At the September 22 meeting of the Fillmore County Planning Commission, two conditional use permit (CUP) applications for event venues were considered. Event venues fall under the recently adopted Agricultural Tourism Businesses section of the county zoning ordinances. The CUP request submitted by Chuck and Joan O’Connor, Section 18 Bristol Township, is for a remodeled barn … [Read more...]
Chatfield faced with upcoming 2017 expenses
At the September 26 meeting of the Chatfield City Council, the preliminary budget and levy for 2017 was set reflecting a $132,468 increase, or 9.31% over the last levy. Councilor Ken Jacobson was absent. City Clerk Joel Young, who was absent, had detailed a preliminary budget with a $122,468 increase, or 8.61%. In his notes he had explained that the city’s “storm water needs … [Read more...]
Preston sets preliminary budget and levy
City Administrator Joe Hoffman summarized the proposed adjustments to the 2017 budget at the city council’s September 20 meeting. As discussed at the September 6 meeting, there is a $129,282 Twenty-14 Project surplus. Using just a portion of the surplus each year to reduce the amount levied for the bond payment for a period of years will help keep the payments level. The … [Read more...]
Implementation of Root River 1W1P just months away
After over two years of cooperative efforts of six southeastern Minnesota counties, the process to create and implement the One Watershed One Plan (1W1P), which encompasses the entire Root River watershed of about 1.3 million acres, is nearing completion. In June 2014, the Root River watershed became one of the five large watersheds in the state to serve as a pilot program … [Read more...]
Mill Creek Habitat project to begin
At the Chatfield City Council’s September 12 meeting ,soil scientist Luke Lunde said the 1,200 linear foot project, which will include a fishing pier, will begin next week from the bridge on Division St. south. It is expected to be completed by mid October. Councilor Paul Novotny was absent. The bid from Barth Construction came in at $69,276.56 or about 4% over the … [Read more...]
County discusses courthouse security
Sheriff Tom Kaase presented his department’s budget proposals for 2017 at the September 13 county board meeting. During his presentation, courthouse security options were discussed. Kaase has about $77,000 included in his budget for a court security person. More options for courthouse security including cameras, one point of entry only, screening people coming to the court … [Read more...]
Preston discusses 2017 budget
City Administrator Joe Hoffman presented some possible adjustments to the 2017 budget at the city council’s September 6 meeting. Councilman Dave Harrison was absent. The initial draft of the budget was discussed at the August 23 meeting with a $54,000 levy increase over last year, or 6.77%. Hoffman noted there was no increase in health insurance premiums, but none had been … [Read more...]
County to trim 2017 Budget
At the September 6 meeting of the county board, the commissioners, by consensus, set a goal to limit the levy increase to less than 6 or 7%. County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman reviewed preliminary numbers for 2017. Vickerman said based on what each of the departments presented, before any changes are figured in, the levy increase could potentially be over 15%, or about $1.4 … [Read more...]
Governing in 2017
Our new president will be inaugurated on January 20, 2017. Leading and governing, especially after this election cycle, will be extremely challenging. Neither candidate has the trust of even a majority of the electorate; neither will have a mandate. We hear over and over that this is a “change” election. How each of us defines “change” probably covers a wide spectrum of … [Read more...]
Chatfield Center for the Arts agreement
At the August 22 city council meeting, an agreement between the city of Chatfield and the city’s EDA concerning the Center for the Arts was approved. The Economic Development Authority owns the Center for the Arts and they have an agreement with Chatfield Center for the Arts, Inc. (a non-profit group incorporated in 2011) to operate the facility. In the city’s agreement … [Read more...]