At the October 13 meeting of the Chatfield City Council, three proposed ordinances were reviewed. Councilor Mike Urban was absent. Ordinance # 480 establishing standards for installation of sidewalks in subdivisions was reviewed as recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission. This will amend Chatfield Code. No action was taken this day. It will lay out when sidewalks … [Read more...]

Pete Filipi, Contegrity Group, updated commissioners on the jail budget to date and progress on the jail renovation and expansion at the board’s October 14 meeting. Filipi noted bids for the project opened in March 2023. In November 2023 a building permit was obtained. The contingency fund budget started with a total of $421,300. With construction of the new facility and … [Read more...]

At the October 7 meeting of the county board, one of the applications for conditional use permits for telecommunication towers contributed to a prolonged debate. The Planning Commission recently approved conditional use applications for four telecommunication towers. Mike Huizenga, project manager for GSS, representing his client Cloud 1 Services was present to answer … [Read more...]

City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton presented some highlights from a preliminary report on the condition of the swimming pool at the council’s October 6 meeting. Burbach Aquatics, Inc. looked at the main pool, wading pool, piping, decking, and bath house. This feasibility report had just been received this day. It was recommended to have the main pool vessel tested. Piping … [Read more...]

At the September 18 meeting of the Fillmore County Planning Commission, applications for conditional use permits for four telecommunication towers were debated during public hearings. Mike Huizenga, project manager for GSS, Inc., had applied for conditional use permits on behalf of Cloud 1 Services to construct a 195-foot self-supporting telecommunication tower in each of … [Read more...]

At the September 23 meeting of the county board, an agreement with Marco Technologies, LLC for Managed IT services was approved. County Administrator Bobbie Hillery noted she had cut $12,000 from the Managed IT budget.  The agreement with Marco requires a one-time payment of $26,701 for cyber security, server, license, and professional service. The county will be responsible … [Read more...]

The total preliminary levy in the amount of $2,885,640 for property taxes payable in 2026 was certified at the city council’s September 22 meeting. This represents an increase of $147,277, or 5.378 % over the 2025 levy. The final levy to be considered in December can be the same or lower, not higher. The Truth in Taxation Hearing will be held Monday, December 8.  Councilor … [Read more...]

At the September 11 meeting of the city council, a resolution was adopted setting the 2026 preliminary levy at $1,345,263. This represents a 5.53% increase, or an increase of $70,474. The Truth-in-Taxation public hearing is scheduled for December 1, 2025. The final levy will be adopted in December, which could be decreased but not increased. Mayor Kurt Reicks noted the … [Read more...]

At the Chatfield City Council’s September 8 meeting the updating of the city’s sidewalk ordinance and the requirement for sidewalks in the Hilltop III and IV Development Agreement led to a contentious discussion. In July 2024, the Hilltop III and IV developer formally requested an amendment to the existing agreements to remove the standard sidewalk requirement, to install … [Read more...]

The need for more childcare providers in Fillmore County was highlighted by Allison Whalen, CEDA, at the county board’s September 9 meeting. Whalen asked the board to support an application for the Minnesota Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP). First Children’s Finance RCCIP is a community process to address childcare challenges in rural America. Whalen explained … [Read more...]