Highway Engineer Ron Gregg asked the board to advertise six 2024 scheduled road projects at the board’s October 3 meeting. Gregg said the projects are ready to advertise. Projects include a concrete overlay on CSAH 1 between CSAH 39 and the west city limits of Spring Valley, improvements to CSAH 4 from intersection of CSAH 38 to CSAH 5, a culvert replacement on CSAH 12 in … [Read more...]
Chatfield Certifies Levy for Taxes Payable in 2024
The 2024 preliminary budget and tax levy was adopted in the amount of $2,588,325 at the Chatfield, Minn., city council’s September 25 meeting. Councilors David Frank and Paul Novotny were absent. The preliminary levy for 2024 represents a 5.873% increase over 2023. The final levy to be adopted in December can be lower but not higher than preliminary numbers. The Truth in … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Hires Land Use Director
At the September 26 meeting of the county board, Blake Lea was hired to fill the newly created position of Land Use Director, effective September 29. In August the board voted to restructure the Zoning Department, which was supported by the current Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins. This day, the new job classification for Assistant Land Use Director was approved. Approval … [Read more...]
Preston Approves Paving Projects
At the September 18 meeting, the Preston, Minn., City Council approved two small paving projects that can be completed along with a third utility project. Mayor Kurt Reicks was absent. City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton said there could be savings by doing the projects together. The trail extension to the veterans home will be a city-only cost totaling $9,736.33. Griffin … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Approves Property Tax Abatement
At the September 12 county board meeting, a resolution was adopted approving the property tax abatement related to Lamon Housing Project (developers Richard and Cheryl Lamon) in the city of Lanesboro. A public hearing was held during which there was no comment from the public. Mike Bubany, David Drown Associates, Inc., presented the basics of the plan. This project has a … [Read more...]
West Chatfield Drainage Project Nears Completion
Craig Britton, Widseth, reported on the progress of both the Drainage Project and the 2023 Street Improvement Project at the city council’s September 11 meeting. Councilors Paul Novotny and Josh Broadwater were absent. Work began on the West Chatfield Drainage Project in July, and it was substantially completed by the middle of August. Pearson Backhoe Service, Inc. still has … [Read more...]
Preston Adopts 2024 Preliminary Levy
The Preston City Council adopted the preliminary 2024 levy with an increase of 5.84% at their September 5 meeting. The preliminary levy is set at $1,201,705 with an increase of $66,301 from the 2023 levy. When the final levy is adopted in December it can be reduced but not increased. The preliminary numbers are used for property owner valuation notices. City Administrator … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Sets Public Hearing for Hemp Ordinance Revisions
At the September 5 meeting of the county board, two issues dominated the board’s time, discussion of recommended changes to the Hemp Ordinance and the 2024 budget. Chairman Larry Hindt was absent. Revisions and clarifications to the ordinance that was adopted on May 23 are proposed to make it consistent with Minnesota legislation (Statutes 151.72 and 342). The ordinance will … [Read more...]
3rd Judicial District Honored With ESGR Award
On August 18 retired Judge Matthew Opat was presented with a statewide Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) award, a Department of Defense program, on behalf of the Third Judicial District. ESGR was established in 1972 and was designed to promote cooperation and understanding between National Guard and Reserve employees and their civilian employers. ESGR encourages … [Read more...]
Chatfield Approves IT Upgrades
Finance and information systems director Kay Wangen reported that the Personnel/Budget Committee supports replacing/upgrading the city’s server at the August 28 meeting of the Chatfield city council. Replacement of the 2018 server is necessary as it will no longer be supported by HP as of January 6, 2024. The replacement of the server is part of the Capital Improvement Plan … [Read more...]