Houston County commissioners approved Juneteenth as an official Houston County holiday at its June 6 meeting for both non-represented employees and members of the following labor unions: Law Enforcement Labor Services No. 415, Licensed Lieutenant Unit-Law Enforcement Labor Services No. 237, Licensed Deputies Unit-Law Enforcement Labor Services No. 60, Jailer/Dispatcher … [Read more...]
Improvements at Steam Engine Park
Mayor Adam Wilder called the May 10 regular meeting of the Mabel City Council meeting to order at 6 p.m. Council members in attendance: Mayor Wilder, Tina Bakke, Cory Wilson, Kiersten Wyffels, and Valerie Arnold (call-in). Fireman Orel Tollefson appeared before the council to present a list of proposed rules and regulations from the Mabel Fire Department. Tollefson … [Read more...]
Caledonia street project on schedule
City Engineer Matthew E. Mohrs, Bolton & Menk, Inc., confirmed that the 2023 Caledonia street and utility reconstruction project is on schedule. The project is scheduled to begin mid-June. Mohrs updated the council on the street project. The next meeting with the property owners is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16. A newsletter was sent to all the property owners who own … [Read more...]
State of Emergency declared in Houston County
Houston County Commissioners declared a state of emergency for damage resulting from the ongoing flooding of the Mississippi River at the commission meeting on Tuesday, May 9. The river started flooding on April 17. Houston County Emergency Management director Mark Olson explained that threshold for Houston County is $4,1831.46. As of Monday, May 8 the town of Brownsville … [Read more...]
Improvements to the Eitzen dog park
Eitzen Mayor Jeffrey Adamson welcomed the council’s guests to the May 9 regularly scheduled city council meeting. Resident Cathie Scheeler expressed her frustration, “We are here because we thought the city was going to provide a dog park. As we stand now, we do not have a dog park because a dog park has to be an area where people can freely let their dogs off the lease to run … [Read more...]
Water receding at Wildcat Park
County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski updated the commission on Wildcat Park now that the river is going down. Pogodzinski explained, “The water is coming down. We expect to get in there and start doing some clean-up work tomorrow and Thursday. If all goes as planned, campers can start hauling in their campers Thursday evening. We won’t have the water test results back until Friday … [Read more...]
New management team at Wildcat Park
The Wildcat Park management contract with Fireside Management LLC was approved for the 2023 camping season at the April 25 Houston County commission meeting. Amber Miller and Steve Goetzinger, Fireside Management LLC were present to answer commissioners’ question along with County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski and County Attorney Samuel Jandt regarding the Wildcat Park contract. … [Read more...]
Unanswered questions at Pine View Rehabilitation and Senior Living
The community of Caledonia reeled in disbelief after the Pine View Rehabilitation and Senior Living closed at the end of last year. The town was left with unanswered questions, residents without a home, and employees without jobs. Founder/CEO Nathan Hertzel, of the nursing home management company Nava Healthcare, was quoted on January 16, 2023, as saying that the facility was … [Read more...]
Caledonia receives favorable remarks on 2022 financial audit
Andrew Forliti, Smith Schafer, appeared before the city council on April 24 to present the city’s 2022 financial audit. “Thanks to Stephanie for all her work throughout the year and providing us with information. It is very helpful to have accurate information,” expressed Forliti. As with 95% of city audits conducted by the CPA firm, Forliti noted that Caledonia received one … [Read more...]
Spring Grove Schools selected as a Head Start site
Spring Grove assistant superintendent Gina Meinertz announced at the April 17 school board meeting that the school has been approved as a Head Start site for next year. According to Meinertz the Head Start partnership will fund a paraprofessional for the school’s preschool. Meinertz continued, “They will provide different aspects and more support for our families to help … [Read more...]