At the May 21 Preston City Council meeting, City Administrator Joe Hoffman reported the state legislature passed the 2018 public works construction/bonding bill which includes $10.2 million for a veterans home in Preston. The $825 million bonding bill passed the Senate with a 42 to 25 vote and the House with a 113 to 13 vote in the last half hour of the 2018 session Sunday … [Read more...]
Dollar General for Chatfield
The Chatfield City Council, at their May 14 meeting, approved a purchase agreement for the sale of EDA owned real estate to Golden Warriors, LLC for the future redevelopment of the property for a Dollar General store. Chris Giesen, EDA coordinator, explained the sale is contingent on the production of a development agreement within 180 days of the purchase agreement. The EDA … [Read more...]
County approves leasing program for squad cars
Discussion continued from the previous board meeting regarding a proposed leasing program, Enterprise Fleet Management, for squad cars at the county board’s May 8 meeting. Sheriff Tom Kaase said he believed we will see greater savings in repairs with the management program. Vehicles will be run for fewer miles, which will result in a higher resale value. During the presentation … [Read more...]
Preston pop-up markets for 2018
Ilene Edwards addressed the Preston City Council at its May 7 meeting regarding the schedule for pop-up markets in 2018. She noted that last summer there were three markets with an average of 11 vendors participating. This year five pop-up markets will be held on the second Saturday of each month, beginning on June 9 and ending on October 13. Markets will run from 9 a.m. to 1 … [Read more...]
End in sight for CSAH 1 reconstruction project
County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 1 has the distinction of being the most traveled county road in Fillmore County. Reconstruction of this important artery started in the spring of 2016. Farmers and other home owners whose homes are along that 11.5 section of roadway from Spring Valley north to Highway 30 will see the long period of inconvenience and bumpy rides come to an end by … [Read more...]
Enterprise Fleet Management makes its pitch to the county
Wong Nystrom, senior account executive with Enterprise Fleet Management, Inc., presented the terms of a leasing program for sheriff department vehicles at the county board’s April 24 meeting. Nystrom suggested rotating the vehicles on a 3-5 year cycle through a partnership with Enterprise would lower the county’s operating costs and improve safety and reliability. Savings … [Read more...]
Chatfield approves CCTV upgrade
Melissa Burnett, cable television administrator, asked the city council at the April 23 meeting to approve the purchase of a HD Cablecast base unit and slideshow as recommended by the Cable Access Board. The total cost of the upgrade is $11,281.48. The school district has agreed to share the cost. The council approved the upgrade to high definition; the city’s share costing … [Read more...]
Planning Commission tweaks Renewable Energy Ordinance
At the April 19 meeting of the Fillmore County Planning Commission, revisions were made on a proposed ordinance for renewable energy. The county has only a wind power ordinance currently. This proposed ordinance will regulate both wind and solar energy systems. Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins explained the wind portion is similar to the current ordinance. However, more … [Read more...]
Veterans discuss emergency care and housing
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s staff held a listening session for veterans on April 12 at the Fillmore County Office Building. Bree Maki, southern Minnesota outreach, and Alex Schueller, veterans and military outreach, led the group in a discussion of veterans issues and concerns. Smith, through a video recording, said the objective was to hear directly from veterans. She wants … [Read more...]
Preston’s audit presented
Jason Boynton, Smith Schafer and Associates, presented the 2017 audit information for the city of Preston at the city council’s April 16 meeting. An unmodified, “clean” opinion was issued. Boynton said it was an overall good report. The general tax levy totaled $831,494. Other revenue included TIF collections in the amount of $74,307 and Local Government Aid (LGA) in the … [Read more...]