At the May 5 county board meeting, information was presented on plans for extending a new transmission line from Marion, Minn., to the Mississippi River (105 miles). The plan is to replace a 161 kilovolt (kV) transmission line with a new 765/161 kV double-circuit transmission line (Maribell Transmission Line). The double-circuit lines are to be on a steel lattice … [Read more...]
Houston County Board Approves Conditional Use Permit for Telecommunication Tower
At the May 5 meeting of the Houston County Board of Commissioners, the board Chairman Greg Myhre called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. The board approved the agenda and the minutes from the April 28 regular meeting, with Commissioner Kurt Zehnder abstaining. There was one public comment from Justin Gartner of The Towers, LLC, regarding action item No. 3: the approval or denial … [Read more...]
Fountain Looks at Personnel and Contract Changes
The May 6 Fountain Council meeting started a few minutes behind schedule as they waited for quorum. All members of the council – Mayor Ron Reisner, Councilors Tammy Danielson, Jordan Kearns, Cory Spratte, and Dave Stockton – were in attendance. During new business, the council briefly discussed several possible personnel and contract changes. City Clerk Mary Tjepkes brought up … [Read more...]
Brownsville Gets Ready For the Summer
Brownsville City Council members met Wednesday, May 6 at the town’s community center. Mayor Jean Meyer called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. She led with the Pledge of Allegiance. City Clerk Steve Schuldt conducted role call. Council members present included Meyer, David Prestby, Bill Fitzpatrick, Pam Walhovd, and Barb Hurley. City employees present included Schuldt, City … [Read more...]
Preston Transfers Duties of LBAE to Fillmore County
A public hearing was held at the May 4 meeting of the Preston City Council to consider transferring the city’s duties and powers of the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization to the county. Mayor Kurt Reicks noted that the city rarely has changed anything for citizens that have come with an appeal at the LBAE meeting. For example, at the LBAE meeting held this year on April 20 … [Read more...]
Online Safety Program in Fillmore County
At the April 28 meeting of the county board, Assistant Fillmore County Attorney Marla Stanton and Captain Dan Dornink reported on a social media safety program which they continue to present at local schools. Stanton explained the first of these programs began in 2017. The content has changed over the years. Nine years ago, it was “scared straight” and now students are … [Read more...]
Your Money is Hard at Work in Houston County
The phrase “Your money is hard at work” may be overused, but during the April 28 Houston County Commission meeting, it became immediately clear that taxpayers in Houston County can rest assured that their money is well spent. With only one new business item listed on the agenda, there was time for two presentations. The first was a University of Minnesota (UMN) Extension … [Read more...]
Caledonia Council Gets First-Quarter Financial Update
Finance Officer Stephanie Mann presented the city’s first-quarter financials for review at the April 27 Caledonia City Council meeting. She announced that she and City Clerk/Administrator Jake Dickson will be meeting with the auditors during the first week of May, possible Thursday, May 7. She expects that the audit report will be presented to the council at the second … [Read more...]
Shady Oak Redevelopment Proposal
Several citizens attended the April 27 meeting of the Chatfield City Council due to a proposal for Shady Oak redevelopment. The proposal is to subdivide a portion of Shady Oak Park (near Hawley Street) into two buildable lots. The Planning & Zoning Commission had recommended approval, after a public hearing at its April 6 meeting. The proposal is to provide for two … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Shares Ownership of DuraPatcher with Chatfield and Stewartville
At the April 27 Lanesboro City Council meeting (which had been moved from May 4), the consent agenda was approved and included accounts payable, seven temporary on-sale liquor licenses on various dates for Lanesboro Arts, the acceptance of grants from the Lanesboro Area Community Foundation, and Resolution 2026-33 regarding the counting of write-in votes in compliance with … [Read more...]