Plowing & Sanding Roads in Ortonville
We are now in the “Before New Year’s Day Blizzard” just after we finished clean-up from the “After Christmas Blizzard” – please, if you have to travel, do so with caution!
News Release from Big Stone County Emergency Management this morning
(if you have a Facebook Page, here is a link to this release)
Dec. 31, 2018 (7:15 a.m.)
The Minnesota Department of Transportation has enacted a no travel advisory on state and federal highways in the following counties due to dangerous driving conditions:
· Clay
· Big Stone
· Stevens
· Traverse
· Wilkin
High winds and blowing snow are causing whiteout conditions. Snowplows will continue to operate, but motorists are advised not to travel until conditions improve. For tips on safe winter driving, go to www.mndot.gov/workzone/winter.html. For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.orgor get the free smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store.
Please have patience as the City crew works to keep our roads open during yet another storm. The video below (and post photo above) was taken during clean up from last week’s blizzard.
Winter Alerts, Notifications & Good to Know Announcements
A list of resource links as we make it through this winter season.
Big Stone County Emergency Management
Their Facebook pages
1350 AM KDIO Radio
Listen in on KDIO for all weather-related announcements and they also posts updates on their Facebook Page.
Ortonville Police Department
Posts all their emergency related announcements and notifications on their Facebook Page.
Ortonville School
Their Facebook Page posts latest updates
School Website covers urgent announcements & calendar
Artie’s Bait & Tackle
They post ice condition updates (along with fishing updates!)
…and although not weather-related, Ortonville Area Health Services posts very helpful & informative information on both their Website- OAHS.US & their Facebook Page!
EDA Office is Moving
The Ortonville EDA office will be moving to the lower level (2nd Street a.k.a. Main Street) of the Community Center in January.
Currently, the EDA sub-rents space from KDIO. Although the KDIO space has been a great office location, the new location will not only save money in the budget, it will also provide private meeting space and easier access for our downtown businesses.
The Big Stone Arts Council will be moving to the upper level for their events/activities such as the Music on Main that really took hold last summer. This extra space will allow them to expand their participants… and, hopefully, they’ll now use that expanded space to invite an audience to enjoy their music jam sessions! (I am hoping!) — The Community Center (upper level) remains available for all the activities as before – contact the City Office if you are looking for a gathering space. Phone: 839-3428
I’m excited to be located downtown – in the middle of our business district! You’ll be able to find me in the office Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00 p.m. (unless, of course, I’m out for meetings)
The official Ortonville EDA information can be found right here on the City’s new website! – page link. And, also make sure to check out my new blog (ortonvilleonbigstonelake.com) The blog provides a more personal community connection where I discuss our local businesses, organizations and EDA updates… however, I also blog about local events that I attend. Attending events is not part of my official “job” – it is what I love to do most – so the EDA Board allows me the flexibility to blog about the local events that I attend – right along with my work blogging.
So, watch for the EDA office to open downtown starting in January and until then stay connected with us online!
Vicki Oakes
Community Development Coordinator
320-839-6155
The City of Ortonville has been designated as an Opportunity Zone
Of the 509 eligible low-income census tracts in Minnesota, Governor Dayton could designate 128 census tracts as Opportunity Zones. The Ortonville EDA completed the application and sought support from the City and the County to submit Ortonville’s census tract for consideration as an appointment – with success!
Opportunity Zones are a new community development program established by Congress in the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 to encourage long-term investments in low-income and urban communities nationwide.
Opportunity Funds are a new class of private sector investment vehicles authorized to aggregate and deploy private investment into Opportunity Zones. Opportunity Funds allow U.S. investors holding unrealized gains in stocks and mutual funds to pool their resources in projects located in Opportunity Zones, which will be invested in rebuilding low-income communities.
U.S. investors are eligible to receive:
- A temporary tax deferral for capital gains invested in an Opportunity Fund.
- A step-up in basis for capital gains reinvested in an Opportunity Fund.
- A permanent exclusion from taxable income of capital gains from the sale or exchange of an investment in a qualified opportunity zone fund if the investment is held for at least 10 years.
As the final details of this program have been rolled out, we are excited that the timing is coinciding nicely as we finalize our work with the Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP) to address the needs that were identified in the 2018 Housing Study by Maxfield Research & Consulting.
Staff from both the Ortonville EDA and the Big Stone County Housing & Redevelopment Authority along with a committee have been working with MHP on project planning:
What do we have?
Community: Families, youth, vets, seniors, etc.
Resources: Available land, infrastructure, etc.
What do we want?
Workforce housing rental single family, rehab
What do we need to get what we want?
The Committee is currently drafting a Request for Proposal (RFP) which will go out to developers. This Draft RFP will first be taken to the City Council for review and then the Committee plans to host a public meeting for the review of the plans for input/changes before being released. The housing projects under consideration in the RFP will be Opportunity Zone — project friendly!
Housing Committee Members are:
- Dalen Roe, Cenbank
- David Rogers, Ortonville Area Health Services
- Kristi Ehrenberg, Big Stone Therapies
- Mary Hillman, Big Stone Lake Area Chamber
- Garry Swenson, Ortonville EDA
- Kim Sykora, Ortonville EDA/City Council
- Nancy Lee, Big Stone County HRA Staff
- Vicki Oakes, Ortonville EDA Staff
If you’d like more information on the Opportunity Zone and/or preliminary information on the housing projects, please contact Vicki Oakes at 320-839-6155 or email vicki@ortonvilleeda.com
Water Quality Award!
We received notice from the Minnesota Department of Health (Oral Health Program and Drinking Water Protection) this month that the City of Ortonville received the 2017 Water Fluoridation Quality Award!
This award, created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recognizes those public water systems (PWSs) that adjust the fluoride concentration in drinking water and achieve a monthly average fluoride level that is in the optimal range for 12 consecutive months in a calendar year, as documented in the CDC Water Fluoridation Reporting System (WFRS).
CDC initiated the Water Fluoridation Quality Awards program to recognize outstanding performance in fluoridation management by public water systems. In Minnesota, 233 of 605 possible fluoridating community PWSs are receiving an award for 2017.
We give an extra shout out to Sam Berger on this outstanding effort and thank you for your work providing safe, dependable drinking water for Ortonville!
Cold Weather Rule – and your Utilities
There is a cold weather rule in Minnesota that tries to help people avoid being disconnected. However, if a person doesn’t follow the guidelines, they could still have their electricity turned off for nonpayment.
Please read the Cold Weather Rule – Link: https://mn.gov/puc/consumers/help/shut-off-protection/
Further questions regarding your utilities, please call the City Office at 320-839-3428
Thank you.
Our New Website is Under Construction
Our new website is under construction – but LIVE! We welcome any suggestions for improvement as we go.
The Site should be complete by October 15th.
Senior Housing
Fairway View Communities
Link: www.fairwayview.us
The City of Ortonville and Ortonville Area Health Services (Municipal Hospital and Clinic) completed the expansion of Fairway View in 2017 which is located along our 18-hole municipal golf course and just a couple of blocks from our hospital (new in 2011) and clinic (new in 2003) with a helicopter pad. Ortonville has an airport that accommodates the fixed-wing emergency needs.
The original complex (12 independent, 16 assisted living and 6 memory care units) was built by the Ortonville EDA and opened in 2004. The expansion which opened in 2017 consists of 34 catered living units with an additional 51-bed skilled (nursing home) complex consisting of 3 pods or home-style sections. Donnie’s Diner and a general store within this facility just held their grand opening and ribbon
cutting the week between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The facility was filled to capacity even before the grand opening ceremony and open house. Ortonville Area Health Services is now managing the complete facility with a long-term lease with the Ortonville EDA on the original complex.
18-Hole Golf Course
Ortonville has a beautiful 18-hole golf course (one we are truly proud of!) with a historic Clubhouse which overlooks Big Stone Lake. Views of the lake can also be seen from the #16, #17 & #18 greens also.
Golf Course Website Link (& see beautiful drone footage of the course!)
Golf Course Facebook Page
Off the Green Restaurant & Bar
Off the Green Restaurant and Bar serves great lunches & dinners (Owner Adam Ellard)
Health Care
Ortonville Area Health Services
“11 providers For you, For your family, For life”
Link: www.oahs.us
2003 New Clinic Opened
2011 New Hospital Opened – $20 million dollar project with $2.2 Million raised locally through the Big Stone Health Care Foundation.
- 25-bed Critical Access Hospital
- 49,218 sq ft Hospital
- 30,643 sq ft Clinic (with a helicopter pad on site with an airport that accommodates the fixed-wing emergency needs)
- Satellite Clinic – Clinton Clinic