At the January 23 meeting of the county board, costs and timing associated with the transition to a new state flag and seal were discussed. A letter has been drafted to send to the governor, local legislators, senate majority and minority leaders, the speaker of the house, and the minority leader in the house. The letter emphasizes that there will be costs, especially in … [Read more...]
Chatfield Departments Report on 2023
Police Chief Shane Fox and Fire Chief Luke Thieke reviewed the activities of their departments in 2023 at the January 22 meeting of the Chatfield City Council. Thieke noted they had responded to 47 calls in 2023, 10 of which were responses to a fire. Seventeen calls involved a rescue and/or car accident or an emergency medical situation. One was for a hazardous condition and … [Read more...]
Preston Approves Zoning Ordinance Amendments
The Preston Planning Commission had recommended approval of amendments to Ordinance No. 221 after review and public hearings, which were held just before the city council met for their January 16 meeting. A resolution was approved by the city council to amend the ordinance to allow a business an advertising sign within 100 feet of a residential district if it complies with … [Read more...]
Preston Veterans Home Staffing and Economic Impact
On the third of January, the first residents were admitted into the State Veterans Home in Preston. This is the first new veterans home to open in Minnesota in the last 25 years. Advocates began the long process about a decade ago to make a veterans home in Fillmore County a reality. A dedication ceremony for the Home is expected to be held late in the spring or early … [Read more...]
Chatfield Snowplowing Policy
Chatfield held its first city council meeting of the new year on January 8. Mayor John McBroom, in his new year address, said he “believes the city is in fantastic shape.” Brian Burkholder, public works director, noted the snowplowing policy he was presenting was basically a draft from the League of Minnesota Cities with a few changes. The policy is to service residents by … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Annual Meeting
County Administrator Bobbie Hillery called the January 2 annual meeting to order and presided over the election of officers for 2024. Duane Bakke was elected chairman and Marc Prestby was elected vice-chairman. Bakke highlighted county ongoing projects: the veterans home, jail construction with the first phase to be completed in the fall, work on extending the five-year plan, … [Read more...]
Preston Attends to Annual Business
The Preston city council held its first meeting of the new year on January 2. The relatively short agenda dealt with routine annual business. City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton asked council members if they recommended any changes to the list of proposed 2024 appointments to the various boards, commissions and appointed positions. No one asked for any changes. Charles … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendments
At the December 21 meeting of the Planning Commission, public hearings were held on proposed language changes to Rural Home Based Business, Section 734 and to Subsurface Sewage Treatment System (SSTS) Ordinance, Section 802. The proposed language change to Section 734 will remove the Crop Equivalency Rating (CER). The CER soil requirement had previously been removed for new … [Read more...]
Preston Approves Rezoning Request
A rezoning request submitted by C & G Properties was considered at the December 18 meeting of the city council. The property at 413 Farmers St. NW has previously served as an office building. The request to rezone the .6-acre property from I-1(Industrial) to R-3 (Multi-family Residential) will allow for the repurposing of the building as an apartment building. The … [Read more...]
Fillmore County’s Legislative Priorities
Senator Jeremy Miller and Representative Greg Davids attended the December 19 board meeting to hear priorities detailed by each department head. County Administrator Bobbie Hillery thanked legislators for the 2024 increase in County Program Aid in the amount of $257,257 and County Engineer Ron Gregg thanked legislators for supporting state bridge bonding funds. The county … [Read more...]