At the October 22 meeting of the Chatfield City Council, the first consideration of Ordinance 437, Critical Water Emergency Restriction, was approved. Councilor Paul Novotny was absent. The ordinance will regulate nonessential water usage upon the declaration of critical water deficiency. Such a declaration could be made during a severe drought. Mandatory restrictions upon … [Read more...]
County approves 2019 proposed highway construction projects
County Engineer Ron Gregg presented a list of proposed road and bridge projects for 2019 at the October 23 meeting of the county board. Projects using federal funding include the concrete overlay of CSAH 1 south of Spring Valley and a culvert project on CSAH 12 near Preston. State Aid projects include pavement reconditioning of a short section of CSAH 34 outside of Mabel, … [Read more...]
Broadband coming soon to rural Rushford
A Golden Shovel groundbreaking event was held on October 3 in Rushford Village/rural Rushford to celebrate a new expansion of fiber Internet in Fillmore County. The last mile project will serve 246 unserved households and businesses, and 311 underserved households, businesses, and community anchor institutions within the rural expansion area. The broadband expansion project is … [Read more...]
Veterans home planning continues
At the October 15 Preston City Council meeting, City Administrator Joe Hoffman reported on an October 2 meeting of architects, engineers, and local leaders concerning a veterans home in Preston. A schedule of the process includes predesign by January 2019, schematic design in March, the deadline of April 15 to apply for the Federal Veterans Administration grant, design … [Read more...]
Economic growth projects for Chatfield
Agreements were presented for consideration at the Chatfield City Council’s October 8 meeting related to future housing development and the expansion of EZ Fabricating, Inc. Planning and Zoning Administrator Kristi Clarke reviewed information concerning plats and development agreements for single family home lots on properties owned by Geoffery and Monica Griffin. The council … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Veterans Home, now more than a dream
The dream is not yet a reality, but it is well on its way and much farther along than anyone expected it to be just a year ago. Legislators including Rep. Greg Davids, Senator Jeremy Miller, Minnesota House Veterans Affairs Division Chairman Bob Dettmer, and Senate Veterans Committee Chairman Bruce Anderson were in attendance at the celebratory event held on September 27 at the … [Read more...]
Developer Bunge Requests Lot Split
At the October 1 meeting of the Preston City Council, Andy Bunge explained his request for a lot split. He has a development agreement with the city. Bunge said he initially intended to try and develop the appropriate number of living units on the property per the agreement. His daughter and son-in-law have since approached him about building a three bedroom, two bath house, … [Read more...]
Courthouse security screening up and running
Beginning on September 4 the public has only been able to enter the Fillmore County Courthouse through the east lobby/main entry. A security officer/deputy will instruct you to put items that may be in your pockets including cell phones, keys, and change into a container to go through a scanner or x-ray machine. Purses and other carry in bags will also be put through the … [Read more...]
County schedules Truth in Taxation meeting
At the October 2 county board meeting, December meeting dates were set, including Truth in Taxation. There will be only two board meetings in December. The Association of Minnesota Counties annual meeting will be on December 2,3, and 4. Therefore, there will not be a county board meeting on December 4. There will be a regular meeting on December 11 starting at 3 p.m. Later that … [Read more...]
County approves preliminary levy for 2019
At the September 25 county board meeting, the preliminary budget and levy for 2019 was discussed. County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman provided a breakdown of each departmental budget. The total 2019 preliminary levy is $10,819,093, which is an increase of 3.49%, or $364,893, over the 2018 final levy. The preliminary levy can be lowered in December when the final levy is set, … [Read more...]