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Letters to the Editor

Readers’ Views

Concerns not accurately addressed To the editor: I was able to attend the public health meeting Monday night about the changes at Mayo Health Systems/Fairmont. I had the opportunity to raise a concern about the increased risks that surround the delivery of babies when the mother must travel to deliver her baby. The obvious example is the closure of local services, forcing moms to drive to Mankato to deliver their baby. I was able to share a research reference with the panel that proved this increased risk, but one of the doctors on the panel discounted this thought by saying the ...

Readers’ Views

To the Editor: Nothing to go on The Democrats have nothing to run on. We have inflation, porous borders, increase in crime, involvement in foreign wars, loss of world respect, increase in drug traffic and deaths, allowing biological men to participate in women’s sports and allowing them in women’s locker rooms. I could go on, but the point is they have not accomplished anything that is good for this country. But they feel like they have “accomplished” something by passing laws that have no restrictions on abortion, even allowing an abortion to be performed up to the minute ...

Readers’ Views

How’s the sales tax money divided? To the Editor: To all the folks writing in favor of what the extra half-percent sales tax could fund— I am NOT against a community center, an event center, auditorium, ice arena, whatever. (I would like, however, to see all the city streets as flat as a pool table–all at once.) Since our first half-percent sales tax debacle in 2016, the rules have changed about how a ballot can be worded when presented to the voters. (Minnesota statute 297.99a.) So, before you blindly vote “yes” to another half-percent, you first have to specify how ...

Readers’ Views

No fear in discussing sales tax To the editor: Recently, a letter to the editor stated that there was “fear” in Fairmont regarding the proposed 0.5 percent sales tax that is on the November ballot. I have not encountered fear. What I have encountered is a robust discussion involving common sense and basic economics. Times are tough, and in tough times common sense is a tool that creates personal and community resilience. It is common sense that has voters looking at Martin County’s proposed 13.57 percent property tax increase and the City of Fairmont’s proposed 9.1 percent ...

Readers’ Views

New ice arena in Fairmont To the editor: The idea of a new ice arena has been a contentious topic of debate in Fairmont and the surrounding area since the idea was first brought to light. While the debate has centered around the costs of this endeavor, not much has been researched or discussed in terms of what a new ice arena will do in terms of economic output in the city. In 2020, the Hermantown (MN) Amateur Hockey Association teamed up with the University of Minnesota-Duluth to partake in a study that would estimate the economic impact of a 2nd ice arena within city limits. As a ...

Readers’ Views

Teamwork made city band a success To the Editor: The Fairmont City Band has finished a successful 2024 season and that would not be possible without the assistance of many groups and individuals. We’d like to thank the City of Fairmont and the Parks Department for their financial support and help with the band shell and Sylvania Park, the Fairmont Area Schools Music Department for the use of their music and equipment, and the Maintenance Department for hauling items back and forth to the park, the Interlaken Heritage Days Committee for providing the concession stand, and those ...