At the June 21 city council meeting, Police Chief Blaise Sass reported on the continuing challenges he faces when trying to fill needed part-time shifts in the police department’s schedule. The current part-time police officer wage was set in 2016 at $17 per hour. This is substantially below the average part-time wage of similar size departments in the area, which is about … [Read more...]
Chatfield requests speed study
At the June 14 Chatfield City Council meeting a resolution was approved petitioning MnDot to conduct a speed study on Minnesota state highway 74 where it intersects with Winona St. (Fillmore County Rd. 5). Councilor John McBroom was absent. Along with the speed study, the resolution requests an analysis to determine the feasibility of installing a pedestrian crosswalk … [Read more...]
Fillmore County 2022 budgeting schedule
At the June 8 Fillmore County Board meeting, the schedule for the 2022 budgeting process was set. County Administrator Bobbie Hillery said she will start meeting with department heads this day. She noted that the consumer price index was up 4.2% from April 2020 to April 2021. From January 2020 (pre-pandemic) to April 2021, consumer prices increased 3.5%. The board … [Read more...]
Preston confronts ambulance staffing challenges
At the Preston City Council’s June 7 meeting, ambulance director Ryan Throckmorton and City Administrator Joe Hoffman detailed the growing challenges the ambulance service faces to provide 24/7 service with a volunteer staff. It was decided after much discussion to pursue a process to create a full time EMS support position. Throckmorton made it clear that the EMS structure … [Read more...]
2020 medical examiner services
Dr. R. Ross Reichard, M.D. reviewed statistics related to 2020 Fillmore County medical examination services at the Fillmore County Board’s June 1 meeting. The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office provides services for eight counties, including Fillmore. The number of deaths reported to the medical examiner in Fillmore County were 134. Sixty-eight percent of … [Read more...]
Chatfield councilors inspect new fire department brush truck
Councilors stepped outside during their May 24 Chatfield City Council meeting to inspect the fire department’s new brush truck. The purchase of the F-550 chassis was approved in November 2020 ($43,059) and the cost of the labor and installation of equipment ($86,008) was approved on December 14. The total cost of the unit which is equipped to fight brush fires was about … [Read more...]
Upgrades to Fillmore County website
At the May 25 meeting of the Fillmore County Board, recent upgrades to the county’s website were discussed. EDA director Chris Hahn had encouraged a separate website to highlight businesses, local events and celebrations, and cities. Much of what he imagined is now available at www.co.fillmore.mn.us/departments. County Administrator Bobbie Hillery had maintained that the … [Read more...]
Preston accepts proposal for revenue bonds
At the May 17 meeting of the Preston City Council, Mike Bubany, David Drown & Associates, reported that three bids were submitted for for the issuance of revenue bonds to finance the 2021 Street and Utility Improvement projects. Standard & Poors issued an AA- stable bond rating for the city before the competitive sale. The low bid was submitted by Northland … [Read more...]
City of Chatfield covers cost overrun for dugout
The cost of construction of the baseball dugout in Chatfield has run over the estimate by about $10,000 due to delays because of COVID and significant increases in raw material costs this year. At the city council’s May 10 meeting the council approved additional funding up to $10,000 for the project. Councilor Josh Broadwater was absent. The total cost of the project is … [Read more...]
Fillmore County staffing discussed
The future staffing of two positions the county has filled in the past were discussed at the county board’s May 11 meeting. Blake Lea, feedlot officer/zoning technician/GIS had submitted his resignation effective May 21. The board accepted his resignation with much thanks for his service. Lea had the ability to serve in all three roles. Lea was good in GIS. County … [Read more...]