Southeast Minnesota Together hosted a meeting on April 30 at the Chatfield Center for the Arts to discuss the creation of welcoming and inclusive communities. SE MN Together was created in 2015 to serve as a regional network of organizations and individuals developing strategies to address workforce shortage. Keynote speaker Allison Liuzzi, project director, Wilder … [Read more...]
Semcac continues positive impact on communities
At the April 23 Fillmore County Board meeting, Lynn Mensink and Jim Wolter reported on the impact Semcac continues to have on the county. Commissioner Mitch Lentz was absent. Semcac has been providing services for 53 years, established as a private non-profit organization in 1966. It is the designated community action organization for seven counties: Dodge, Fillmore, … [Read more...]
Tax abatement note authorized for Main Street, Chatfield lighting
Mike Bubany, David Drown Associates, Inc., explained what is involved with the issuance of a $225,000 tax abatement note during a public hearing at the April 22 Chatfield City Council meeting. The General Obligation tax abatement note will be used to pay for Main St. lighting. The $225,000 noted includes funding for the lighting and fees for the bond counsel, financial … [Read more...]
Preston’s Board of Appeal and Equalization
Brian Hoff represented Fillmore County at the Preston’s local Board of Appeal and Equalization during the April 17 city council meeting. Hoff gave an overview of property values. Residential values increased in the city of Preston based on a sales study, as did values in most other cities in the county. The total estimated market value increased 5.76% to $107,887,400 in … [Read more...]
County approves Preston’s request for an electric service
At the county board’s April 9 meeting, a request from the city of Preston to add new electric lines, transformer and electric service in a stand alone configuration on the north side of the courthouse was approved. The reason for the service is to do away with the noisy generators that provide power for Trout Days vendors. This proposal is for a permanent electric service … [Read more...]
Chatfield earns clean audit opinion
Jason Boynton, Smith Schafer & Associates, LTD., presented Chatfield’s financial summary and audit for 2018 at the council’s April 8 meeting. The city received an unmodified “clean” opinion. Financial statements are fairly stated. Boynton said there are no concerns to bring to the council’s attention. The city had about a 6% increase in tax capacity over 2017. The … [Read more...]
Bees need to thrive and survive
Dinner on the Bluff at the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center on April 6 was focused on all things “honey.” Eagle Bluff interim director John Torgrimson introduced the featured speaker for the evening, Entomologist Marla Spivak, a distinguished McKnight University professor. The Sustainable Food and Farming degree program at Minnesota State College Southeast helped … [Read more...]
Local economy impacted by outdoor recreation
Seventy-five people from all over Fillmore County attended the 2019 Economic Summit on Outdoor Recreation coordinated by the EDA. MiEnergy Cooperative sponsored the event held March 29 at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center. John Torgrimson, interim director for Eagle Bluff, gave a brief overview of Eagle Bluff which had 16,000 visitors in 2018. It partners with 140 … [Read more...]
County Board to consider solar energy ordinance
At the March 28 Planning Commission, a public hearing was held regarding the proposed replacement language of Section 709, Solar Energy Systems and the added Section 740, Solar Energy Farms. Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins explained the commission had decided to retain the existing Wind Energy Conversion Systems language and to address solar systems separately. The … [Read more...]
Preston receives an AA- bond rating
At the April 1 meeting of the Preston City Council, City Administrator Joe Hoffman cited reasons for the recent S&P Global bond rating of AA-/Stable for the city. This is a downgrade from an AA rating received by the city in 2013. That year the city was upgraded from AA- to AA. One reason for the downgrade is the city’s reserves have decreased as a percentage of … [Read more...]