At the Fillmore County Board’s November 24 meeting, Commissioner Duane Bakke reported that the COVID cases in Fillmore County have more than doubled in the last couple of weeks. County Administrator Bobbie Hillery admitted there have been COVID cases among the staff or staff that has had contact with COVID positive individuals, requiring some staff members to quarantine. She … [Read more...]
Six public hearings on CUP applications/variances
The Fillmore County Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment worked through a busy agenda at their November 19 meetings. Four Condition Use Permit (CUP) applications were brought forward for public comment. Caleb Benson, section 27 Newburg Township, requested that five acres of property, located on the north side of Mabel, be rezoned from Agricultural to B1 (General … [Read more...]
New Preston City Council member Dean Aug
At the November 16 Preston City Council meeting a resolution, which is required by state statute, was approved declaring a vacancy on the city council. The council seat has been vacant since the resignation of Holly Zuck, which was accepted at the November 2 meeting. In the recent general election, dean Aug was elected to the city council seat previously held by Zuck, but he … [Read more...]
Fillmore County considering option to appoint A\T
At the November 10 Fillmore County Board meeting, County Administrator Bobbie Hillery presented the Personnel Committee’s wish to bring forth the option of appointing the Auditor/Treasurer position. Legislation (MS375A.1205, Subdivision 1) was passed in 2019 that lays out the process/guidelines for a county to make the A/T an appointed position. Why appoint rather than elect? … [Read more...]
Chatfield approves final CARES expenses
Cities have until November 15 to submit their expenditures that qualify for CARES Act funding. At the November 9 Chatfield City Council meeting, November CARES expenditures were approved. Councilors John McBroom and Mike Urban were absent. Top of the list of expenditures was a telephone system upgrade at a cost of $19,135. Door lock repairs and the reconstruction of the city … [Read more...]
Fillmore County extends state of emergency
At the November 3 Fillmore County Board meeting the peacetime State of Emergency for continuing operations for COVID-19 was extended through December 1. The extension of the State of Emergency allows the county to continue telecommuting. It provides links to COVID related funding. County Administrator Bobbie Hillery commented that COVID is not going away, “There were 45 new … [Read more...]
Preston approves housing incentive applications
At the November 2 Preston City Council meeting, the council was short one member. Council member Holly Zuck submitted her resignation effective October 27. The council accepted her resignation with thanks for her service. A plaque will be prepared recognizing her years of service to the community. The Zucks are moving out of the Preston community. Cathy Enerson, EDA, … [Read more...]
Chatfield pavement management program
Tim Schoonhoven, Widseth engineer, encouraged the Chatfield City Council to manage the city’s street infrastructure in the most sustainable way at the council’s October 27 meeting. Craig Britton, city engineer, and Brian Burkholder drove all the city-owned streets (about 18 miles or 73% of the streets within the city limits) and alleys (two plus miles) in Chatfield and rated … [Read more...]
Ongoing general election discussed by Fillmore County Board
County Administrator Bobbie Hillery updated the Fillmore County Board on the 2020 ongoing general election at the board’s October 27 meeting. A total of 6,003 ballots have been distributed (2,886 absentee ballots and 3,117 mail-in ballots). So far 2,195 absentee ballots have been accepted and 1,527 mail-in ballots have been accepted. It has been crazy with people coming in to … [Read more...]
Kids fishing event options
At the October 19 Preston City Council meeting, the future location of the Trout Days Kids Fishing contest was discussed. The DNR in past years has stocked rainbow trout in Camp Creek before the annual fishing event. The DNR has determined that the native brown trout population is well established and naturally reproducing. They no longer want to stock rainbow trout in Camp … [Read more...]



