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County public-health official urges community action as traffic fatalities fall statewide
Summary
Anna Kelly of county public health briefed the Kenyon City Council on the Toward Zero Deaths traffic-safety program, citing statewide fatality data, a reported 22% decrease in 2025 fatalities, concerns about rising bicyclist deaths locally, and plans for education and enforcement events including RoseFest outreach.
Anna Kelly, the county Toward Zero Deaths coordinator, presented traffic-safety trends and local outreach plans to the Kenyon City Council. Kelly said the initiative's goal is to "create a culture for which traffic fatalities and serious injuries are unknown," and described a mix of enforcement, engineering and education to reduce crashes.
Kelly cited state-level figures and local trends: she said there were "363 traffic-related fatalities" in Minnesota in a recent year and reported a year-to-date total of 135 traffic-related deaths as of June 8; she also said 2025 saw about 370 fatalities, a 22% decrease from a prior reference year, and that speed-related crashes have declined in recent years. She warned, however, that bicyclist fatalities have increased locally and pointed to 14 bicyclist deaths in 2025 compared with seven previously.
To address those trends, Kelly described combined enforcement and education work: increased enforcement during high-risk summer periods, PBT/breathalyzer outreach and testing at community events, targeted presentations (including to detention-center populations) and social-media engagement. Kelly invited the council to public events such as RoseFest where the program can provide on-site education.
Kelly also said the county coordinates fatal-crash reviews that include local police to evaluate contributing factors (medical events, speed, roadway environment) and that the Toward Zero Deaths regional coalition meets to share strategies.
The council did not take formal action on the presentation; members asked clarifying questions about PBT outreach and data sources and were invited to participate in upcoming events.
