At the April 9 Harmony City Council meeting, the consent agenda was approved and included the minutes of the March 12 meeting, the claims and March checks, the cash in CD, and cash balances as well as a Good Neighbor Agreement with MiEnergy in preparation for their upcoming resiliency electric grid project. The agreement will ensure that community collaboration is prioritized … [Read more...]
Articles by Hannah Wingert
Reporter
hannah@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Lanesboro Council Addresses Short-term Rentals
At the April 1 Lanesboro City Council meeting, Anna Loney spoke on behalf of the Lanesboro Library. She reviewed some of the recent programs presented free of charge to the public as well as a number of upcoming ones. “There are lots of opportunities right here at our Lanesboro Library,” she said. “There is a profound return on investment, so we thank you for your aid in all of … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central Begins Spring Sports Season
By Hannah Wingert At the March 26 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, Superintendent Heath Olstad gave the reports for the elementary and high schools. Parent/teacher conferences took place on March 7. The winter sports and activities season has wrapped up. Congratulations were extended to Katie Whelan for placing 4th in the state individual wrestling tournament, Kane … [Read more...]
Harmony Approves Retail Variety Store CUP
Barb Knabel addressed the Harmony City Council at their March 12 meeting on behalf of Camp Companion, which is a non-profit, foster-based adoption organization for cats. Camp Companion runs a Trap, Neuter, Return (or TNR) program and has partnered with the Preston Veterinarian Clinic and the city of Preston to do so. Knabel asked the council to consider partnering with Camp … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Council Approves Use of Public Safety Funding
The Lanesboro City Council met for their regular meeting on March 4. Mayor Jason Resseman was absent. The consent agenda was approved and included the accounts payable, Resolution 2024-15 accepting donations from Chill-Inn Lanesboro, the resignation of Jerod Wagner from the Lanesboro Fire Department, and a lodging license for Lanesboro House. A number of permits for Buffalo … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central Kids Celebrate “I Love to Read Month”
At the February 27 Fillmore Central school board meeting, Superintendent Heath Olstad reported that I Love to Read Month is wrapping up. The students experienced fun events and programs, dress up days and more to celebrate over the month of February. Thanks were extended to the Preston Fire Department for their donation that will allow each student to receive a free book at the … [Read more...]
Harmony Joins Telecommuter Forward! Program
BAt the February 13 Harmony City Council meeting, the council reviewed and approved the consent agenda. It included the minutes of the January meeting, the claims and January checks, and the cash in CD. It also included the Fillmore County subsidy agreement for the ambulance service and Resolution 24-03 declaring support for telecommuting opportunities in Harmony and obtaining … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Library Supporters Share Why Library is Valuable
A number of the Lanesboro Friends of the Library group were in attendance at the February 5 Lanesboro City Council meeting to speak on behalf of the library. Anna Loney distributed a compilation of comments about the library collected from community members to the council. She thanked the council for taking the time to read through the various reasons why people value the … [Read more...]
Nationwide Trends Observed at Local Libraries
Libraries are dying. Nobody reads print books anymore. Maybe you’ve heard those sentiments in the last few years and wondered if they’re true. Recent trends have actually shown the opposite. Not only are libraries growing and expanding in their collections and patrons, some people are ditching eBooks for print books they can hold in their hands. The most surprising part is … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central Board Organizes for New Year
At the January 23 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, the board committee assignments were set for 2024 with no changes. Deb Ristau and Shelly Topness will continue to serve on the Community Education committee, Jennifer Pickett on Continuing Education, Sue Sikkink and Topness on Meet and Confer, Craig Britton, Topness and Sikkink on Negotiations; Jim Love, Pickett and Aaron … [Read more...]
Preston Offers Well-Rounded Veteran Services
“I have always believed that collaboration is key when it comes to our corner of the state,” Public Relations and Volunteer Coordinator Gabby Kinneberg said about the addition of a veterans home to Preston which is already home to a veterans cemetery. “We are stronger together. And, that was the case with both projects.” The Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery of Preston … [Read more...]
Harmony Council Sets 2024 Appointments
The annual council appointments for 2024 were set at the Harmony City Council’s January 9 meeting. Domingo Kingsley will serve as mayor pro-tem, Kyle Scheevel and Jesse Grabau on the Street and Utilities Committee, Steve Donney and Kingsley on the Personnel Committee, Scheevel and Grabau on the Building Committee, Donney and Kingsley on the Budget Committee, Donney and Michael … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Council Discusses 2024 Filthy 50
Kara Maloney from Lanesboro Arts spoke to the Lanesboro City Council at their January 2 meeting. As a past participant in the Filthy 50 bike race, she stated that she is in favor of the event and sees it as an economic driver for Lanesboro businesses. However, she noted that she has concerns about the proposed street closures on the day of the race, citing concerns that … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central Approves 2024 Levy
Superintendent Heath Olstad reviewed the current budget and proposed property tax levy for 2024 with the board, as part of the Truth in Taxation hearing at the December 19 Fillmore Central School Board meeting. The board approved the total proposed school tax levy in the amount of $1,743,308.68. Superintendent Olstad said that the Christmas concerts at both the elementary and … [Read more...]
Harmony Council Adopts Comprehensive Plan
Logan Tjossem from Widseth reviewed the city’s Comprehensive Plan draft with the Harmony City Council at their December 12 meeting. Creating the plan was a detailed process with a committee being formed, a community night out event for input and multiple meetings. During the process, it was discovered that there was a discrepancy in the city zoning maps so the committee is … [Read more...]