September 18 found me attending the meeting of the Minnesota River Board (MRB) in Montevideo, Minnesota. The MRB is charged with the task of coordinating the improving of water quality in the Minnesota River Basin. The organization has had its ups and downs; but things are looking up right now. We have renewed energy and the passage of the Clean Water Legacy Act by the Minnesota legislature is a small step in the right direction.

In the evening I attended the Minnesota Valley Action Council meeting in Mankato. There was good news and bad news at this meeting. The bad news is that election year politics are holding up important legislation in Washington, D.C. Examples: the Community Services Block Grant funding has not been passed; the weatherization programs, Head Start, Work Force Investment Act are waiting in limbo. If our country is to become energy independent; weatherization help for older homes would be nice. Conservation of the energy we have is very important and cost effective. The good news is that the Minnesota Valley Action Council is being pro-active and generating our own revenue stream with the operation of a thrift store. The store has been in operation for about three years and is successful.

CELEBRATION TIME
The Nicollet County Board of Commissioners invites all to an Open House and meeting of the County Board at the newly constructed Highway Maintenance Shop in Lafayette, Minnesota. The open house is on October 10 from noon to 6:00 p.m. The dedication and board meeting will start at 1:00 p.m. (Note: this is the first time the county board has held one of our regularly scheduled meetings in a location other than the Court House.)