Mark Goldberg from David Drown Associates was present via Zoom at the January 3 Lanesboro City Council meeting to discuss the recent Market and Calibration Study. The study evaluated each of the city positions for the type of duties required, any risk factors involved, and types of education or experience needed in order to determine the best pay rate for each one based on the … [Read more...]
Articles by Hannah Wingert
Reporter
hannah@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Preston DMV changes hands
After 53 years of the Reicks family owning and operating the Reicks Auto License Bureau, the torch has been passed. On December 1, 2021, Sean and Bethany Feind officially took ownership of the office. “Hands were shook and papers were signed,” Sean said, adding that Kurt Reicks has still been popping in to check on things as Sean transitions to his new role as a small business … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central sets 2021 levy
The Fillmore Central School Board meeting opened with its annual Truth in Taxation meeting. There was no one present from the public with questions or comments. The 2021 payable 2022 tax levy was set at $1,642,843.71, which is a 4.45% decrease from last year. The K-6 concerts were held on December 16 with matinee and evening performances broken up into groups of 2-3 grades at … [Read more...]
Lanesboro School Board sets tax levy
The December 16 Lanesboro School Board meeting opened with its annual Truth in Taxation meeting. The law requires the school to hold the meeting before setting the tax levy. Superintendent Matt Schultz reviewed the information with the board. The total revenues for last year were $5,673,116 and the expenditures were $5,691,342. The current year’s budget sits at $6,728,252 in … [Read more...]
Preston Christmas star has special meaning for Severson family
“They loved spending time with everyone close to them and I think Christmas was just a time that brought that all full circle,” Shelia Marzolf reminisced about her mom Carol Severson and sister Jodi Severson. In June of 1997, both Carol and Jodi tragically lost their lives in a car accident on their way to Rochester to do some shopping. Jodi’s eight month old son Jordan … [Read more...]
Harmony council denies petition to vacate portion of Center Street
A public hearing was held at the December 14 Harmony City Council meeting to discuss a request from three property owners to vacate Center Street past 3rd Ave. W. City Administrator Devin Swanberg noted that in terms of future planning for a city, it’s generally a bad idea to vacate a street as it could cause issues later. If the city were to decide to develop the land behind … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Council considers requested changes to emergency services building plans
At the December 6 Lanesboro City Council meeting, the council reviewed a pay request for a second bathroom for the emergency services building project. To bring the building plans up to code, a half bath with a toilet and sink needs to be added at an additional cost of $3,000. Council member Mindy Albrecht-Benson, who joined the meeting via Zoom, asked why the original plans … [Read more...]
Solar panel installation delayed at Lanesboro school
At the November 18 Lanesboro School Board meeting, Superintendent Matt Schultz updated the board on the solar panels for the school. They were supposed to have been installed before the 2021-22 school year began, but that was pushed back to October. The installation didn’t happen then either and now is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2022. Schultz explained … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central parent speaks out against Social Emotional Learning, or SEL
Chrissy Holets, parent of two Fillmore Central students, addressed the school board at their November 23 meeting. “I’m here on behalf of my kids,” she said. She explained that her third grade daughter repeatedly came home from school talking about putting her feelings in a bucket and then putting a lid on it. During conferences, Holets asked her daughter’s teacher about the … [Read more...]
Harmony Council hears suggestion for a gym refresh
Harmony resident Cindy Ofstedal addressed the city council at their November 9 meeting to ask them to consider the condition of the gymnasium at the Community Center. She is a member of an exercise group that meets there and the group has noticed that the gym could use new paint, deep cleaning, and some updating for the stage. If the council is going to tackle the project, they … [Read more...]