The golden shovel kick-off event with Fillmore County and AcenTek representatives was held the morning of September 22 in Lanesboro. Construction to install the necessary infrastructure to bring wireline high speed internet to the city of Whalan and sections of Carrolton and Holt Townships is expected to begin in early October. It will be completed in 2018. AcenTek will build … [Read more...]
Planning Commission recommends approval of event venue
Mike and Cindy Tomashek’s application for a conditional use permit for an event venue on their property, Camp Creek Farm, was discussed during a public hearing at the September 21 Fillmore County Planning commission meeting. The property is located one-half mile southeast of Preston in Section 5, Preston Township. Cindy Tomashek said the 2,400-square-foot building that had … [Read more...]
County certifies preliminary 2018 levy
At the September 26 meeting of the county board, the discussion of the preliminary levy was last on a busy agenda. County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman reported that some recommended adjustments have been made which reduced the increase to 5.16% for 2018. The preliminary levy number includes an estimated 7% increase in health insurance, down from an earlier estimate of a 14% … [Read more...]
Chatfield certifies preliminary levy for 2018
After considerable discussion, the Chatfield City Council at their September 25 meeting certified the preliminary budget and levy. The original budget draft showed a possible increase of over 12%. The Budget Committee found this unacceptable, whittling it down to a levy increase of 7.9%, or a $121,532 increase over 2017. City Clerk Joel Young noted this is the first time the … [Read more...]
Preston approves preliminary 2018 budget and levy
At the September 18 meeting of the Preston City Council, after considerable discussion concerning the 2018 budget, a resolution adopting the 2018 preliminary levy was adopted unanimously. The 2018 preliminary levy was set at $897,182, an increase of $65,688, or 7.9% over 2017. One percent of levy increase equals about $8,300. There already were two changes to the earlier … [Read more...]
County proclaims October Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Sarah Monroe, Fillmore County Victim Services, Kari Berg, Corrections Services, and Anne Detlefsen, Family Services, asked commissioners to proclaim October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month at the board’s September 12 meeting. Events planned to bring attention to domestic violence include “Soup for the Soul” to be held October 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the courthouse … [Read more...]
Chatfield updates waste hauling agreement
At the September 11 Chatfield City Council meeting, the long standing waste hauling agreement with William Hanson was updated with four amendments. Councilor Joshua Broadwater was absent. City Clerk Joel Young noted the amending of the agreement was delayed for a time until the ordinance regarding recycling fees was updated. Brian Burkholder, Public Works, reported that … [Read more...]
County preliminary 2018 budget
The commissioners covered a lot of ground at an extended September 5 board meeting. The process of reviewing each departmental budget continued. Public Health, Human Services, the various budgets related to the Sheriff’s office, and others were looked at in some detail. The total 2018 budget increase proposed by Jessica Erickson, director of nursing, in her department was … [Read more...]
Preston enters into development agreement
At the September 5 Preston City Council meeting, the council voted to go forward with a development agreement with Andrew Bunge as unanimously recommended by the EDA. Councilman David Collett voted against. In the North Street Project agreement the city is to sell four unimproved city parcels to Bunge for $1. Bunge agrees to build four housing units, each of at least 950 … [Read more...]
Capital Investment Committee visits Fillmore County
Rep. Greg Davids invited members of the House Capital Investment Committee (bonding committee) to Fillmore County to learn about capital projects in the county. The committee made three stops during their September 6 tour, including the Chatfield Center for the Arts in Chatfield, the DNR Fish Hatchery near Lanesboro, and Niagara Cave south of Harmony. Center for the Arts F. … [Read more...]