Preston said goodbye to its long serving City Administrator Joe Hoffman at the February 22 meeting. He has been with the city for 17½ years. Mayor Kurt Reicks congratulated him, “It has been great working with you,” as he presented Hoffman with a Key to the City. Hoffman will be leaving by the end of this week to take on his new job. Hoffman explained the city council could … [Read more...]
Contract negotiations to proceed for Fillmore County Jail
At the Fillmore County Board meeting held on February 22, it was decided by consensus to go forward with contract negotiations for the county jail. Three architectural firms had been interviewed February 17. Each firm was given about two hours to deliver their presentation and to answer questions. The committee composed of two commissioners, the sheriff, county administrator, … [Read more...]
Chatfield Center for the Arts ongoing construction
At the February 14 Chatfield City Council meeting, the second pay estimate to Benike Construction was approved in the amount of $436,271.75. The total payout so far for the ongoing renovation project is a total of $1,027,525.92. Councilors Mike Urban and David Frank were absent. Other business in brief •The donation of a bench for the swimming pool in honor of Jeff Buss was … [Read more...]
Fillmore County to interview firms for jail
Fillmore County Administrator Bobbie Hillery reported at the county board’s February 8 meeting that five firms had submitted proposals for the jail. A committee consisting of board chairman Mitch Lentz, vice-chair Larry Hindt, Hillery, Sheriff John DeGeorge, and Jail Administrator Jamie Fenske chose three firms from the five submissions to be interviewed. County Attorney Brett … [Read more...]
Preston accepts city administrator’s resignation
At the February 7 meeting of the Preston City Council, Mayor Kurt Reicks announced that City Administrator Joe Hoffman had submitted his resignation, effective February 25. His resignation was accepted. Hoffman has served the city for about 17 years. He has not only been the city administrator, but also general manager for Preston Public Utilities. The Public Utility … [Read more...]
Preston and Lanesboro team up to sustain ambulance service
At a September 2021 Lanesboro City Council meeting, interim Ambulance Director Dan Jaquith declared, “We are on the verge of closing.” There just aren’t enough volunteers. Preston ambulance director Ryan Throckmorton said a conversation between the Preston and Lanesboro Ambulance Services began a few years back. In 2021 they started working together. Both staff and members of … [Read more...]
Fillmore County hears from citizens
During a relatively brief meeting of the Fillmore County Board on February 1, Chairman Mitch Lentz, during committee reports, related that he had attended a workshop on human trafficking in southeast Minnesota. Lentz said he was disappointed and surprised to learn that human trafficking is prevalent in our own backyard. Bonita Underbakke, during the Citizens Input portion of … [Read more...]
County assessor explains residential valuation increases in Chatfield
Fillmore County Assessor Jason McCaslin reported on the assessor’s duties and the expected significant residential valuation increases at the Chatfield City Council’s January 24 meeting. Councilors Paul Novotny and Mike Urban were absent. McCaslin has been the assessor in Fillmore County since April 2020 and before that served in Jackson County. He grew up in Spring Valley and … [Read more...]
COVID grants for health-related purchases
Public Health Director Jessica Erickson requested Fillmore County Board approval for health safety purchases at the board’s January 25 meeting. Erickson explained, because the purchases each cost more than $5,000, she needed state approval for the purchases which she has secured. The board approved the purchase of a freezer ($7,909) and the installation of additional units to … [Read more...]
Rushford hires new deputy clerk
Last March, the Rushford City Council approved the seeking of a deputy clerk/accounting to provide some relief to city staff. The previous deputy clerk retired in 2020 and administrative staff was shifted, but the city never filled the positions fully. Rather than fill a lower-level role, it was decided to implement a deputy clerk/accounting role with a higher level of … [Read more...]