At the October 28 meeting, the Rushford Council welcomed City Engineer Derek Olinger of Bolton & Menk. Onlinger discussed the mandatory migration of the city’s Global Information System (GIS). The proposal transitions Rushford’s current web GIS platform to ESRI’s ArcGIS cloud-based server. According to Olinger, the city currently has a corporate subscription through … [Read more...]
Caledonia Approves 50-Cent Increase in Ambulance Standby Pay, Effective 2025
The Caledonia City Council approved an increase of 50 cents in standby pay for the ambulance department at the October 28, 2024, regularly scheduled meeting. Mayor DeWayne “Tank” Schroeder called the meeting to order promptly at 6 p.m. followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. He then announced that all members were present. The council unanimously approved the minutes from … [Read more...]
Chatfield Approves Street Equipment Replacement Purchases
Public Works director, Brian Burkholder detailed plans to replace three pieces of street equipment at the city council’s October 28 meeting, as recommended by Burkholder and the Personnel/Budget Committee. Burkholder explained they have been working on the replacement of a 2008 Pelican Street Sweeper for a year. It was due to be replaced in 2024. They looked at 7 to 8 … [Read more...]
Stantec Engineer Reports on Preston’s Wastewater Treatment Facility
Stantec Engineer Peter Daniels reviewed a preliminary engineering report regarding the city’s wastewater treatment facility at the city council’s October 21 meeting. Preston Public Utility Commission (PPU) members were also in attendance. Past major projects to improve the facility were completed in 1962 and 1986. In 1997 a sludge storage tank was added. The Minnesota … [Read more...]
After Board Approval, Kingsland Seniors Succeed in Shortening Their Academic School Year
At their October 21 meeting, the Kingsland School Board reviewed a proposal from the 2025 senior class, which asked the school to consider allowing the seniors’ last academic day be May 16. “Effectively we would be forgiving three academic days for them,” Superintendent Scott Klavetter stated. According to the proposal, the class believes this would save students from … [Read more...]
Spring Grove School Board Approves Construction Bids
The Spring Grove School Board unanimously approved by roll call base construction bids totaling $2.4 million at its October 21 regularly scheduled meeting. Chad Pike, Senior Project Manager at Kraus-Anderson Construction Company, reviewed the bids in detail before the board voted. He noted that the bids went out as planned this fall, with bids due at the beginning of … [Read more...]
Major Road, Stormwater, Sewer and Water Improvements in Store for Wykoff
By Zech Sindt The Wykoff City Council meeting came to order at 7 p.m. on October 17. Mayor Ryan Breckenridge, City Administrator Becky Schmidt, Administrative Assistant Luann Hare, and city council members Kaleb Himli, Lyle Morey, Barbara Fate and Jeffrey Hare were all present. Rick Whitney from the wastewater treatment plant discussed the city’s need for, and the … [Read more...]
Houston County Attorney Jandt Resigns; Meiners Appointed as Environmental Services Director
At the October 22 meeting of the Houston County Board of Commissioners, the board unanimously accepted the resignation of County Attorney Samuel Jandt effective January 4, 2025. At the same time, the board accepted the reassignment of Amelia Meiners from the position of Interim Environmental Services Director to probationary, full-time Environmental Services Director, effective … [Read more...]
R-P Paraprofessionals Address School Board
The Rushford-Peterson School Board October 21 meeting was visited by many of the paraprofessionals employed by the district. Contract negotiations have been ongoing since February; the paras came to the meeting to publicly comment on the sticking points. Before the public comment period was opened, board chair Chris Grindland reminded the meeting that the time was not … [Read more...]
Fillmore County to Contract Some Septic Services for Houston County
At the October 22 meeting of the Fillmore County Board, Blake Lea, land use director, asked the board to consider contracting septic service for Houston County for Type IV and V septic systems. Lea and feedlot officer Dallas Dornink have been taking trainings to get certifications for Type IV and V septic systems. Lea is now qualified for these non-conventional systems. … [Read more...]
Meet The Candidates 2024
Tara Morem Candidate for Harmony City Council Tell us about yourself. I grew up on a farm right outside Preston. After graduation from Fillmore Central, I attended NICC Calmar for cosmetology and began my career with moving to Harmony in 2006 and joining the Dacia’s On Main team. I changed careers in 2010 to better suit our young family and joined the Special … [Read more...]
Whalan Discusses Ballfield Improvements
Following the regularly scheduled monthly city council meeting on October 14, 2024, the city of Whalan held a special meeting to discuss two separate topics and to hear from city residents about each topic. Present at the October regular council meeting were Mayor David Hallum along with council members Owen Lewis, Thore E. Johnson, Sheila Higbe and Kim Berekvam. City … [Read more...]
Spring Valley Council Hears Updates on 2025 Projects
At their October 14 meeting, Drew Weber, of Bolton and Menk, updated the council on the city’s various street projects. “The 2024 trail improvement in Willow Park has been completed. The turf grading around the trail is to be completed by city staff,” Weber shared. The 2025 Tracy Road project, which received a local road improvement grant, is in the final design … [Read more...]
Feral Cats Still Present a Problem in Spring Grove
Spring Grove City Council members met Tuesday, October 15 at 168 West Main Street in room #100. Mayor Saundra Solum called the meeting to order at 6 p.m., then led with the Pledge of Allegiance. Council members present included Solum, Mike Hagen, Trent Turner and Karen Folstad. Councilor Heather Edgington was absent. City Clerk/Administrator Jana Elton was also present. The … [Read more...]
Rushford Survey Results Compiled
After months of being out for consideration, responses to an Economic Development Authority (EDA) survey for the future of a large vacant area in the heart of Rushford are compiled. Conducted in partnership with Kansas State University, Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Regional Director Kristin Prososki and Leslie Vanelli, Research Project Manager for TAB and Tribal … [Read more...]