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Ground Level Blog

Cities’ reserves under pressure, too

The financial squeeze on Minnesota cities this fall is putting pressure on how much they can keep in their reserve funds and some are falling below recommended minimums.
by Nancy Lebens

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Planning to build your retirement home? Part III on universal design

Richard Hardine of Infinity Development, designer of homes accessible for people with disabilities, says: “We look for a better way with the same function.”

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The Hardine’s universal design home, part II

When planning for conditions of aging, home planners must consider what those individual needs might be.

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Cost more of a factor than access in rural broadband use

The percentage of Minnesotans using high speed internet access through broadband has increased in the last two years. But rural Minnesota users have a way to go before catching up with urban dwellers on broadband access. That’s according to a new study released by the Center for Rural Policy and Development in St. Peter, MN. Read more →
by Nancy Lebens

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Rethinking the way communities grow

Cities and towns need to start building strategies that capitalize on infrastructure that is already in existence, instead of building new infrastructure, as well as consider downgrading current improvements in order to gain resiliency.

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Letting go of “dead ideas” about growth

In a recent Curbside Chat in Baldwin, Charles Marohn examined old mechanisms of growth that will not be feasible in the future. He calls these “dead ideas.”

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The beauty of universal design for aging in place

It’s important to understand terms associated with accessibility.

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A visit to the Amish Country Co-op

A visit to the Amish Country Co-op

“There’ll be more coming and next year even more.”

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A bridge in time saves Zumbrota?

Zumbrota city officials want to know why the record flood stage of 23.2 feet on the Zumbro river didn’t cause more damage than in the previous flood in 2005, when the river also hit 23.2. Zumbrota city administrator Neil Jensen thinks the new, wider Highway 58 bridge may have had something to do with it. Read more →
by Nancy Lebens

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Shorter contracts the trend for union city employees

If uncertainty were a line item, many Minnesota city budgets would list it. As for quantifying it? One partial measure is the number of mediation cases taken on by the tiny state agency, the Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS). From July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010 the BMS saw a doubling of its caseload Read more →
by Nancy Lebens

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