City Clerk Joel Young presented numbers on the proposed preliminary 2019 budget and levy at the September 10 Chatfield city council meeting. At the September 24 meeting, councilors will have to set the preliminary levy for 2019. When the final levy is set in December it can be lower but not higher. Young said his presentation includes typical goals and values. One goal is to … [Read more...]
County approves updated road impact agreement with Highland Sand Co.
At the September 11 county board meeting, an updated road agreement was approved after a long discussion regarding the number of loads of industrial sand that can be hauled out of the Rein Sandpit per day, Section 35, Holt Township. Larry Thompson, president of Highland Sand, has requested approval of a new route. The final destination is Prairie du Chien, Wis., where the sand … [Read more...]
Protect your horse, vaccinate for West Nile Virus
West Nile Virus can be fatal for your horse. Harmony/Cresco veterinarian Dr. Lynn Aggen reported that the first case of West Nile Virus in the area this year was officially confirmed in McIntire, Iowa, near Riceville. The Amish-owned horse died and another horse, also Amish owned, died from what was expected to be WNV, although not officially confirmed. A third case of WNV … [Read more...]
County 2019 budget takes shape
For the last several weeks, department heads have been reviewing their proposed 2019 budgets with commissioners during county board meetings. Budgets reviewed at the September 4 meeting included those related to community services, the sheriff’s department, soil and water conservation district, and the coordinator/auditor/treasurer offices. Having completed this preliminary … [Read more...]
Moratorium adopted by Newburg Township
During a well attended Newburg Township meeting held at the Mabel Community Center, the township board adopted, by a 2:1 vote, an interim moratorium on new feedlots of over 500 animal units or the expansion of existing feedlots to over 500 animal units and on the construction of new non-farm dwellings in agricultural areas. The moratorium is effective as of the date of its … [Read more...]
County courthouse security system
Language which will become the Fillmore County Court Security Screening Policy was discussed at the board’s August 28 meeting. The policy is being modeled off of Dodge County’s policy. The policy states “weapons and prohibited items are not allowed in areas designated for court procedures and activities.” Commissioner Randy Dahl raised questions about the policy. Licensed … [Read more...]
Federal match period extended for veterans home
Just before the August 27 Preston City Council meeting, Cristina and Anton Welke and family, Plainview, announced that they had organized a baseball tournament to raise money for the veterans home. The deadline for receiving the 2:1 match from the federal government was August 24. However, that deadline has now been extended to September 28. The Welke family took it upon … [Read more...]
Fire hydrants and Kernza
A Kernza licensing agreement and the replacement of five fire hydrants were discussed at the Chatfield City Council’s August 13 meeting. Brian Burkholder, public works, introduced the agreement with The Land Institute (Kansas) which owns the trademark for Kernza, a perennial, continuous living cover crop, which can be used to improve water quality. It is an intermediate wheat … [Read more...]
Primary turnout strong
More than a quarter of registered voters cast their ballots in the Minnesota 2018 primary election in Fillmore County on August 14. Interest was significantly higher than normal possibly in part due to the fact that a new governor will be elected in November and two U.S. Senate seats are on the ballot. Also, the U.S. House First Congressional District seat is open without an … [Read more...]
County makes first payment per Chatfield abatement agreement
Chris Gastner, CEDA, and Mike Bubany, David Drown and Associates, reviewed the agreement made in 2008 at the county board’s August 14 meeting. Fillmore County granted a property tax abatement to help finance road infrastructure improvements and a booster station to serve a subdivision (Hilltop Estates) and the new elementary school in Chatfield. Chatfield installed $2.8 million … [Read more...]