Wright County Journal Press featuring news, real estate, classified ads, dining and entertainment in the Buffalo Minneasota area

HEADLINES FOR JANUARY 2, 2009

2008 - A Year in Review

Montrose in 2008- A year in review

Hanover in 2008- A year in review

County Board sets salaries, approves two union contracts

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Sharing memories (Feature Story)

Army Reserves headquartered in Buffalo deployed to Iraq in August

Spectacular fire at Bjorklund Trucking in July

Hillary Clinton made history as a top contender for President and was appointed as Obama’s Secretary of State.

The world economy was sent into recession. A mortgage foreclosure crisis in America and a sharp rise in the price of oil contributed to economic turmoil. This led to a $700 billion bailout for the financial industry.

Most of us coped with gasoline prices around $4 a gallon throughout much of the year. A drop to the $1.70 to $1.80 range began around election time as the stock market experienced huge drops.

Over in Iraq, violence was diminishing as violence was increasing in Afghanistan.

Here in Wright County, the 2008 election kept our attention and stimulated political activity and discussions. Many of us took part in the Super Tuesday caucuses last February.

The county’s voters showed the usual preference for Republican candidates. But we are still waiting to see if U.S. Senator Norm Coleman prevails in his battle with Al Franken. Their unbelievably close election led to a recount process that still had not been concluded by Christmastime.

Besides the candidates, the election included school referendum decisions. Referendum levy proposals were defeated in the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose School District, the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted School District and the Rockford School District on Nov. 4. Later on Dec. 16, a bond issue proposal for a new school was voted down in the Annandale School District.

A major construction project in 2008 is now concluding. The new $50 million Wright County Jail and Law Enforcement Center (LEC) construction project was underway all year. The Sheriff’s Office is preparing to move into the LEC this January, and the inmates could be moved to the new jail in April or May.

Some of the other more significant local news happenings of 2008 included Corinna Township’s dispute with the county in regard the township’s ability to handle its own planning and zoning work.

Buffalo was mentioned in national news stories when Paul Reuben, a security contractor, was captured and later killed in Iraq. His wife lives in Buffalo.

A high rate of foreclosures in the county was a continuing concern all year. Efforts were made to protect and maintain vacant homes.

The Army Reserve unit headquartered in Buffalo, the 353rd Transportation Company, began a deployment to Iraq at the end of July.

Metal detectors were installed at the main entrances of the Wright County Government Center for increased security.

In Buffalo, a realignment of 5th St. included a new railroad crossing just west of the Highway 55 and CSAH 35 intersection. The Soo Lane crossing was closed, and the 1st St. N.E. crossing (west of Ryan Chevrolet) was also closed.

One of the bright spots of 2008 was the launch of a Let’s Go Fishing with Seniors pontoon craft, which cruised on Buffalo Lake numerous times last summer.

Walls go up at Wright County’s new jail and law enforcement center construction site on north side of Buffalo.

Corinna Township and Wright County negotiating township’s plan to handle its own planning and zoning work.

Super Tuesday caucuses take place on Feb. 5. Presidential election of 2008 coming up in November.

Discord at St. Francis Xavier Church in Buffalo leads to departure of Fr. Tom Rayar, who files a suit against a group of parishioners.

Paul Reuben, private security contractor, killed after captured in Iraq. His wife is Buffalo resident Keri Johnson-Reuben.

Pelican Rapids High School band bus crashes along I-94 in Albertville. One student, Jessica Weishair, 16, of Barnesville, dies, and many others are injured.

Mortgage foreclosure rate high in Wright County. Officials plan special meeting to address issues.

Buffalo robotics team wins a national title at “battlebot” competition in the Mall of America.

Dean Brown leaves Buffalo Hanover Montrose School Board to serve as a pastor in Duluth.

Fr. Tom Rayar’s suit against a group of St. Francis Xavier Church parishioners dismissed. Judge rules the court lacks jurisdiction on internal church dispute.

Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School senior, Madey Kleve, dies in crash at Highway 55 and CSAH 6. Three other students injured.

New Miss Buffalo, Natalie Svoboda, crowned. Princesses are Jolene Tokkesdal and Emily Carlson.

Band director Lee Kjesbo honored in Buffalo Days Parade after 37 years in education.

Mary McBrady of Maple Lake and Jerry Specht of Buffalo selected as Wright County’s 2008 Outstanding Senior Citizens.

New 5th St. (CSAH 35) railroad crossing opens in Buffalo after major road realignment project.

Doug Olson of Greenfield (Hanover area) appointed to finish Dean Brown’s term on the Buffalo Hanover Montrose School Board.

Fairest of the Fair at 2008 Wright County Fair is Johannah Comee of Buffalo. Princesses are Danielle Mazer of Monticello and Afton Kielsa of Albertville.

Farewell ceremony conducted for 353rd Transportation Company at Buffalo High School. Army Reserve unit’s deployment to Iraq involves about 170 soldiers.

McDonald’s building in Buffalo demolished prior to construction of new facility.

Rory Zitur of St. Michael murdered. Investigators allege Gary Heald of Zimmerman murdered his wife and Zitur before committing suicide.

Four-lane expansion of Highway 55 in Buffalo starts from east of CSAH 34 near Target store to Co. Rd. 134 near Menards and Kwik Trip.

Primary Election narrows field of candidates. Rose Thelen and Marian Harmoning facing each other in November General Election for a county board seat. Jack Russek and Matt Walker facing each other for another county board position.

County’s draft 2009 budget and levy both 7.2-percent higher than 2008 budget and levy.

Corinna Township and Wright County could end up in court to settle dispute regarding township’s plan to handle its own planning and zoning work.

Jeremy Brooks sentenced to life in prison for murder of Ruth Ouverson. Co-defendant Coty Martinez pleads guilty to aiding and abetting intentional murder.

Matthew Beise of Buffalo sentenced to 14 years in prison for transmitting child pornography and mail fraud in connection with embezzlement of church funds.

In 2008 General Election, Barack Obama, Michele Bachmann, Bruce Anderson, Tom Emmer, Rose Thelen, and Jack Russek win. Recount ahead for Norm Coleman and Al Franken. In Buffalo, Fred Naaktgeboren, Del Haag, Brad Nauman, and Steve Downer win.

School referendum proposals voted down in three districts, Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, and Rockford.

Buffalo Hanover Montrose School Board approves $1.6 million budget reduction. Staff positions, class sizes, summer school, activity bus among casualties.

Coleman-Franken recount in Wright County and the rest of the state completed. State Canvassing Board needs to rule on challenged ballots.

With the changing economy and a declining housing market, the Montrose City Council in 2008 approved no new developments, but did continue to improve city services with a sanitary sewer replacement project. In November, Councilmember Andy Kuaffman was elected mayor. Councilmember Jeff Petersen was re-elected, and Scott Jensen was elected to the council.

The fire department begins planning for the purchase of a new tanker. The fire department rate is increased by $25 per household to help fund the purchase of equipment for the new 800 MHz emergency radio system.

Although nearly 12,000 vehicles travel east and west through the city on Highway 12, the city’s request to lower the speed limit is denied by MnDOT.

Plans begin for sanitary sewer improvements along the west and south sides of Montrose Manor Mobile Home Park.

Citing addresses in city council meeting minutes was discussed. The fire department is acknowledged and thanked for its work in the community.

A crack sealing machine is purchased, allowing the Public Works Department to do that work rather than bidding it out.

External goals including increasing citizen involvement and participation in city affairs are adopted.

Internal goals including ensuring good communication and teamwork within the council are adopted.

Plans to improve the intersection of Highway 12 and Clementa are submitted to MnDOT.

The city receives a Safe Routes to School grant of $175,000 for adding sidewalks south to Rockbrook development and west tot 12-Hi Estates mobile home park.

Plans and specifications begin for a public works garage and shed at the wastewater treatment plant site.

Anonymous email requests for city information are again considered. According to the city’s attorney, the city has an obligation to provide public information to anonymous requests.

Meals will now be available at the Wednesday Senior Citizen gatherings at the community center.

A conditional use permit for used car sales at the corner of Highway 12 and Emerson is approved.

The fire department is thanked by the Bauch family of Willmar for its help responding to an truck and car crash.

A policy requiring anyone requesting information from the city be identified is adopted.

Bids are accepted for the sewer line replacement project and the Northridge Park improvement.

Requests for city data information must now go through the city attorney. The council is concerned about maintaining a safe work environment.

City services to the Preserve of Montrose will be completed using the developer’s letter of credit. The city has been unable to contact the developer.

The city saves $25,000 on interest by using a credit enhancement on the bonds for the south intercept sanitary sewer replacement project.

The city is honored for “Outstanding Planning and Urban Design” for its recent Alternative Urban Areawide Review.

The fire department receives a $12,000 grant to help with the purchase of new pagers.

The city will remodel the garage area at city hall to create two offices and a meeting room.

Councilmember Andy Kauffman is elected mayor. Councilmember Jeff Petersen is re-elected, and Scott Jensen is elected to the council. 1424 citizens, possibly the highest turnout ever, voted in Montrose.

The council decides to fill Kauffman’s council seat through an application process.

Lift stations are needing repair because of problems with large debris in the sanitary sewer lines.

A matching grant from the DNR will allow the fire department to purchase more fire hoses.

Councilmember Cindy Beaton is acknowledged for serving on the council for four years.

Charlie Nelson is acknowledged and presented with a plaque for serving as mayor for ten years.

The Hanover City Council in 2008 focused its efforts on building and improving parks, completing the comprehensive plan update, and making improvements on Church Street. In the November election, Martin Waters was elected mayor, while Dave Malewicki was re-elected to the council and John Vajda was elected to the city council.

Concerns about road construction problems along County Road 34 are discussed, and the problems are expected to be corrected by June. Complaints about snowmobilers crossing private property are investigated with the request that the Wright County snowmobile patrol be in the city.

Snowmobilers attend the second council meeting of the month to tell the council that the club will post better trail markings so snowmobilers stay on the south side of River Road.

City administrator Daniel Buchholtz is commended for his work in investing the city’s reserve funds. The city earns $240,000 in interest through the investments.

A comprehensive plan update is considered by the council. The plan includes regulating overall population density, encouraging a range of lot sizes, and creating an ecological green corridor.

The council declines to raise the yearly pension amount for the volunteer fire department.

The job classifications of the city’s maintenance workers are evaluated and approved by the council.

Fire hall and maintenance facility bond issues are refinanced, saving the city $40,000 over the next thirteen years.

Preliminary plats for Waters Crossing and Arbor Trails are given a two-month extension.

Discussions with the council and the Planning and Zoning Commission on the comprehensive plan update continue. At a public hearing, concerns are expressed about the term ‘open space’ and the need for a statement that developers pay all costs for the extension of city services.

Capital improvement bonds for the city hall addition and the fire station will be refinanced saving the city as much as $25,000.

The savings on the refinancing of the capital improvement bonds increases to $32,000.

The city decides to seek the right of first refusal on seven properties in the downtown area when and if the properties come up for sale.

Work on the comprehensive plan update nears completion. The remaining issue concerns housing density on individual parcels of land.

The conservation design idea in the comprehensive plan update is discussed. In the plan, the city shifts regulating lot size to regulating units per acre for controlling growth and density.

The Park Board objects to the council’s naming of a new park. The Park Board had recommended “Cardinal Commons,” but the council named the park ‘Raven Park.’ The council rescinds its action and asks the Park Board for four possible names.

Bids for park improvements are accepted for Mallards Landing Park and the park in Crow River Heights.

The park in Crow River Heights will be irrigated and the Esterly Oaks pond will be improved.

In response to numerous complaints of weeds, the council declines to shorten the weed removal notice from ten to five days as requested by city staff.

“Raven Park’ becomes ‘Cardinal Circle’ after the council considers the four name choices of the Park Board.

A variance request and zoning map amendment is approved for property along County Road 20.

The council raises its salaries effective January 1. It is the first raise in more than ten years.

Plans for improvements to Church Street will be developed. Costs will be assessed against St. Paul’s Lutheran Church over a period of thirteen years.

Property of ten acres on the east side of the fire station is purchased for future city use.

Planning and Zoning Chair Jim Hennessey is honored by Gov. Tim Pawlenty for his work on the comprehensive plan update.

The annual yearly retirement pension for the volunteer firefighters is raised from $1000 to $1400.

A grading and site plan is ordered for the recently purchased Reiner property on the east side of the fire hall.

Martin Waters is elected as mayor. Dave Malewicki is re-elected to the city council, and John Vajda is elected to the city council.

A temporary storm water pond will be built to handle storm water while Hanover Commons is being constructed.

Citing no complaints over the past year, the council approves the renewal of a mining permit on the Mahler property.

The city’s contribution to employee insurance is increased for 2009 with no further increase for three years. A cost of living wage increase of 1.5 percent is approved for all city employees.

Gerhard “Geke” Kottke is honored for his sixteen years of service on the city council. Mayor Joyce Paullin was honored for her eight years as mayor. Both Kottke and Paullin had sought re-election, but were defeated in the November election.

On Tuesday, December 23, the Wright County Board set the 2009 salaries for themselves and for several county employees, as well as approving labor contracts with Teamsters Local 320 Courthouse Unit and with AFSCME Assistant County Attorneys Unit.

The board set their annual salaries at $36,527, a 2.5 percent increase over last year. The board also set its per diem rate at $50.

The raise in the per diem rate faced opposition from Commissioner Dick Mattson. “I can’t support that at this time,” said Mattson. “I can support $40.”

Said Commissioner Pat Sawatzke, “It matches the lowest rate around here. It is well below average. We are asking to stay on the low end.”

After the meeting, Commissioner Jack Russek said that the per diem rate is paid only once per day, whether there is one meeting or three meetings.

Commissioners serve on numerous county and regional committees. Russek said that he thought the per diem average for the commissioners was under a hundred days each year.

The salary for County Attorney Tom Kelly was increased by 2.5 percent to $113,691. In addition, Kelly will receive $4809 for enhanced responsibilities for administering city law enforcement contracts.

Sheriff Gary Miller’s salary was raised to $107,423, a 2.5 percent increase. Miller will also receive $3577 for the enhanced responsibilities for administering the city law enforcement contracts.

Auditor/Treasurer Bob Hiivala will move to the next step of the salary schedule and receive a 2.5 percent cost-of-living increase. Hiivala’s 2009 salary will be $107, 423.

The contract with Teamsters Local 320 Courthouse Unit was settled with salary increases of 2.5 percent each of the next three years. County contributions to insurances will increase $50 per month each year for the next three years.

The contract is with bailiffs, office assistants, senior clerks, lead clerks, custodians, and various technicians employed at the courthouse.

The contract between AFSCME Council 65 Assistant County Attorneys and the county was also approved with 2.5 increase for each of the next three years. The new contract includes an increase in the county’s contributions to insurances of $50 per month each year of the three-year contract.

For non-union employees, the county board approved a 2.5 percent increase for 2009 and a county contribution increase of $50 per month for insurances effective March of 2009.

- will proceed with condemnation to acquire easement along County Road 6 between Highway 55 and County Road 24. The easements will be acquired using a 90-day quick-take procedure, allowing work to begin on improvements. Work must begin during the 2009 construction season or the county could lose $1.7 million in federal funding for the project.

- following the auditor’s comment on the county’s annual statements, approved a policy for timely deposits of monies received in the various county offices.

- designated the Herald Journal as the official county newspaper. The Herald Journal bid was $.01 per column inch compared with $2.99 per column inch by the Dassel-Cokato Enterprise Dispatch.

- approved a contract with Motorola for $2,181,458 for the infrastructure portion of the 800 MHz radio project. According to Bill Swing, IT Director, the county has a strategy for moving from VHF to the 800 MHz communication system. The system is expected to be in place by the last part of 2009.

- named Bruce Johnson, mayor of Cokato, to the River Rider Committee. Johnson is replacing Janice Severson, who has moved out of the county.

LeRoy Schultz, 98-years-old and a life-long resident of Wright County, remembers the Depression and the WPA

With the economic downturn facing all Americans including Wright County residents, and with a president-elect consulting with advisors to help plan ways to get the economy moving forward again, I thought it would be interesting to consult LeRoy Schultz of Buffalo to get his opinions on how the United States might get back on track toward an improved economy. He had lived through the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Last Friday afternoon, I listened for more than two hours as Roy, as he is better known, told stories about his life and mostly of his work during the Depression. Roy was 98-years-old, and, as you might guess, he had many, many stories. Sadly, Roy died peacefully in his sleep late Friday night only a few hours after this interview.

Roy began work for Wright County in 1930, just before the Depression hit the county. “I would come to town and hang around,” he said. “One of my friends had the chance at two jobs, the post office or Wright County. He really wanted to work for the post office, so he sent me over to the courthouse to see Arnold Jude, who was the county engineer.”

“Now, that was the old courthouse,” continued Roy. “I was just a ‘country boy,’ and to get to the engineer’s office upstairs at the courthouse, I had to walk through one of the courtrooms. So, I snuck along the back wall of the courtroom and found the office. I was hired March 27, 1930.”

Roy’s first job was pounding stakes for the county engineer. He would be told by the surveyor where to put the stakes and how deep to pound the stakes in. The job paid 30 cents an hour.

The WPA (Works Progress Administration) was started here in Wright County in 1935. The Works Progress Administration was the largest federal government New Deal agency. It was created by Franklin Delano Roosevelt and funded by Congress.

According to Roy, Wright County set up the jobs for the WPA government program. “Many of those jobs were repairing, improving, and building roads. We surveyed for new roads, staked township roads taken over by the county, marked where potholes needed to be cleaned out, and straightened many curvy roads. The idea was to make it better,” he said.

Roy continued, “Work started when the federal government said ‘go ahead.’ The county engineer and commissioner would meet with the guys who signed up. They would pick the places where the guys would go to work. The workers were so poor they had rags for socks. They didn’t have a lot of food either. Lunch was often a cheese sandwich, an apple, and some water. They couldn’t afford more. There were no shacks for the workers to sleep at the job sites in all parts of the county, so the county bought shacks and pulled them behind cars. Later the government gave us shacks, portables that we had to bolt together for the workers.”

“Some of the guys didn’t know how to do the work. They didn’t even know what a pick and shovel were. There were bankers and preachers, and they got a lot of blisters, but they were happy to have a job,” said Roy. “It was tough to get a job, and they were thankful.”

“The WPA was a good program,” said Roy. “There were two crews working at each site, one from eight to noon, the other from 12:30 to 4:30, four-hour shifts, so more people got to work. The people appreciated the chance to work, and the county got improved roads and several town halls. I staked the land for the one in Waverly and the one in Cokato.”

Part of Roy’s job was to make sure the work was getting done. As a WPA supervisor from 1936 to 1937, he would go out to the job sites to see if progress was being made. The workers were paid ten or fifteen cents an hour.

Most of the workers were from Wright County. “So,” said Roy, “the money stayed in the county. The county office was downtown, upstairs of the old Bergstrom store, and that’s where the checks were made out. The women worked in that office.” Roy also delivered the checks to the job sites.

When asked whether such a program would work today as being proposed by President-elect Barack Obama, he said, “He’s a good guy. Yes, it would work, but people have to want to work!”

Roy was born on November 8, 1910, on a farm south of Buffalo on Highway 25 near Crawford Lake. “We lived close enough to the country school that I could finishing eating breakfast and get to school before the bell stopped ringing,” said Roy.

“My brother, who was eleven years older than me, and I used to play hide and seek,” he continued. “We trapped skunks, too. One time I found a skunk in one of my traps caught with the back leg only. This was before school. After I got the skunk out of the trap, my mother used soap, and I don’t know what else, but I got to school that day.”

Roy also said that, as a young boy, he caught bullheads in the Crow River and took them home for eating.

Roy attended Montrose High School after being promoted past two grades for his hard work. There, he had the opportunity to have lunch at his grandparent’s home, just down the street from the school. “There were two teachers there, a man and a woman. That man would ask questions and was so snotty, I just up and quit. I had to go back to the country school to graduate from eighth grade. I had to do that because they were tough then.”

Roy was especially proud that he was the grandson of a Civil War veteran. His mother’s father, George Kriedler, fought in the Civil War and later settled north of Montrose.

During the two hours I listened to Roy, he also told me about how he knew where all the stills were in Wright County during Prohibition, how you got a driver’s license by driving home from where you bought the car, how he had to watch out for horses when he was driving around the county, how the church steeple blew up when it was hit by lightning, how he snuck into church to play the organ, how he always sang on the job, how he worked his way up to senior engineering technician, how he…