Kelly Smith, director in Baker Tilly’s Municipal Advisor Public Education Group, joined the regular Houston School Board meeting November 18 via Zoom to report on the bond sale he helped facilitate for the school earlier that day. According to Smith, interest rates were at near record lows. Robert W. Baird and Co. had the lowest bid of 1.607% on the 15-year bond term. The … [Read more...]
Rushford-Peterson waits for court results on OHSA ETS
Superintendent Jon Thompson informed the Rushford-Peterson School board at their November 15 meeting that R-P falls under the mandate issued by federal OSHA that calls for employers of over 100 people to require employees to have COVID vaccines or take weekly COVID tests and wear masks. This is supposed to go into effect December 5, 2021. Currently, there are several court … [Read more...]
A quieter Houston City Council meeting
The November 8 regular Houston City Council meeting was much quieter in several ways than previous meetings had been. In part, this was due to the installation of 81 baffles which improved the acoustics of the new community center; in part, it was due to the fact that the OHV trail was not on the agenda, nor was it discussed at all! PWD Randy Thesing shared that more baffles … [Read more...]
Houston Schools live stream ready to go
Want to watch a Houston Schools’ home basketball game? How about a concert? This year you can once again easily watch the events free from the comfort of your own home. Mikayla Simmons, activities and communications director for Houston Schools, informed the school board at their regular November 4 meeting that multiple links have been added to the school’s website so the … [Read more...]
A new bus for Houston Schools
The Houston School Board decided to proceed with the order of a new school bus (at a cost of $92, 943) at their regular meeting October 21. Superintendent Mary Morem informed the board that bus #7 had been in the shop three times since she joined Houston Schools this year and had racked up $11,000 in repair charges. Since the bus was so old, it qualified for a $20,000 grant … [Read more...]
MiEnergy adds 9 MW of solar energy
At a media event called “Here Comes the Sun!” held on October 25, a bright and suitably sunny day, MiEnergy announced it has entered into a power purchase agreement with OneEnergy Renewables to buy up to nine megawatts (MW) of solar energy generated by solar arrays located in Rushford Village, Fountain, Lanesboro, and Stockton. To put it into perspective, 9 MW will power … [Read more...]
CRV pump inspection earns good rating
The City of Rushford Village council received the well pump inspection report at their October 19 meeting. Public Works/Maintenance Supervisor Trenton Chiglo informed the council that the inspection of the well pumps by McCarthy Well Company came back with all “good” ratings with the exception of one spot on well #2 which received a “fair.” Council member Mike Ebner suggested … [Read more...]
Five new teachers at Lanesboro school
Tara Cassmann, Jordan Anderson, Hannah Terry, Katie Hansen, and Anna VanRavenswaay joined the Lanesboro School staff at the start of this current school year. First year teacher Anna VanRavenswaay, Lanesboro’s new band teacher, grew up in Montevideo, Minn., and attended college at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. As a member of a musical family, Anna began … [Read more...]
Students petition Rushford-Peterson to open buildings earlier again
Eleventh grader Christopher Oatman presented a 50-signature petition to the Rushford-Peterson School Board at their regular monthly meeting on October 18. The students asked that the school be opened to students at 7 a.m. once again rather than at 8 a.m. In a well-thought out address, Oatman enumerated the reasoning behind the petition. He listed the upcoming cold and inclement … [Read more...]
Houston buys a new pumper
After conducting a public hearing on financing a new pumper truck for the Houston Fire Department, the Houston City Council approved the purchase of the truck at their regular meeting October 12. The truck that will be replaced was 27 years old; in recent years the department had had to spend as much as $12,000 to $13,000 on repairs for the old truck. The new truck will be able … [Read more...]