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...]
County sets physical location of taxpayer services offices
Over the last couple of months the county board has been considering a shuffling of offices for Tax Payer Services to fit them all on one level of the courthouse. On April 2 the board came to an agreement and unanimously approved a new office arrangement. Lands Records Director Brian Hoff and Auditor/Treasurer Heidi Jones were concerned about space and noise. Hoff addressed … [Read more...]
Walz releases revised budget proposal
Governor Tim Walz (DFL) announced his revised budget on March 22 for the 2020-21 biennium (July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021). The budget was revised due to the predicted economic slow down. Forecast numbers released late in February suggest that the state’s surplus will be closer to $1 billion, a half a billion less than the prior forecast. The revised budget totals $49.35 … [Read more...]
Chatfield replaces ToolCat/sweeper
The March 25 Chatfield City Council meeting was relatively brief. Brian Burkholder, Public Works, asked for approval to replace the 2015 ToolCat and sweeper attachment. The lowest of two quotes was received from Bobcat of Coole Region, Inc. out of Dresback. The total with trade for the purchase of a 2019 ToolCat is $11,555 and the total with trade for the new sweeper … [Read more...]
County supports long term sustainable funding for transportation
Fillmore County Commissioners, at their March 26 meeting, voted unanimously to adopt a resolution encouraging the Minnesota Legislature to pass a bill that provides adequate funding for Minnesota’s statewide transportation system. This resolution is supported and advocated by the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) and the Minnesota Transportation Alliance. Chairman Duane … [Read more...]