At a relatively brief October 11 city council meeting, Mayor Russ Smith read and the council approved a resolution recognizing October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Councilor Paul Novotny was absent. In 1988, then President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Minnesota Infants Remembered in Silence, Inc. (IRIS) … [Read more...]
Staffing changes/additions for Fillmore County
At the October 12 meeting of the Fillmore County Board, a number of staffing changes/additions were considered. The board approved requests to advertise for an additional full-time social worker, an additional full-time RN or Public Health nurse, and an additional full-time case aide. All three positions will be funded mostly with American Recovery dollars. The additional … [Read more...]
Preston discusses city hall upgrades and maintenance
At the October 4 meeting of the Preston City Council, City Administrator Joe Hoffman listed a variety of repairs and/or upgrades that are needed at city hall. The building is 106 years old. A professional will need to look at the exterior of the building to give an estimate for tuckpointing the exterior brick. Some bricks are falling out. Door locks are 25 years old and don’t … [Read more...]
Fillmore County discusses uses of American Recovery dollars
County Administrator Bobbie Hillery lead a discussion on appropriate uses for American Rescue Plan Act dollars at the board’s October 5 meeting. The county will receive about $4 million total. The deadline to spend the funds is December 31, 2024. A preliminary budget for the use of the funding is due January 2022. Hillery offered some ideas presented by county department … [Read more...]
CARES reimbursements reduce Fillmore County preliminary levy
County Sdministrator Bobbie Hillery explained how CARE’s Reimbursements could reduce the Fillmore County levy at the board’s September 28 meeting. Early budget numbers had already been reduced with adjusted insurance costs. Hillery listed other adjustments that were made to reduce the 2022 levy number. Using CARES funding salary reimbursements for Public Health, Emergency … [Read more...]
Variance for holding tank approved
The Fillmore County Board of Adjustment, at their September 23 meeting, held a public hearing to consider a variance request for the installation of a holding tank. The variance requested will allow the tank to be installed closer to the right of way than specified in the ordinance. The applicant’s property is located in the city of Whalan. Whalan does not have a city … [Read more...]
Chatfield sets preliminary levy
The city council set the preliminary levy for 2022 at $2,337,277 or a 3.98% increase (just under $90,000) over the 2021 levy. Councilor Dave Frank was absent from the September meeting. City Clerk Joel Young presented three proposals for the council to consider for the levy. The first proposal would have had a levy increase of 7.3%. A reduction of $75,000 to wastewater … [Read more...]
Preston accepts transfer of Lanesboro ambulance service license
At the city council’s September 22 meeting, Preston ambulance director Ryan Throckmorton explained that the Lanesboro Ambulance Service was no longer able to provide 24/7 coverage. He described two options that Lanesboro had considered: forfeiting the license and becoming a first responder group, in which case the state would review the area and divide it among other … [Read more...]
Fillmore County seeks architectural services to prepare jail plan
At the board’s September 14 meeting, the Jail Needs Assessment Report was discussed. The nearly 100 page report was presented to the county board over a month ago. The Jail Needs Assessment committee spent 18 months developing the report that looked at four options for the future of the county jail. Options included closing the jail and totally outsourcing, a 72-hour book … [Read more...]
Preston looks to refinance 2014 bonds
At the September 8 meeting of the Preston City Council Mike Bubany, David Drown Associates, reviewed two options available to the city to go forward with the refinancing of two 2014 bonds, which are callable in February 2022. The 2014 bonds were for the street project and the north industrial park. The bonds will become eligible for refinancing in November. Lower interest … [Read more...]