Materials from the Open House are available here:

• Presentation that goes over the ATP process and the 2013-2016 ATIP projects
• District 4’s projects
• District 8’s projects
• Comments made by attendees at the meeting about the projects and other transportation-related things
• Images of the Granite Falls RR bridge in reference to one of the questions asked

Information from the Transportation Forum is available here:

• Presentation from MnDOT
• Info on MnDOT Landscaping Program
• Link to Landscape Partnership Program
• Link to Safe Routes to School

For more information on the Open House or the Spring Transportation Forum, or any other transortation issues, contact Lindsey Knutson, UMVRDC Transportation Planner, at 320-289-1981 ext. 7 or email lindsey.knutson@umvrdc.org.

• “The number of annual person-visits in Minnesota is more than seven times the total population of the state.”  Source.
  

  The Lac qui Parle County Museum, in Madison, is one of several museums in the region.

• “Tourism is a key sector of Minnesota’s economy, comparable to agriculture in its contribution to the gross state product.”  Source.
• “The state’s documented 562 museums provided an economic impact of $674 million in 2011.”  Source.
• “(Most) rural tourism businesses are locally owned and locally run, and most rural tourism jobs support families… They’re more likely to be entrepreneurial pursuits operated by people who are passionate about what they do and support their families while doing it.”  Source.

This weekend is the Minnesota Fishing Opener, Mother’s Day, and even graduations and proms in some of our region’s towns. Each of these events can involve tourism and travel. Tourism is all around us, even here in rural Minnesota.

For more tourism information, contact Jenifer Fadness at 320-289-1981 ext. 5 or Kristi Fernholz at 320-289-1981 ext. 6 at the UMVRDC; visit any of the source links in the above bullet points; or visit any of the UMVRDC’s tourism program sites:

• www.PrairieWaters.com
• www.MnRiverValley.com
• www.ArtsMeander.com

Click here for a draft agenda – come and find out what dollars and programs might be available to your organization to become more energy efficient.

A two for one opportunity! In additional to the CERTs workshop, USDA will be at the UMVRDC the afternoon of the 23^rd to talk about their community facilities programs and funding available. Please let us know if you would like to set up a time to talk one on one with our USDA representative!

For more information on the Energy Workshop or other energy questions, contact Jacki Anderson at jacki.anderson@umvrdc.org or call 320-289-1981 ext. 2. For more about CERTs, visit their website.

The Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission (UMVRDC) is looking for an Accountant to work with the Financial Officer on the financial management of the UMVRDC. This position will also work on the fiscal administration and reporting for a variety of state and federal grants.

Education & Experience

4-year degree in Accounting or related field required. Two years related experience preferred.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility listed on the job description satisfactorily. A summary of the qualification includes:

• Strong understanding of accounting principles and procedures;
• Knowledge of basic government accounting principles and methodologies a plus.

• Knowledge of payroll procedures and related tax filings and reporting requirements.
• Must have basic knowledge of financial management software.  
• Valid driver’s license.
• Some overnight travel necessary.
• Some evening and early morning meetings required.
• Interest in pursuing additional training and professional certifications.
• All finalists considered will be subject to a criminal background check and credit report.

About the Position

See the Job Description for detailed explanation of the position.

See the Position Profile for a general explanation of the agency and this position.

This position will replace a current employee who will be retiring. Extensive on-the-job training with the existing employee will occur.

Opportunities for advancement exist.

Starting salary depending on experience and qualifications.

Benefits include full single health insurance high deductible plan ($3,000 single/$6,000 family maximum),  50% family coverage, full single dental, agency funded medical reimbursement account ($1,500 in 2012), life, flexible benefits plan, vacation leave, sick leave, school leave, flexible work scheduling, deferred compensation plan, Roth 457, Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA).

Timing

The position is available starting immediately.

Applications due May 14.

Job offers are not final until receiving the UMVRDC Board of Commissioners approval and upon successful competition of a background and credit check.

To Apply

• The application is a fillable form PDF. Please fill it out electronically, print a copy, then sign and date it. Application is available here.

• Send application, copies of college transcripts, and cover letter highlighting three things you can bring to the UMVRDC Finance Team to:

Executive Director
323 West Schlieman Avenue
Appleton, MN 56208
320-289-1981 ext. 1
dawn.hegland@umvrdc.org

The Spring Transportation Forum will be on

Monday, April 16, 2012

at the Appleton Civic Center at
323 West Schlieman Avenue in Appleton

from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm

with MnDOT presentations at 2:30 pm and 5:00 pm.

Come and talk with local MnDOT officials from Willmar and Detroit Lakes on a variety of topics. There will be short presentations from MnDOT and LOTS of time for one-on-one questions and answers.

• Provide feedback on MnDOT’s new transportation corridor-based process to gather input from cities and counties on their needs and future projects.
• Get information on the use and prioritization process of federal transportation dollars on roads, bridges, rail road crossings, safety improvement, public transit and more!
• Learn how to access funding like:
  Landscape Partnership:The Community Roadside Landscaping Partnership Program offers technical and financial assistance to enable communities to install and maintain landscape planting on eligible state highway rights of way.  The program goals include:
  • Roadside Beautification
  • Community Improvement
  • Environmental Stewardship

• Transportation Enhancements:
  • Provision of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles;
  • Provision of safety and educational activities;
  • Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites;
  • Scenic or historic highway programs;
  • Landscaping and other scenic beautification;
  • Historic preservation of a transportation related structure;
  • Rehabilitation and operation of historic buildings, structures, or facilities;
  • Establishment of transportation museums;
  • Preservation of abandoned railroad corridors;
  • Control and removal of outdoor advertising;
  • Archaeological planning and research; and
  • Mitigation of water pollution due to highway runoff.

• Safe Routes to School: The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program, created by the Federal Surface Transportation Act, establishes a grant program providing communities with the opportunity to improve conditions for bicycling and walking to school. The goals of the program are threefold:

1. to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school;
2. to make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age; and
3. to facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools.

• Cooperative Agreements: Where a mutual benefit and a demonstrated transportation need exist on a MN Trunk Highway, MnDOT endorses cooperative construction projects with local units of Government and may be able to cost share in the project costs.

For more information about the Spring Transportation Forum, contact Lindsey Knutson, Transportation Planner at the UMVRDC, at lindsey.knutson@umvrdc.org or 320-289-1981 ext. 7.

The UMVRDC is working on an update to its regional Trail Planning Guide, from 2002, that will update the inventory of trails throughout the region, develop priorities and goals for trail planning in the region that are consistent with statewide goals for parks and trails, and identify future trail projects in the region.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is in the process of conducting a Statewide Bicycle Planning Study. We told you in this post about their public open houses throughout the state to gather input on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats pertaining to bicycling in Minnesota. The Study will provide detailed policy recommendations, inventory of existing bikeway facilities in the State, including on- and off-road facilities, create a new Statewide Bikeway Map, and establish bicycle-related performance measures for future MnDOT projects. For more information on the Study, visit www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/study.html.

The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Coalition is working on a study for the parks and trails in greater Minnesota called the $175 Study. The study’s outcomes include establishing protocols to determine the origin of visitors and project potential use of greater Minnesota’s regional parks and trails, collecting an inventory of park and trail facilities in greater Minnesota and developing evaluation protocol and criteria to determine priorities for park and trail acquisition and development. To learn more about the $175 Study, go to gmrptc.webs.com.

For more information on regional and statewide trails planning, contact Lindsey Knutson at the UMVRDC at 320-289-1981 ext. 7 or email her at lindsey.knutson@umvrdc.org.

As each meeting happens, we will have the corresponding handouts available for download on our website.

• Lac qui Parle County Townships Handouts are available by clicking here.
• Chippewa County Townships Handouts are available by clicking here.
• Swift County Townships Handouts are available by clicking here.

Have questions or looking for more information? Contact the UMVRDC at 320-289-1981 and ask to be connected to a Planner.

Applications are due Friday, April 27 at noon and are available at www.mndot.gov/saferoutes/.

Kindergarten through eighth-grade schools in Minnesota may apply for grants in two categories:

• Planning assistance – Schools will receive expert assistance to complete a Safe Routes to School plan, which will analyze existing conditions, gather public input and identify potential infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions.
• Implementation grants – Schools will receive grant funds to support education, encouragement, enforcement or evaluation activities related to safe walking and bicycling to school.

Minnesota has $1.2 million available in these categories for 2012-13. All SRTS grants use federal funds, and no local match is required. Grants for infrastructure projects, such as sidewalks and crosswalks, are not available at this time.

All non-profit organizations and government entities in Minnesota may be eligible partners, including tribal nations, schools, school districts, cities, counties and regional planning organizations.

Since 2005, MnDOT has awarded $10.8 million in federal funds to communities to support SRTS. The majority of funding—$9.9 million—was awarded for infrastructure projects. The remainder is allocated for non-infrastructure items and activities, such as SRTS planning, education, encouragement and enforcement. Funding for Safe Routes to School is available in all 50 states.

For more information, visit www.mndot.gov/saferoutes/ or contact Lisa Bender at 651-366-4195 or lisa.bender@state.mn.us or contact UMVRDC’s Transportation Planner, Lindsey Knutson, at 320-289-1981 ext. 7 or lindsey.knutson@umvrdc.org.

• March 12 in Willmar
  Willmar Municipal Utilities
  700 SW Litchfield Ave., Willmar, MN
• March 13 in Detroit Lakes
  Detroit Lakes Public Library
  1000 Washington Ave., Detroit Lakes, MN
• March 14 in St. Cloud
  Whitney Senior Center
  1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud, MN
• March 15 in Duluth
  Duluth City Hall Council Chambers
  411 W. First St., Duluth, MN

All meetings will take place from 4 to 6 p.m., and attendees should plan to stay the entire time. The event will begin with a brief project description followed by a series of group discussions.

Those unable to attend in-person may join a statewide webinar discussion:

• March 22 – statewide webinar
  11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  Webinar details will be posted at www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/study.html.

Participants will provide input on:

• What is working to make bicycling a safe and usable transportation option
• What needs to be improved to make bicycling a safe and usable transportation option
• Ideas for future bicycling accommodations on Minnesota roads
• Barriers to making improvements

All feedback will help MnDOT improve and develop consistent policies and practices for including bicycle components, such as wide shoulders or bike lanes, on future highway and bridge construction projects. It also will help MnDOT develop a new electronic and printable statewide bicycle map. Future public comment opportunities will take place as the project moves forward.

The public also may submit written comments:

• on the project website at:  www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/study.html
• send e-mail to:  greta.alquist@state.mn.us
• or postal mail to:
  Greta Alquist
  MnDOT Office of Transit MS 315
  395 John Ireland Blvd., St. Paul, MN, 55155

For more information on the project, visit the project website at www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/study.html or contact Lindsay Knutson, UMVRDC Transportation Planner, at lindsey.knutson@umvrdc.org or 320-289-1981 ext. 7.

The goals of this program are:

• to provide families that currently do not have one with a home computer;
• encourage internet subscriptions to better connect parents with their child’s education; and
• to create an opportunity for school staff to share with parent’s information they can find on their school’s website.

As a result we hope this project will lessen the technological gap between students who have home access to a computer and those who do not, share the benefits of having an internet connection and strengthen parent’s interaction with their student’s school activities through interaction on the school’s website.

The UMVRDC will work with the local school districts to set up the program this spring. The program will be implemented over the summer months so that the 50 families receiving computers will be better connected and ready to start the new school year this fall.

This project was made possible through a Blandin Foundation grant as part of the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) Initiative. Learn more about about Blandin Foundation by visiting their website; learn more about the UMVRDC’s work with the MIRC Initiative by visiting the MIRC page here on our website.