The Fillmore County Planning Commission met on March 23 to consider an application submitted by Andrew Miller Jr. to rezone his property northeast of the city of Spring Valley from A (Agricultural) to I-1 (General Industrial) for the purpose of opening a lumberyard. The property in Spring Valley Township lies within one-half mile of the city limits of Spring Valley, making … [Read more...]
Preston hires full-time police officer and EMT
At the March 20 city council meeting, approval was granted to hire Brady Meyer as a full-time police officer and Jackson Orlowsky as a full-time EMT. Mayor Kurt Reicks was absent. City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton said the full-time police officer position had been posted in February. There were four applicants. Meyer had already been working as a part-time officer and was … [Read more...]
Chatfield takes step to improve Haven Wall access
City Engineer Craig Britton was authorized at the March 13 meeting of the city council to provide landscape design services to improve access to the historic Haven Wall. Councilor Dave Frank was absent. The Heritage Preservation Commission is driving this project to provide a plan to improve access to the city owned site located at 212 Winona St. SE. The intention is to … [Read more...]
Fillmore County appeals for funding
Sheila Kiscaden, co-chair Southeast Minnesota Together, addressed the Fillmore County Board at their March 14 meeting. She requested their help in an appeal to Rep. Greg Davids and Senator Jeremy Miller to get the legislature to fund the SE MN Together Transit Action Team’s effort. SE MN Together wants to develop a comprehensive assessment and financial plan for a … [Read more...]
Proposal for Preston’s Park Lane Development fails
At the March 6 Preston City Council meeting, a motion to approve an EDA recommendation to survey and rezone the proposed Park Lane Development failed due to the lack of a second. City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton noted the options to purchase the Winslow and Sackett lots (Park Lane Development) were originally signed in August 2020. The options to purchase the two sections … [Read more...]
Fillmore County moves toward in-house CMH-TCM
Social Services Director Wanda Berg explained at the March 7 county board meeting that Children’s Mental Health-Targeted Case Management is currently provided by Hiawatha Valley Mental Health in Winona. Hiawatha Valley Mental Health is managing a caseload of about 52 for Fillmore County, of which about 11 are “county pay.” At this time there is not a signed contract in effect … [Read more...]
Grand Street apartment building redevelopment
At the February 27 meeting of the Chatfield City Council, EDA director Chris Giesen explained the owners of the apartment building at 815 Grand St. want to clean up the site and eventually rebuild. The apartment building was destroyed by a fire in November 2022. Main Street Properties LLP wants to clean up the site and plan to rebuild at some point. The owners intend to apply … [Read more...]
Fillmore County to look at regulating cannabinoid products/hemp-derived THC
The February 28 meeting of the Fillmore County board had two controversial issues on the agenda. The Planning Commission’s recommendation to increase the animal unit cap drew a large crowd and later the public hearing on a possible moratorium on cannabinoid products or hemp-derived THC filled the board room once more. Chairman Larry Hindt announced that the board would be … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Planning Commission recommends animal unit cap be increased to 4,000
An overflow crowd, more than 100, attended the February 16 meeting of the Fillmore County Planning Commission. A public hearing was held for the only item on the agenda, a proposed amendment to Section 9 (new animal feedlots and expansion of existing feedlot facilities). The proposed amendment to the Fillmore County Feedlot Ordinance will raise the animal unit cap set at 2,000 … [Read more...]
Preston grants permanent easement for MERC
The Preston City Council, at their February 21 meeting, granted Minnesota Energy Resources Company (MERC) a temporary easement along Mill St. for construction purposes and a permanent easement across two parcels located on the northwest corner of the South Bridge. City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton explained that MERC had contacted the city in 2021 about its intention to … [Read more...]