At the December 11 meeting of the Chatfield City Council, City Clerk Joel Young reviewed in detail the city’s budget; expenses and revenues. The Truth in Taxation public hearing ended with no comments from the public. Young listed expenses affecting the 2018 budget. Expenditure differences pointed out for 2018 for public works total $142,000. This will pay for additional … [Read more...]
County hears salary requests and another request to support a land acquisition
At the December 12 meeting of the county board elected official salary requests and another request for support of a land acquisition to be donated to the DNR were discussed. Michael Tenney, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, asked the board to support the purchase of 92.8 acres, located in sections 1 and 12, in the city of Rushford Village. The Minnesota Deer Hunters … [Read more...]
County evaluates its performance, discusses 2018 budget
County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman reviewed 2017 progress and discussed goals for 2018 at its Truth in Taxation meeting held in the evening on December 12. Some highlights in 2017 include participation in the effort to achieve County Program Aid (CPA) reform. This legislation resulted in a formula change which reduces the volatility of CPA from year to year. Fillmore County … [Read more...]
Preston budget/levy discussed
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...]