Chatfield councilors listened to annual reports for 2017 from Planning and Zoning, Heritage Preservation, and the Economic Development Authority at their February 26 meeting. Kristi Clarke, consultant/city planner, reported that the city gained 19 new single family residences in 2017. New residential construction and remodels added over $5 million of value. The city is left … [Read more...]
Preston to convert to LED street lights
At the February 20 meeting of the Preston City Council, a motion to convert the city’s 422 street lights to LEDs was approved unanimously. The city will take advantage of rebates offered by the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA). Jim Bakken, Public Works, explained the street lights are operated by the city’s public utility, but the city pays the utility for the … [Read more...]
Walz staff listens to community concerns and ideas
A large number of community members participated in Walz’s “Southern Minnesota Way of Life Tour” at the F & M Bank community room on February 8. This mix of employers, people associated with business, farmers, local government officials, and educators were asked for their ideas and given the opportunity to express their concerns as they relate to transportation, … [Read more...]
Charter Commission recommends adding city manager position
Curt Sorenson, Charter Commission chair, reported at the February 12 meeting of the Chatfield City Council that the commission has discussed at length what sort of government structure to recommend for the city. Councilor Pam Bluhm was absent. According to Sorenson, city hall doesn’t operate exactly in the way the current Charter describes. He added this is not a bad thing. … [Read more...]
County moves forward with office building remodel
At the February 13 meeting of the county board, plans for a remodel of the Fillmore County office building were approved. County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman explained a remodel has been a topic of discussion for almost two years. A plan to have one front desk for both social services and public health has been put off because of the significant cost. Jessica Erickson, … [Read more...]
County reports its legislative priorities
Rep. Greg Davids and Senator Jeremy Miller were at the February 6 county board meeting to hear the county’s legislative priorities for the 2018 legislative session. County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman thanked legislators for 2017 legislation that stabilized and added funding for county program aid. Fillmore County’s CPA increased by $90,000. The county noted its opposition … [Read more...]
Preston purchase agreement with Dairy & Farm
Preston City Attorney Dwight Luhmann discussed proposed updates to a purchase agreement for the Dairy & Farm property at the February 5 meeting. Originally, the proposed purchase price was $100,000. Dairy & Farm now wants $115,000 for the property; the additional funds requested are to help pay for the remediation, clean-up of the property. The city wants Dairy & … [Read more...]
Compromise moves land acquisition forward
Mike Tenney, DNR, and Robert McGillvray, The Trust for Public Land, faced commissioners at their January 23 meeting to ask them for a third time to consider a land acquisition of 337 acres from the Larson Family Trust. The land is to be added to the Choice Wildlife Management Area. It straddles Norway and Preble Townships. Tenney said we now propose to single out about 42 … [Read more...]
Chatfield purchases capital financial planning service
Mike Bubany, David Drown and Associates (DDA), presented information about their capital financial planning service at the January 22 meeting of the Chatfield City Council. He explained that he has been discussing the benefits of the service with city staff for a couple of months. Information can easily be plugged in to show on a spread sheet the effect a particular project … [Read more...]
Preston seeks more details about proposed veterans home site
An option to purchase about 15 acres from Robert Doherty, the proposed site for a veterans home, was discussed at length at the January 16 Preston City Council meeting. The city has an option to purchase the property until later in February. Mayor Kurt Reicks reported that during a recent phone call with Doherty he learned that Doherty was not interested in extending the … [Read more...]