At the county board’s April 9 meeting, a request from the city of Preston to add new electric lines, transformer and electric service in a stand alone configuration on the north side of the courthouse was approved. The reason for the service is to do away with the noisy generators that provide power for Trout Days vendors. This proposal is for a permanent electric service … [Read more...]
Chatfield earns clean audit opinion
Jason Boynton, Smith Schafer & Associates, LTD., presented Chatfield’s financial summary and audit for 2018 at the council’s April 8 meeting. The city received an unmodified “clean” opinion. Financial statements are fairly stated. Boynton said there are no concerns to bring to the council’s attention. The city had about a 6% increase in tax capacity over 2017. The … [Read more...]
Bees need to thrive and survive
Dinner on the Bluff at the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center on April 6 was focused on all things “honey.” Eagle Bluff interim director John Torgrimson introduced the featured speaker for the evening, Entomologist Marla Spivak, a distinguished McKnight University professor. The Sustainable Food and Farming degree program at Minnesota State College Southeast helped … [Read more...]
Local economy impacted by outdoor recreation
Seventy-five people from all over Fillmore County attended the 2019 Economic Summit on Outdoor Recreation coordinated by the EDA. MiEnergy Cooperative sponsored the event held March 29 at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center. John Torgrimson, interim director for Eagle Bluff, gave a brief overview of Eagle Bluff which had 16,000 visitors in 2018. It partners with 140 … [Read more...]
County Board to consider solar energy ordinance
At the March 28 Planning Commission, a public hearing was held regarding the proposed replacement language of Section 709, Solar Energy Systems and the added Section 740, Solar Energy Farms. Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins explained the commission had decided to retain the existing Wind Energy Conversion Systems language and to address solar systems separately. The … [Read more...]