At the May 23 meeting of the Fillmore County Board, concerns were raised over Strongwell Corporation’s dusty waste that is being delivered to the Resource Recovery Center, which may be hazardous. County Attorney Brett Corson referred to a letter sent to William Hanson Waste Removal in March which raised several issues, for example, TVs in black plastic bags that were not … [Read more...]
Chatfield hears from Victim Services
Suzette McDonald and Judy Hagler, Victim Services in Dodge, Fillmore, and Olmsted Counties, explained that the program benefits people that are victims of sexual violence or any sort of crime. Their presentation was made at the May 22 meeting of the Chatfield City Council. The service established in 1976 is free. The 24/7 crisis line is (507) 289-0636. They are advocates for … [Read more...]
Preston hearing for 2017 sidewalk improvements set
At the May 15 Preston City Council meeting, the proposed sidewalk improvements for 2017 were discussed. Councilman David Collett was absent. Public Works Director Jim Bakken completed the annual sidewalk inspection in April. Any deviations over one inch were marked. Five locations were selected based on condition, volume and traffic, and funds available. His feasibility … [Read more...]
County PTO policy and staffing structure
Much of the May 9 County Board meeting was dominated by long discussions concerning PTO policy and staffing structure for Community Services. Commissioner Mitch Lentz was absent. The county is in the process of updating its policies. The proposed update of the PTO policy has resulted in a lot of comments from employees. Proposed new language: “Employees initially hired … [Read more...]
Resource Recycling Center changes
A discussion carried over from the Solid Waste committee dominated much of the May 2 county board meeting. County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman said the committee wants to keep moving forward. A ramp option or conveyor to feed refuse into the compactor had been discussed in committee. The committee recommended a stationary conveyor due to efficiency, cleanliness, and safety … [Read more...]
EMS open house in Chatfield
Mayor Russ Smith proclaimed May 21-27 as Emergency Medical Services Week at the city council’s May 8 meeting. Councilor Paul Novotny was absent. There will be an EMS Open House on May 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. During that time there will be refreshments and demonstrations of the 12 lead defibrillator and the new LUCAS, an automated CPR device which was obtained through a … [Read more...]
Preston City Hall rehab progressing
At the May 1 meeting of the Preston City Council, approval was given for payment in full to Ledegar Roofing, a total of $80,649 pending a satisfactory inspection by the architect on Wednesday. The work on the city hall roof was completed this last week. The total includes an additional cost of $520 to replace 160 square feet of deteriorated wood decking. City Administrator … [Read more...]
Sewer lines, garbage, and summer recreation
The Chatfield City Council, at their April 24 meeting, approved the televising of 6,743 feet of sanitary sewer line. Most of the city’s sanitary sewer system was televised in 2012. Brian Burkholder explained that in 2012 about 2,500 feet of sewer line under Highway 52 was found to be in poor condition. It is expected that the highway will be overlayed in 2019. It is prudent to … [Read more...]
County discusses state auditor’s assessment
Fillmore County’s audit for 2015 was conducted by Eide Bailly LLP. Over a quarter of Minnesota counties hired a private firm to do their audit in 2015. State Auditor Rebecca Otto asked for a review of county audits conducted by private CPA firms. A report was released, “Assessing the Adequacy of 2015 County Audits Performed by Private CPA Firms.” Manager Joel Stencel and Brian … [Read more...]
Facelift for Preston City Hall
At the April 17 Preston City Council meeting, City Administrator Joe Hoffman reported on the rehab progress on city hall. Two plus inches of foam insulation has been installed, the sign company will come in next to install brackets for the mural, then a mesh will be installed before the stucco. The roofing company is also working on the installation of a new roof. Still to … [Read more...]