City Administrator Joe Hoffman gave the annual budget/tax levy presentation at the Preston City Council’s December 6 meeting. The total levy for 2022 is to be $1,080,696, an increase of $46,273 over 2021 or 4.47%. Half of the city’s revenues will come from the tax levy in 2022. Hoffman compared that to 2004, which was the first year he served as administrator. In 2004 only 42% … [Read more...]
Fountain will keep ordinance banning chickens
The Fountain City Council voted 2:1 on December 1, with Mayor Jim Schott not voting and Councilor Colleen Fohrenbacher unable to vote, under Schott’s direction, to uphold its current ordinances banning chickens within city limits. “We need to have a vote on whether or not to discuss chickens,” said Schott. “Colleen, you can’t vote because you brought it up.” Fohrenbacher … [Read more...]
Houston County approves MFIP agreement
The Houston County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, November 23, from 9:02-10:54 a.m. in the historic county courthouse in downtown Caledonia. Commissioners present included Dewey Severson, Eric Johnson, Chairman Bob Burns, Teresa Walter, and Greg Myhre. Chairman Burns led the commissioners and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting agenda was … [Read more...]
Fillmore County ARPA funding options
At the November 23 meeting of the Fillmore County Board, a discussion continued on options for the best use of the American Rescue Plan Act funds received by the county. County Administrator Bobbie Hillery reviewed five of these options including broadband, employment options, administration office improvements, HVAC improvements in three county buildings, and automatic … [Read more...]
Chatfield’s garbage bag issue resolved
Bill Hanson, Hanson Waste Removal, addressed the Chatfield City Council at its November 17 meeting about the supply chain problems affecting the purchase of yellow specially marked garbage bags. Councilors Paul Novotny and Josh Broadwater were absent. Yellow custom imprinted bags can’t be reordered on a timely basis or at a reasonable cost for some months into next year. The … [Read more...]
DEED announces $3 million in Main Street COVID Relief Grant Cultural Mall Operator Grant awards Grants of up to $300k will go to 12 mall operators
ST PAUL, MN – the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced recipients of the $3 million Minnesota Cultural Mall Operator Grants program, which was part of the $70 million Main Street COVID Relief Grant package that passed with bipartisan support in the Minnesota Legislature during the 2021 Session and was signed into law by Governor Tim … [Read more...]
Solar panel installation delayed at Lanesboro school
At the November 18 Lanesboro School Board meeting, Superintendent Matt Schultz updated the board on the solar panels for the school. They were supposed to have been installed before the 2021-22 school year began, but that was pushed back to October. The installation didn’t happen then either and now is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2022. Schultz explained … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central parent speaks out against Social Emotional Learning, or SEL
Chrissy Holets, parent of two Fillmore Central students, addressed the school board at their November 23 meeting. “I’m here on behalf of my kids,” she said. She explained that her third grade daughter repeatedly came home from school talking about putting her feelings in a bucket and then putting a lid on it. During conferences, Holets asked her daughter’s teacher about the … [Read more...]
Houston School accepts bond proposal
Kelly Smith, director in Baker Tilly’s Municipal Advisor Public Education Group, joined the regular Houston School Board meeting November 18 via Zoom to report on the bond sale he helped facilitate for the school earlier that day. According to Smith, interest rates were at near record lows. Robert W. Baird and Co. had the lowest bid of 1.607% on the 15-year bond term. The … [Read more...]
New Age Tree Service thanked for hanging lights in the city park
The Spring Grove City Council met Tuesday, November 23, 2021, from 6 p.m. to 6:31 p.m. when the council went into closed session until 7 p.m. to discuss union negotiations and the labor contract. The council met in the Spring Grove Communication building room 100. Council members present were Mayor Scott Solberg, Travis Torgerson, Karen Folstad, Chad Rohland, and Trent … [Read more...]