular garden will take up 4 to 5 acres just off Hwy 19 by the turkey farm. “The turkeys will have a birdseye view” says Zweifel. Cristofaro explains that the land used is called “brown” land. “The goal is to use unusable land”. This is land that is not farmed or used for anything else. Their hope is to start installation in the Spring and have it up and producing energy by Fall of 2015. Anyone with an Excel Energy bill is eligible. NACS has a buy-in from MCS right now for locals to have first chance at purchasing a subscription. The local period is 120 days. If you want to participate use the link provided and you can save $5 on a leaf. We have a link to Minnesota Community Solar and the local landing page on our website kymnradio.net inside Today’s News Update. If it is not sold out, then anyone in Rice County is eligible and it will go out from there. The State has a cap of 40% for allowable solar energy usage in an area covered. Cristofaro explains how it works for users. You purchase a 25 year subscription and the amount of solar energy you use is credited to your Excel energy bill. You can buy a “leaf”, which is 205 watts, up to 120% of your usage. Your average usage is taken into account and you buy whatever you choose. A “leaf” is $889, which turns out to be considerably cheaper than if you installed panels on your home. You also don’t pay for maintenance. NACS is the first such group of it’s kind. They’re holding a Just Talk Turkey about Solar at Just Food Coop on December 28th from 7 to 9pm. For the full interview find it on kymnradio.net.
Free bikes program gives 100 bikes to area children in need
A free bikes program was held on December 6th as part of the Greenvale Community School Program. Allina Health, HCI, Northfield Police Department staff, and other volunteers distributed 100 bikes and helmets to area children. One of Northfield’s retired police officers, who wishes to remain nameless, contacted Evidence Technician Lynn James to see about donating any bicycles the police department has. James said last year, the first year they’ve been involved, they gave 6 bikes. This year she had 14 bikes. She continued that these bikes are found and/or abandoned. James holds them for 90 days. If no one’s claimed them they’re given to an auction company out of state but, at this time of year, the retired officer picks them up for donation. The Free Bikes 4Kidz program is a non-profit that helps kids in need ride into a healthier lifestyle.
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The post Today’s news update – Rice County sets levy at 5.65%; A Solar Garden to be planted in Nfld; Free bikes program gives 100 bikes to area children in need appeared first on KYMN Radio - Northfield, MN.