At the November 25 Chatfield City Council meeting, approval was granted for use of some of the one-time public safety funding. The one-time allocation was divided among several departments by the Personnel/Budget Committee: $33,242 for the Fire Department, $40,000 for Ambulance Department, $36,810 for Police Department, and $21,667 for Public Works. Police Chief Shane Fox … [Read more...]

At the county board’s November 26 meeting, County Administrator Bobbie Hillery reviewed the many contributions and accomplishments of Duane Bakke, both in service to the county and the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC). Bakke is to be honored with the Distinguished Service Award during a luncheon at the AMC conference on December 10. He will be one of four receiving an … [Read more...]

Preston Dairy and Farm Association applied for a conditional use permit for a 68.1 kw ground mounted solar system at 27743 State Hwy 16 on its 6.1-acre lot. This size solar array requires a CUP and is allowed in I-1 (general industrial) district. The request was heard at a Planning Commission meeting just prior to the November 18 city council meeting. During the P & Z … [Read more...]

Land Use department responsibilities were expanded at the November 12 meeting of the county board. Land Use Director Blake Lea explained there are people in-house who have completed the necessary training in water management. Both Lea and Dallas Dornink have met the requirements for certification as a Minnesota Wetlands Professional In-Training. The Minnesota Wetland … [Read more...]

Ambulance Director Rocky Burnett recommended the hire of Edin Lopez Sifontes as a part-time EMT at the city council’s November 12 meeting. Councilor Josh Broadwater was absent. Burnett said there had only been one applicant; he was interviewed and qualified for the part-time position. His start date has yet to be determined. Sifontes was hired as recommended. Burnett … [Read more...]

At the November 5 meeting of the county board, Lindsi Engle, human resources officer, asked the board to consider the hire of an additional Public Health RN/LPN to the roster for the 65-plus team. The cost of the additional hire was in the 2025 Public Health budget. Engle said the team is consistently busy. County Administrator Bobbie Hillery explained that they are getting … [Read more...]

City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton discussed the deterioration of the windows/frames on the east and north side of the building at the city council’s November 4 meeting. Throckmorton presented two quotes submitted by Pella and La Crosse Glass and Door to replace the windows with aluminum framed commercial windows. The lower quote from La Crosse Glass and Door in the amount … [Read more...]

Public Works director, Brian Burkholder detailed plans to replace three pieces of street equipment at the city council’s October 28 meeting, as recommended by Burkholder and the Personnel/Budget Committee. Burkholder explained they have been working on the replacement of a 2008 Pelican Street Sweeper for a year. It was due to be replaced in 2024. They looked at 7 to 8 … [Read more...]

Stantec Engineer Peter Daniels reviewed a preliminary engineering report regarding the city’s wastewater treatment facility at the city council’s October 21 meeting. Preston Public Utility Commission (PPU) members were also in attendance. Past major projects to improve the facility were completed in 1962 and 1986. In 1997 a sludge storage tank was added. The Minnesota … [Read more...]

At the October 22 meeting of the Fillmore County Board, Blake Lea, land use director, asked the board to consider contracting septic service for Houston County for Type IV and V septic systems. Lea and feedlot officer Dallas Dornink have been taking trainings to get certifications for Type IV and V septic systems. Lea is now qualified for these non-conventional systems. … [Read more...]

A motion to post for a Community Development Director was approved at the October 14 city council meeting. Councilors had approved the advertisement for both an EDA director and a Zoning Administrator at the September 9 meeting. The closing date for these postings was September 30. Due to the fact that no applications were received for the Zoning Administrator and three for … [Read more...]

At the October 8 meeting of the county board, Sheriff John DeGeorge and Deputy Jason Harmening asked the board for its support in the appeal for Individual Assistance for owners of homes in the city of Spring Valley damaged by flooding during June heavy rain events. Since then, additional individual properties that sustained damage have been added. On September 19, FEMA … [Read more...]

City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton, during the Preston city council’s October 7 meeting, described several issues with the community pool cited during a health inspection. Three days before the pool was to close this year, the pump failed. The pump was replaced in 2023, so the manufacturer will cover replacement of some of the parts.  However, there are many other … [Read more...]

Sheriff John DeGeorge read the nomination letter at the county board’s October 1 meeting which nominated Don Kullot, Deputy/Emergency Manager, for the Association of Emergency Managers Outstanding Performance in Emergency Management Award.  Amy Bramwell, Mower County Emergency Manager, had addressed the letter to the nomination committee. She wrote, “Region 1 has been … [Read more...]