Readers’ Views

August 7, 2025

Appreciate community support To the editor: The Fairmont Police Department would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Fairmont Hy-Vee and Culligan of Fairmont for generously donating the food and drink for our annual Fairmont Night Out. We served 600 free pork chops on a stick, chips, cookies and refreshing Culligan Water to show our appreciation for the community support we receive throughout the year. Thank you to KFMC for the live radio coverage to help promote the event. Thank you to the Martin County Pork Producers for being the grill masters. Thank you to the Fairmont ...

Readers’ Views

July 1, 2025

Disappointed with councilor’s survey reaction I read with mixed emotions the article in the June 24, 2025 edition of the Sentinel on the City Council’s proposed Blue Earth Avenue street median project. Some of the factors that had to be considered with the proposed beautification of the median were: the extra cost of the project; snow removal issues; maintenance of the median; safety of city employees working between two lanes of traffic pruning, watering and weeding; probability of future damage from tree roots to sewer and road surface; and disruption of traffic when recycling ...

Readers’ Views

June 18, 2025

Political harassment, violence needs to stop To the editor: I am hurt to my soul to hear of the killing of Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband in an extreme act of political violence. The threats against me, my family, my property and in one case a threat against my dogs placed in my mailbox came flooding back. I have been politically active in my district for 20 years and have seen the political discourse become more and more divided over time, but nothing like I experienced when I ran for State Representative for the second time in 2024. I ran on the issues of rural ...

Readers’ Views

June 17, 2025

Solar project affects area families To the editor: There is a proposal before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) that will affect Martin County, specifically Rutland Township. This is a proposal for a 1,000+ acre solar farm that will be located approximately 125 feet from my front door on Charlotte Oak Drive, on the east side of Charlotte Lake. It will go east to Highway 15 and north to Northrop. The solar farm will include a 16 acre BESS. BESS is an acronym for Battery Energy Storage Station, a rechargeable battery system that collects energy from different sources like wind and ...

Readers’ Views

May 20, 2025

City selectively enforcing zoning To the editor: As a long-time resident of Fairmont, I feel compelled to speak out about a serious and ongoing issue affecting my neighborhood and our local government’s credibility. For nearly 20 years, I’ve witnessed the City of Fairmont selectively enforce zoning and construction regulations — holding some property owners to the letter of the law, while allowing others to violate ordinances without consequence. This has caused not only frustration, but real damage to property and the environment, especially along the lakefront on Shoreacres ...

Readers’ Views

May 7, 2025

Family support programs important To the editor: Autism does not destroy families, but a misguided government slashing support programs could. Family support programs were created to fill a need and have been very successful. Our legislators are asked to carefully consider the impact of their votes. The town hall meeting was a good start to working together. Lee Ann Erickson Sherburn