The annual Truth in Taxation public hearing was held just prior to the regular monthly meeting of the Mabel-Canton School Board on December 18. Members present were Mark Weidemann, Jason Marquardt, Chris Miller, Business Manager Aimee Lake, Principal Michelle Weidemann, Board chair Cristal Adkins, Chris Loppnow, Diane Wilder, Liz Hershberger, and Superintendent Gary Kuphal. … [Read more...]
Rich Wicks
Reporter
rich@fillmorecountyjournal.com
What's an Iowegian doing writing for the Journal? That's a mystery. All
we really know is that Rich lives in Cresco (Iowa), and when he's not
working, he can often be spotted chasing his wife and kids around the
neighborhood, hollering, "Uff da, slow down!"
Spring Valley taxation discussed, levy set
A large crowd was on hand for the annual Truth in Taxation meeting, which was held immediately prior to the Spring Valley City Council’s regular meeting on December 10. All members of the council were present: Tony Archer, Todd Jones, Mayor Jim Struzyk, John Dols, Mike Hadland, and City Administrator Deb Zimmer. Several homeowners spoke up about the significant increase in … [Read more...]
New vehicles for Mabel
On December 10, the Mabel City Council held a regular city council meeting, which included the annual Truth in Taxation public hearing. Members in attendance included Gary Morken, Liz Folstad, City Clerk Karen Larson, and Kirsten Wyffels. Due to the mayor’s absence, Folstad led the meeting. No citizens were on hand to ask questions during the Truth in Taxation hearing. … [Read more...]
Wykoff to seek new city attorney
The Wykoff City Council met in regular session on November 13, with all council members in attendance: Rocky Vreeman, Mary Tjepkes, Mayor Al Williams, City Clerk Becky Schmidt, Mary Sackett and Richard Gleason. Also attending was Assistant Clerk Luann Hare. An item that generated much discussion was a dispute from Mike Shaw regarding a recent repair charge on his sewer … [Read more...]
Marin to join Ostrander Council
On December 3, the Ostrander City Council held a regular meeting. Members in attendance included Vernon Thompson, Pam Kunert, Mayor Pat Nesler, and DJ Start. Heidi Jones and City Clerk Wendy Brincks were absent. Because of the resignation of Council member Heidi Jones, the Ostrander Council had a vacancy to fill. The resignation letter from Jones to the city stated, in … [Read more...]
Kingsland talks facilities, funding and football
At the Kingsland School Board’s monthly “work session” meeting on December 3, with all members present (Doug Plaehn, Ann Oeltjen, Leah Stier, Jackie Horsman, Tiffany Mundfrom, and Superintendent James Hecimovich), the board discussed the long term facilities maintenance (LTFM) plan, and the Indoor Air Quality project being planned. Regarding the IAQ project at the Spring … [Read more...]
Nisse Treehouse daycare in Mabel
Word is getting around that there’s a new daycare center in Mabel. Darcy Thorson is the director of Nisse Treehouse daycare in Spring Grove and Mabel, and that keeps her very busy. But she recently sat down for an interview. Darcy explained that the center in Spring Grove has been operating for just over two years, but that the Mabel center just opened in mid-September of … [Read more...]
Spring Valley okays sledding event
At the start of the regular meeting of the Spring Valley City Council on November 26, Mayor Struzyk swore in John Dols as a new council member, filling the vacancy caused by the departure of Jessy Betts. All members of the council were present (Tony Archer, Todd Jones, Mayor Jim Struzyk, John Dols, Mike Hadland, and City Administrator Deb Zimmer). No citizens had signed up to … [Read more...]
Kingsland considers “What now?”
On November 6, the Kingsland referendum was voted down, which brings up the question of what happens now. That question was recently asked of Kingsland board members and the superintendent. Superintendent James Hecimovich answered, “I think what happens is, at our next working session, in December, is that we’ll discuss do we come back in November (with another referendum). … [Read more...]
Kingsland mulls football coaching change
At the Kingsland School Board’s monthly meeting on November 19, with all members present (Doug Plaehn, Ann Oeltjen, Leah Stier, Jackie Horsman, Tiffany Mundfrom, and Superintendent James Hecimovich), the board heard a plea for, and a plea against, making a football coaching change. No action was taken on the issue, but the board held a “closed meeting” of nearly an hour to … [Read more...]
Mabel-Canton sets student goals
The Mabel-Canton School Board held a regular meeting on November 20. Present were Jason Marquardt, Chris Miller, Business Manager Aimee Lake, Principal Michelle Weidemann, Chris Loppnow, Diane Wilder, Liz Hershberger, student representative Payton Danielson and Superintendent Gary Kuphal. Mark Weidemann, high school secretary Lynette Donald, and Board chair Cristal Adkins … [Read more...]
Ostrander to fill council vacancy
On November 8, the Ostrander City Council held a regular meeting. Members in attendance included Vernon Thompson, Pam Kunert, Mayor Pat Nesler, City Clerk Wendy Brincks, and DJ Start. Heidi Jones was absent. The council discussed how to fill the upcoming vacancy when Heidi Jones leaves the city council at the end of this year. Wendy Brincks said, “Heidi was elected Fillmore … [Read more...]
Wykoff Council winner cuts the cards
The Wykoff City Council met in regular session on November 13, with all council members in attendance (Rocky Vreeman, Mary Tjepkes, Mayor Al Williams, City Clerk Becky Schmidt, Mary Sackett and Richard Gleason). Also attending were City Attorney Dwight Luhmann and Assistant Clerk Luann Hare. Approximately 15 other citizens were in attendance at the meeting. Prior to the … [Read more...]
John Dols appointed to Spring Valley Council
During the regular meeting of the Spring Valley City Council on November 14, the council appointed John Dols to fill the council vacancy caused by the resignation of Jessy Betts, effective immediately. Council members stated that since the recent election resulted in two new council members (Chris Danielson and Luan Ruesink) being chosen by voters, it made sense to appoint the … [Read more...]
Sunshine to continue in Spring Valley
During the regular meeting of the Spring Valley City Council on October 22, the council discussed what path to take going forward, for the city’s residential solid waste and recycling services. Mayor Struzyk pointed out that, “As far as I’m concerned, I haven’t heard a complaint since right after they (Sunshine) took over. I had a lot of them with Waste Management, but I … [Read more...]