News

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

September was the wettest on record for the Benson area with 7.05 inches of rain. The old record was 6.52 inches from 1991. September rainfall was 4.28 inches more than the averge of 2.77 inches.

The first nine months of 2019 with 34.94 inches of precipitation were the wettest first nine months on record for the area as well. The previous recorded was 34.72 inches from 1986. The January to September rainfall was 12.04 inches more than the average of 22.9 inches.

The signs of the wet weather have lingered throughout the spring and summer, and now into the fall with standing water in fields and sump pumps running constantly. The Chippewa River at Benson’s western edge is back up to 10.8 feet, more than 2 feet above where it usually sits at this time of year.

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

If September’s warmth continues for the rest of the month, it will become the first month of 2019 with above average temperatures.

In the Benson area, during the period from Sept. 14 to Sept. 21 highs averaged 83.3 degrees and lows 58.4. Highs were more than 13 degrees above average and lows 10 degrees above the average. Both Sept. 17 and Sept. 20 the high hit 88 degrees –the average high for the 20th is 70 degrees. The high for the month of August was 85 degrees...

For more on this story, and to keep up on all the latest in area sports, subscribe to the Swift County Monitor-News print edition or our PDF internet edition. Call 320-843-4111 and you can get all the local news and sports delivered to you!

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

Swift County’s Board of Commissioners voted unanimously at its Sept. 17 meeting to adopt a 5 percent increase in the general operating levy raising a projected $5,992,702 for 2020. It is an increase of just over $285,000 from the 2019 levy.

Commissioners were required under state statute to adopt the preliminary levy before the end of September. However, the final levy does not have to be approved until the end of the year. While the county board can lower the proposed levy between now and then, it can’t raise it.

Whether or not the full 5 percent levy will be implemented depends on whether or not the county receives a grant for its sheriff’s office radio system...

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

Parking and fences would be more tightly regulated if two amendments to City of Benson ordinances are adopted in the coming weeks.

At Monday night’s city council meeting it was proposed that new language be added to the city parking restricting where vehicles can be parked. The goal of the new language is to end the spreading practice of vehicles parking in residential yards. It would also address the storing of fish houses, trailers, campers and other things that can be pulled behind a vehicle.

Some people park vehicles in yards for convenience, others to get them off the street during snow emergencies, and some because it is a place to store a vehicle they aren’t using. A few park near their front or side stairs because they have difficulty walking...

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

As the Swift County Board of Commissioners was about to adjourn its Sept. 17 meeting, Pete Peterson, District 3-south Benson and Torning Township said he had point he would like to make to the public.

 “It is pretty much public knowledge that we denied a tobacco license at our last meeting. I feel we had very good grounds for taking that action if you take into consideration the public health mission statement,” he said.

Peterson was referring to the county board’s 4 to 1 vote Sept. 3 to deny a tobacco license to the new Dollar General store in Kerkhoven. The store is across North 15th Street from the Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg School.

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

September’s rainfall has already hit an unofficial 5.27 inches making it the seventh wettest on record with nearly two weeks yet to go in the month. The wettest September was recorded in 1991 when 6.51 inches of rain fell. September’s average rainfall is 2.76 inches...

For more on this story, and to keep up on all the latest in area sports, subscribe to the Swift County Monitor-News print edition or our PDF internet edition. Call 320-843-4111 and you can get all the local news and sports delivered to you!

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

With the former Benson Power generation building nothing more than a pile of metal rubble, Xcel Energy has reached out to the City of Benson to do a walk-through of the site as a preliminary step toward its purchase of the site. It is expected that the demolition and site restoration work will be completed by Thanksgiving.

After a phase one environmental assessment is done on the property this fall, the city plans to buy the 77-acre site and buildings from Xcel Energy for around $1.7 million, Benson City Manager Rob Wolfington told the Economic Development Authority (EDA) at its meeting Monday morning.  While the generation building is gone, the large fuel hall building is still in place as well as the administration building. The road infrastructure and weight scale will also remain. The purchase should take place by the end of December...

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

Over the past 25 years, the City of Benson has been awarded millions of federal grant monies to assist with home renovations and business building improvements.

Through the grant funds provided by the Small Cities Development Program, Benson is able to substantially improve the look of the community by helping low- and moderate-income residents renovate their homes while also making them safer and energy efficient. It uses the funds to make improvements to businesses that not only make them more energy efficient but also improve their curb appeal...

For more on this story, and to keep up on all the latest in area sports, subscribe to the Swift County Monitor-News print edition or our PDF internet edition. Call 320-843-4111 and you can get all the local news and sports delivered to you!

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

More discussion among the members of the Citizens Perspective Committee is needed before it will reach a consensus on what it will be bringing to the public.

Commissioner Eric Rudningen, District 5-Kerkhoven, attended the meeting and reported on the committees’ progress at the board’s meeting Sept. 3.

The Citizens Perspective Committee was created in May by the county board when it came under persistent criticism for its pursuit of a new justice center.

The proposed two-story 38,000 square foot building on the west side of the courthouse would house a new Swift County Sheriff’s Office, an expanded jail, human services, 6W Community Corrections, the county attorney’s office and Restorative Practices. Its cost was projected at $17.5 million.

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News

Development of an affiliation agreement that would see Carris Health based in Willmar take over management of Swift County-Benson Health Services will move forward.

At a meeting Sept. 3, the SCBHS Governing Board unanimously voted to sign a letter of intent to pursue affiliation through a lease agreement with Carris Health. At a joint meeting of the Benson City Council and Swift County Board of Commissioners at SCBHS Monday night, the two members that make up the hospital district gave their blessing for the proposed affiliation to move forward. Any final agreement with Carris will need county and city approval...

For more on this story, and to keep up on all the latest in area sports, subscribe to the Swift County Monitor-News print edition or our PDF internet edition. Call 320-843-4111 and you can get all the local news and sports delivered to you!