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...]
Preston discusses first draft of 2018 Budget
At the August 24 meeting of the Preston City Council, the first draft of the 2018 budget and levy was reviewed. The total levy in this draft would be $894,425, or $62,931 more than in 2017. This represents a 7.57% increase. Year 2018 payments being made for two relatively recent construction/improvement projects contribute significantly to the budget; Twenty-14 street project … [Read more...]
Financing for Industrial Drive project approved
Mike Bubany, David Drown and Associates, reviewed the plan to finance the Industrial Drive Improvement project during a public hearing at the August 28 meeting of the Chatfield City Council. The total project cost including associated financing expenses is $908,440. Three sources of funding will be used including a $457,000 general obligation tax abatement note (series … [Read more...]
County Jail inspection report discussed
Sheriff Tom Kaase reviewed the Fillmore County Jail inspection report at the board’s August 22 meeting. The Minnesota Department of Correction’s (DOC) annual inspection of the facility was conducted from May 10 through May 16, 2017. Inspectors found that the “jail does not provide a properly trained food service provider at the facility.” The DOC requested an immediate plan to … [Read more...]
Congressman Walz’s staff visits proposed veterans home sites
Thanks to Dave Goodmanson, Fountain, who called Congressman Tim Walz’s office last week, three of the congressman’s staff visited Fillmore County on August 15 for most of the day. Goodmanson called about the city’s wastewater facility discussed in another article in this paper. About three months ago Cathy Enerson, who is the EDA director for both Preston and Spring Valley, … [Read more...]
Chatfield to “See what the voters want” in November
At the August 14 meeting of the Chatfield City Council, a long discussion ensued concerning the construction of a new swimming pool. Councilor Joshua Broadwater was absent. Julie Henry, co-chair on the swimming pool committee, presented results of a survey conducted by Community Perceptions, an independent research organization. The survey was conducted in July with a 28% … [Read more...]
Fountain called its congressman
Congressman Tim Walz’s office received a call from Dave Gudmundson last week asking for assistance. Walz staffers Josh Syrjamaki, Chief of Staff, and Peder Kjeseth, Agriculture and Energy Outreach Director, listened to concerns during an August 15 Fountain council meeting. Mayor Richard Kujath made clear the main concern is the high cost of wastewater operation. Potentially, it … [Read more...]