Comfrey projects on the move

'89 tornado affects

Census county, but

community on the

comeback, says mayor

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

COMFREY -- Necessity is the mother of invention.

The whopper tornado that destroyed much of the town three years ago last Thursday created plenty of need.

Today, much of Comfrey is brand new and could be considered a role model for other communities seeking to make the most of what they have.

Mayor Linda Wallin bubbles with enthusiasm and when asked about what is new and in the planning stage in this community on the southwestern edge of Brown County.

Census 2000 figures listed Comfrey's population at 367, down from 433 in 1990, but it doesn't bother Wallin much.

"We realize that older people pass away and others left town after the tornado and didn't move back, but I don't think too many young families moved out," Wallin said. "We've had some more families move in since the Census. Things have been going well."

However, housing is about as tight as it can get, but relief is on the way.

All 20 apartment units in town are full and the local Economic Development Authority is working in building more units.

"The problem is there is no housing here unless people die and their houses are left empty," Wallin said.

The EDA plans another duplex up this summer with funding help from the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED). It will look at building plans next Thursday and put bids.

"We're really excited about it," Wallin said. "We bought the property and already have four inquiries. The duplex will fill right away. Several elderly couples told us they want housing that doesn't require them to do yard work."

Wallin said final plans are being completed on the joint city-school library with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of Minnesota. Other damage survey reports in town are done.

The library in the new school addition is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and on Saturday morning. It is very popular, according to Wallin.

Comfrey Library Committee members visited a joint city-school library in Pipestone a couple years ago and liked what they saw.

"We saw it as a chance to build one library to replace the two we had (before the tornado)," Wallin said. "It's popularity has been unreal. Particularly the Internet."

An in-school day care operation is located next to the library. It recently expanded into a former elementary band room and draws children from as far away as Mountain Lake.

"People like the early-morning accessibility of the day care center," Wallin said. "Other schools interested in the concept have visited it."

Wallin said a revolving loan fund, created after the tornado, is in the relending process.

An additional $20,000 in DTED money was recently received for the downtown drug store.

A grant for the weekly newspaper, the "Comfrey Times" is also available.

Newspaper owner Gary Richter has until June 30 to decide if he wants to use to money to help rebuild an office in Comfrey.

If he does not take the grant, the funds will likely go towards another duplex, according to Wallin.

The Times office is currently in the basement of a bank in nearby Darfur.