City Administrator Joe Hoffman presented details of the preliminary 2018 budget/levy during the Truth in Taxation portion of the December 4 city council meeting. The city’s preliminary budget of $897,186 for 2018 was approved in September. There is a 7.9% ($65,692) increase over 2017. About 2.3% of the increase is due to increases in operating expenses like insurance and … [Read more...]
Mail-in only balloting option to be used by some areas of Fillmore County
Some cities/townships may choose the option of mail-in only balloting for local, state, and federal elections. The option is only available to those precincts with less than 400 registered voters. The use of mail-in only ballots is authorized by Minnesota Statute 204B.45. The cities of Whalan, Canton and Fountain, and Newburg Township are planning to use the mail-in only … [Read more...]
Motion for land acquisition fails
An effort to get county support for the purchase of the Ione Larson farm to add to the Choice Wildlife Management Area again failed at the November 28 county board meeting. Mike Tenny, Department of Natural Resources, and Robert McGillivray, Trust for Public Land (non-profit conservation organization) had requested the resolution of support at an October 3 meeting. At that … [Read more...]
Swimming pool project moves forward
At the November 27 meetings of the Chatfield City Council and the Committee of the Whole, the future construction of a new municipal swimming pool was discussed. Councilor Paul Novotny was absent. Burbach Aquatics, Inc. (BAI) submitted a proposal for data collection, survey and site investigation (soil borings) at the proposed site for construction of the new pool. City Clerk … [Read more...]
County moves forward on major road project
The reconstruction of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 1 has been a major road project for the county. At the November 14 county board meeting, approval was given to advertise for the concrete surfacing of CSAH 1 from north of Spring Valley city limits north to the county line. County Engineer Ron Gregg said the advertisement will include a relatively short portion in Olmsted … [Read more...]
Chatfield certifies special referendum results
The November 7 results of the special referendum, to determine if Chatfield voters would authorize the city council to issue $4,402,000 in bonds for the construction of a new swimming pool, were certified at the city council’s November 13 meeting. Councilor Paul Novotny was absent. City Clerk Joel Young explained that state law requires the city council to certify election … [Read more...]
Preston approves Bunge development agreement
At the November 6 Preston City Council meeting the final language for a development agreement for the North Street Project was approved unanimously. The agreement with Andrew Bunge, Bunge Construction, Inc., requires Bunge to purchase the property owned by Jerome McCallson. There is a purchase agreement with McCallson and it can be executed with the approval of the development … [Read more...]
Jail maintenance improvements continue
Chief Deputy Kevin Beck noted multiple maintenance updates and improvements being made to the county jail at the board’s November 7 meeting. The improvements are being made to satisfy state inspection recommendations. The last inspection was in May. The jail was downgraded to a 90-day facility in February by the Minnesota Department of Corrections. Food service requirements … [Read more...]
Economic impact of a veterans home in Fillmore County
The effort to have a veterans home built in Fillmore County has been ongoing for more than three years. Committees co-chaired by Don Gildner in Preston and Bill Rohe in Spring Valley know the road ahead will be a long and challenging one, but well worth the effort. A study was completed which demonstrated the need. There are about 23,000 veterans over the age of 65 within a … [Read more...]
Buffer enforcement ordinance discussed
The Fillmore County Planning Commission met on October 26. A public hearing was held on the proposed county buffer enforcement ordinance. Duane Bakke explained the county changed its shoreland ordinance last year to match the state’s buffer law language. The ordinance being discussed this day details the county’s authority to enforce the buffer ordinance. The language in the … [Read more...]