Month: April 2020

The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced the opening of Highway 220 from Marshall County Road 5 to Highway 11.  It has been inspected by MnDOT and is safe to open to motorists.

MnDOT crews continue to monitor water levels along with the remaining highway segments that are closed due to flooding. Highways impacted by floods need to be inspected for damage and safety prior to opening.

The highways in northwestern Minnesota that remain closed due to flooding include:

• Highway 89 near Grygla, between Hwy 1 and CR 54
• Highway 175 between North Dakota and CR 34, west of Hallock
• Highway 220 north of Oslo, between Highway 1 and Marshall CR 5
• Highway 317 between Highway 220 and North Dakota border
• Highway 102 northwest of Fertile from Hwy 32 to CR 44

Areas that have water on the road or are closed because of flooding are marked on MnDOT’s road conditions map www.511mn.org. When a road is closed it is illegal to travel in that area. Motorists can be fined up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail. In addition, if travelers need to be rescued from a closed road, other expenses and penalties will apply.

MnDOT will also end spring load for the north-central frost zone, which includes Polk County, and north frost zone, north of Warren on Friday, May 8.

Polk County Public Health and Northwestern Mental Health Center are providing farms and agribusinesses guidance to stay physically and emotionally healthy during COVID-19. Farms and agribusinesses have unique challenges with the rapidly spreading COVID-19.

The available materials provide specific guidance to follow for our important agriculture community to limit exposure and reduce the likeliness of COVID-19 and stress. It is critical to consider ways to limit the person-to-person spread and practice social distancing through the planting and harvest seasons. These resources will be distributed to local farmers and agribusinesses. They can also be accessed digitally on the Polk County Coronavirus Response Hub at https://coronavirus-response-pcg.hub.arcgis.com/.

When families are faced with financial uncertainty or sudden income loss, addressing the situation takes more than just thinking about dollars and cents, says Lori Hendrickson, Extension Educator, and an accredited financial counselor with the University of Minnesota Extension.

“Often, when layoffs and income reduction happen, we are experiencing shock and denial that keeps us from immediately making adjustments in our spending to keep us on solid ground,” according to Hendrickson.

Layoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic are an example of events that can have a significant financial impact on many families in Minnesota. Working through the cycle of grief caused by a sudden drop in income allows families to plan for how to adjust their financial picture with clear heads, and the entire family should be a part of those conversations.

Hendrickson advises, “When we are adjusting spending, it’s important to include the whole family. Talk about items in the budget that are necessary and those that can be put off or eliminated altogether. Ask these questions during this discussion:

• Can we substitute a less costly item?
• How can we conserve what we have and avoid waste?
• Are there opportunities to work with others by trading or sharing what we can do?
• Can we save if we do it ourselves?
• Can we do without or do it less often?

As the family talks about what is most important, be sure you are all listening to each other.  By including children in the discussion, they can feel that they are contributing to the solutions.”

After determining the impact of the income loss, Hendrickson says to be sure to talk with creditors to let them know the situation and discuss when and how you may make payments.  Creditors may be able to offer suggestions, but if they don’t know the situation, they aren’t able to help, so be sure to communicate.

For more information on COVID-19 resources, including managing income loss, visit: https://extension.umn.edu/news/coping-covid-19