R. Ross Reichard, D.D., Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner, presented 2018 data for Fillmore County at the September 10 county board meeting. Chairman Duane Bakke was absent. Reichard’s office serves eight counties in southeast Minnesota. He emphasized the importance of the medical examiner’s staff including investigators throughout the region. In 2018, 136 … [Read more...]
Wastewater treatment operator hired
During the September 9 Chatfield City Council meeting, Steven Schlichter was hired to operate the Wastewater Treatment Plant effective September 23. Councilor Paul Novotny was absent. Schlichter was one of four applicants that had been interviewed for the position. The council also approved an extension of the services of Steve Bushman, WHKS Engineering, through October 18 … [Read more...]
Preston cancels 2019 street project
After a long discussion during the Preston City Council’s September 3 meeting, the council voted to cancel the 2019 Street and Utility Improvement project. A resolution was adopted by a 3-2 vote at the last meeting accepting the bid submitted by Rochester Sand and Gravel. It was the only bid submitted and over $100,000 higher than the engineer’s estimate. The entire project … [Read more...]
County 2020 budget
The county board reviewed budget proposals from several departments at their September 3 meeting. County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman produced a very preliminary 2020 budget with a levy increase of over 6%. Vickerman made it clear that she already could take about 1% of the increase off the top. Part of the reduction is a savings of $42,000 because the health insurance … [Read more...]
New District 3 Commissioner joins County Board
All districts were again represented at the August 27 meeting of the Fillmore County board of commissioners. Newly elected Larry Hindt, representing the third district, was sworn in last week by Judge Matthew Opat. More budget proposals for 2020 were reviewed. Departmental budgets reflect salary increases of 2.5% and health insurance increases of 7.5%. The preliminary 2020 … [Read more...]
Street vendors; a growing problem
A letter authored by Steven Rowland, Western Days, Inc. co-chairman, was addressed to the city council. It was the basis for a relatively long discussion concerning “street vendors” at the August 26 Chatfield City Council meeting. Rowland maintains the number of street vendors is a growing problem, as they take away business from established permanent businesses in … [Read more...]
Bid grudgingly accepted for 2019 Street and Utility improvements
City Engineer Brett Grabau reviewed the only bid submitted for Preston’s 2019 Street and Utility Improvements at the city council’s August 23 meeting. The bid submitted by Rochester Sand and Gravel was about $100,000 higher than the engineer’s estimate. Their bid is $443,376.65, of which, $418,873 represents the assessable portion of the project. The total project cost to do … [Read more...]
Finance Department policy and procedures approved
Policies and procedures were approved and put into place for the recently created Finance Department at the August 13 county board meeting. Statutory issues which have been analyzed in detail concerning legalities over the creation of the department were resolved. The board sought verification that they would be within statutory requirements with the creation of the finance … [Read more...]
Chatfield sets hearing for bond issuance
At the August 12 meeting of the Chatfield City Council, a resolution was approved calling for a public hearing on September 9, concerning the proposal for the issuance of healthcare facility revenue bonds for the Chosen Valley Care Center project. Councilor Josh Broadwater was absent. City Clerk Joel Young said the care center has been working with the city for a couple of … [Read more...]
County jail future discussed
The annual Jail Inspection Report was reviewed at the county board’s August 6 meeting. The report is issued by the Minnesota Department of Corrections. The Fillmore County Jail, which is the second oldest in the state, was limited to a 90-day facility in February 2017. Sheriff John DeGeorge and Jail Administrator James Fenske felt there was nothing in the report that was … [Read more...]