At the November 28 Fillmore County board meeting, Social Services Director Wanda Berg explained there will be value for both clients and the county to have adult mental health services provided in-house. Adult mental health case management services have been provided by Zumbro Valley Mental Health. This contract will not be renewed. Services provided by the county for Fillmore … [Read more...]
Grant Application for Winona Street SE/CSAH 5 Project
Chatfield City Engineer Craig Britton explained at the city council’s November 27 meeting that there is aged and undersized infrastructure, water and sewer, under this portion of Winona St. SE. Councilors Mike Urban and Paul Novotny were absent. A resolution in support of an application for a Local Road Improvement Project (LRIP) grant through MnDOT was adopted. The section … [Read more...]
CUP for Telecommunications Tower Approved
The Fillmore County Planning Commission met on November 16 to consider an application for a condition use permit submitted by TowerNorth to build a telecommunications tower in Section 22 of Chatfield Township. During a June 8 public hearing before the Board of Adjustment, Alex Trueman, TowerNorth, had requested and received a variance for the telecommunications tower. At that … [Read more...]
Preston Reviews 2024 Budget
City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton reviewed some adjustments to the city’s 2024 budget at the city council’s November 20 meeting. Some changes made since the preliminary budget was approved included a smaller increase for health insurance than estimated, an increase in dental insurance that was greater than expected, a 5.5% increase in salaries (estimated 5%), a lower cost … [Read more...]
Fillmore County’s 2024 Possible Assessment Changes Reviewed
Fillmore County Assessor Jason McCaslin reviewed some possible property assessment changes at the board’s November 14 meeting. The Truth in Taxation notice comes out later this month. McCaslin updated the board to make them aware of possible assessment changes. With the new Tax/Cama software there will be a new process to notify property owners that may qualify for special ag … [Read more...]
Chatfield Wastewater Operator Recognized
At the November 13 meeting of the Chatfield City Council, Steve Schlichter and Brian Burkholder were credited for their good work for the city. Burkholder, Public Works director, explained Schlichter received the Southeast Class B Wastewater Operators Award at the 2023 Minnesota Wastewater Operators Association (MWOA) annual conference. There are six districts in the … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Supports Broadband Application
Carter Grupp and Chris Koneche, Finley Engineering Company Inc., and Nicole Schulte, Spring Grove Communications, requested support for their Border-to-Border broadband application at the board’s November 7 meeting. They want to apply for state and federal assistance for an area with low density passings (2.4 per mile), including 216 farms, 29 businesses, and 295 households. … [Read more...]
Preston Historical Society Historic Campus and Riverfront Plans Discussed
At the November 6 meeting of the Preston City Council, the Historical Society’s Phase II plan for the Historic Campus and Riverfront was discussed. Committee members provided an update on the masterplan for the project. Council members Charles Sparks, Steve Hall and Flossie Schultz are members of the Preston Historical Society (PHS). Sparks noted that during his 13 years on … [Read more...]
Chatfield’s 2024 CEDA Contract
The Chatfield City Council’s October 23 meeting was relatively brief. Councilor Josh Broadwater was absent. The contract between Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA) and the Chatfield EDA was approved for a period of one year beginning January 1, 2024. The city receives staffing services, expertise, and materials to assist with the EDA’s community and … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Option Agreement for POP Site
At the October 24 meeting of the county board, a proposed agreement concerning a Preston forfeiture property was discussed. The former Preston Oil site (119 Mill Street SW) went into tax forfeiture in 2018. The city of Preston has since had the underground tanks removed. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has monitored the site, and a mitigation plan has been … [Read more...]