At the December 14 school board meeting, board members Josh Thompson, Jill Harstad, Lanny Isensee, Katie Priebe and Tom Keefe were present as well as Superintendent Ed Harris, Principals Shane McBroom, Eric Nelson and Trista O’Connor, business manager. Board member Matt McMahon was absent. Superintendent Harris led the Truth in Taxation hearing with a number of slides … [Read more...]
Caledonia sets 2023 Levy
The Caledonia City Council held its annual Truth in Taxation meeting at the December 12 council meeting. The council approved the 2023 proposed budget and 8% levy for taxes payable in 2023. Mayor DeWayne (Tank) Schroeder called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and led the council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council members in attendance include Mayor Schroeder, … [Read more...]
Tensions flare at Peterson meeting
The last Peterson Council meeting of the year, held on December 14, addressed several annual items and two agenda items added by outgoing Mayor Dave Colbenson. It included employee review for new Public Works Director Tim Hallum and discussion on the council itself. Public comment is taken at the beginning of the meeting, limited to three minutes per person. However, … [Read more...]
Kingsland School Board hears about a van crash and proposed salad bar
By David Stoeger In an update regarding food service at the Kingsland School Board meeting on Monday, December 5, District Superintendent Scott Klavetter updated the board on a project to bring a salad bar to the Kingsland School District. Klavetter said they have ordered equipment for the new salad bar and that it will expand the ability to bring healthy choices to the … [Read more...]
Ostrander City Council hears from county assessor Residents get an explanation on why city assessments are up 30-90%
By David Stoeger The Ostrander City Council and the public heard from Fillmore County Assessor Jason McCaslin at their meeting on Tuesday, December 6. This after residents found themselves reeling from county property tax bills that at times increased as much as 90% for the year 2023. “I feel it serves us both well that you have an understanding of where I’m coming from so … [Read more...]
Minnesota weekly gas price update
Average gasoline prices in Minnesota have fallen 12.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.21/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 2,856 stations in Minnesota. Prices in Minnesota are 38.6 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 8.8 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has fallen 13.6 cents in the last week and … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Council sets 2023 levy
At the December 5 Lanesboro City Council meeting, a public hearing was held for Truth in Taxation. Lanesboro resident Brenda Bonney spoke to the council about her request to rezone her property as a rural service district as it was denied by Planning and Zoning. She noted that she doesn’t receive any city services and the property is very rural in nature. “We request that our … [Read more...]
Taxes high in Valley High
At the Truth in Taxation meeting held December 1, the same night as the regular December Houston School Board meeting, several property owners from Valley High attended to voice their concerns about their increased taxes. Valley High is considered its own little community consisting of about 45 homes. Around half of the residents are retired and on fixed incomes. Within the … [Read more...]
Preston adopts 2023 budget and levy
City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton gave a presentation on the budget and levy during the Truth in Taxation portion of the city council’s December 5 meeting. This is to give the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed final levy. Councilman Dean Aug was absent. Throckmorton noted that the preliminary levy certified in September showed a 5.14% increase over the 2022 … [Read more...]
Fountain approves contract
At the December 7 meeting, the Fountain Council welcomed several in attendance, including incoming council members Cory Spratte, Jordan Kerns, and mayor-elect Tami Danielson. Also in attendance were Rick Whitney and Michael Morris, MMS Environmental, who joined via phone. Whitney and Morris provided plant management contract proposals to the city. Before discussing the … [Read more...]