Huntington Voted in as District 5 Representative

Nina Huntington participated in a recent
candidate forum on March 26th.

Congratulations to Nina Huntington the new Steele County District 5 representative!

District 5 voters elected Huntington in by 86 votes over Doug Hughes.

For other candidate information, voter locations or local policy issues, check out voiceforowatonna.org.

U.S. Chamber ranks Voiceforowatonna.org as a top site

The OACCT, VoiceforOwatonna.org, recently received recognition for the U.S. Chamber's Free Enterprise Network as a top partner, boasting 2,686 site pageviews.

Owatonna was one of three chambers listed as a top partner this quarter and the only local chamber of commerce ranked.

Check out the site for legislative and local issue tracking, scorecards, candidate and voting information and easily email elected officials on top business issues.

Property Value Goes Down, Taxes Go Up--the County Explains

Are you curious why your property taxes show a decrease in value, but you have an increase in taxes?

It involves the homestead market value credit and the homestead market value exclusion from the state, as explained by Steele County at: http://www.co.steele.mn.us/truth_in_taxation_information.html

By eliminating the homestead market value credit, the state saves approximately $260 million, which helps to balance the state’s budget.

Steele County lost $1,216,112 in homestead market value credit and $97,242 of County Program Aid that was paid by the State of Minnesota in 2011. This $1,313,354 represented 6.4% of the $20,559,346 total levy for Steele County in 2011. Due to the state’s change, this will be absorbed by the taxpayers of Steele County, even without any levy increase. 


The state did not change the property tax refund calculations. Affected homeowners with household incomes below $100,780 or whose taxes increase by more than 12% or $100 (whichever is greater) may apply for the state’s property tax refund and, if qualified, will get some of the increase refunded. The form to apply for the state’s property tax refund is the M1PR and is available at: http://taxes.state.mn.us/pages/current_forms.aspx.

The State of Minnesota has prepared an information sheet regarding the current changes. This is available at:
http://taxes.state.mn.us/property/Documents/hmve-taxpayers.pdf

Additional information regarding the portion of taxes levied by the City of Owatonna can be found at www.ci.owatonna.mn.us

--information provided by http://www.co.steele.mn.us/truth_in_taxation_information.html

Steele County District 5 Vote-District Area and Polling Location

Nina Huntington and Doug Hughes face the voters tomorrow, April 3rd.  Voters can find their polling location at www.voiceforowatonna.org/voter-resources

Steele County District 5 Map

Steele County District 5 Candidate Forum 3/26/12

Candidates Doug Hughes and Nina Huntington share their perspective on helping the county if elected to District 5 at yesterday's candidate forum.

Thanks to forum partners Owatonna People's Press, KRFO radio and the Rotary Clubs of Owatonna!


Appx. 60 min.

Final Two Candidates Share Views if Elected

Doug Hughes and Nina Huntington are the final two
candidates running for Steele County District 5.  Both shared their views on
county issues.  The vote is April 3rd.

Thanks to Doug Hughes and Nina Huntington for participating in the candidate forum today at the Owatonna Country Club.

Forum partners are the Owatonna People's Press, Rotary Clubs of Owatonna and the Owatonna Chamber of Commerce & Tourism.

City Council Notes-March 20, 2012

A part of the OACCT's Public Policy efforts for 2012 is for volunteers from the Public Policy committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that are of interest/concern to business.

·         Application for a Small Cities Development Program Grant

o   This was a resolution authorizing the submission of an application requesting a grant for the rehabilitation of renter occupied housing and single family owned housing in a specified area (built prior to 1970)

o   Funds would be to the tune of around $350,000 (rehabilitation funds and administrative funds combined)

·         The council approved a series of agenda items including some street permits and temporary liquor licenses

·         There were three individual applications for permanent Beer and Wine Licenses

o   Steele County Historical Society

o   New ownership at Rose Street Pizza

o   Brooktree Golf Course (wine license – already have beer)

·         Proposed Fencing Ordinance

o   The meeting looked to be a fairly quick meeting until this was proposed.

o   The ordinance would allow for a 0 property line fence – meaning the fence could be built right on the property line.  It is the property owner’s responsibility to identify where the property line exists.

o   All prior fences are grandfathered in

o   Current ordinance requires a fence to be 3 feet away from the property line.

o   Most of the discussion was about what a fence looks like rather than what the ordinance actually stated.  I also think that this reflected how the council members voted.  Instead of looking at what was actually being proposed, many of the council members decided to “interpret” the ordinance differently.

o   The real point/counterpoint was the fact of in order to maintain a 0 property line fence, one would have to be on the neighbor’s property.  However, if there is a 3 foot requirement, the property owner essentially loses 3 feet of the property the bought.

o   The Ordinance barely passed

·         Redistricting Ordinance

o   Not much discussion about this and was passed unanimously

·         The rest of the meeting was fairly quick with no public comments