At the October 10 county board meeting, the board unanimously moved forward with a courthouse security plan. A proposal from Marco which was one of two proposals submitted was accepted. The Courthouse Security committee, which was formed after the county was awarded a grant in the amount of $30,000 by the Safe and Secure Courthouse Advisory Panel, recommended accepting the … [Read more...]
Chatfield approves updated emergency operations plan
At the October 9 meeting of the Chatfield City Council, Dan Jaquith described the purpose of the plan. He maintained that the city’s emergency services and local government are very prepared. They will respond professionally to protect lives and property. Efforts will be made to get utilities back on line as soon as possible after a disaster. The plan is a guide for emergency … [Read more...]
County asked to approve land acquisitions
Mike Tenney, area DNR Wildlife Supervisor, and Robert McGillivray, Trust for Public Land (a non-profit conservation organization), answered questions concerning two separate requests for board approval of land acquisitions for wildlife management areas at the October 3 meeting of the county board. The first request was for the acquisition of 379 acres that straddle Preble and … [Read more...]
Preston discusses options for lowering health insurance costs
The city of Preston faces a 15% increase in health insurance costs for 2018. Only a 10% increase had initially been figured into next year’s budget. At the October 2 council meeting, City Administrator Joe Hoffman explained the reason for the unexpected increase and possible options to lower health insurance costs in the future. The city purchases health insurance through the … [Read more...]
Rural Lanesboro fiber build to begin in October
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...]