The August 2 Lanesboro City Council meeting opened with a public hearing for a video franchise agreement ordinance. No one from the public was present with questions or comments and the hearing was closed. A second public hearing was then opened to discuss the tax abatement request for G-Cubed Development’s proposed housing project. There were no questions or comments from the … [Read more...]

The August 3 Fountain City Council meeting was one of the longer meetings in recent months as the city dealt with a number of minor issues and requests. Up first was discussion of a noise ordinance. While the city does not have one, the county does. However, if a city adopts its own ordinances, they can be more restrictive than the county’s, not less. Section 713.01 of the … [Read more...]

After the August 3, 2021, Houston County Commission meeting, the commissioners called an emergency meeting, for Friday, August 6, 2021, at 9 a.m. Houston County Public Health will update the commission on the status of COVID-19, and the commissioners will discuss a mask mandate. Commissioners Dewey Severson, Eric Johnson, Robert Burns, Teresa Walter, and Greg Myhre were all … [Read more...]

On July 15, Keith Allen Butler, 38 of Stewartville, appeared before District Court Judge Carol M. Hanks.  Butler is charged with Domestic Abuse - Violates Two or More Orders For Protection Within Ten Years of Previous Conviction/Adjudication of Delinquency.  It is a felony that carries a maximum criminal penalty of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.  On or about … [Read more...]

  The Minnesota Historical Society is pleased to announce 52 Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Small Grants ($10,000 and less), totaling $432,940 to organizations in 24 counties. Small grants are awarded quarterly to help nonprofits, educational organizations, government units and federally recognized tribes to preserve and share Minnesota history. This cycle of … [Read more...]

County Recorder David Kiehne was first to comment during the public hearing at the board’s July 27 meeting. Kiehne submitted a letter to the board on July 6 informing them of his intent to retire on December 31, 2022, the end of his current elected term. Legislation signed into law in 2019 allows the appointment of a county recorder with the retirement notification provided … [Read more...]

At the July 22 Planning Commission meeting, three proposed language changes to the Zoning Ordinance were proposed by Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins. The first was a more detailed definition of a campground. The proposed language states: “Any area, whether privately owned, used on a daily, nightly, or longer basis for the accommodations of two or more tents or … [Read more...]

David Frank was appointed to fill the vacant Chatfield City Council seat at the council’s July 26 meeting. Mayor Russ Smith noted that only one application had been submitted to the fill the remainder of John McBroom’s term, who announced his resignation on June 28. Frank will also fill most of McBroom’s committee commitments (Park & Recreation, Public Services, and … [Read more...]

Houston County Commissioners approved thanking full-time County essential workers with a $50 payment in place of a County Staff Appreciation Day picnic. The estimated $8,000 for 160 employees will come from last year’s CARES fund. Commissioners felt, “It would be easier than preparing a meal, and the $50 payment will benefit everyone as not everyone can attend the … [Read more...]

Winona/Preston –Senator Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) and Representative Greg Davids (R-Preston) today issued the following statement regarding the decision by Rawlings Sporting Goods and its owners, including Major League Baseball and a private equity group, to close its Miken Sports plant in Caledonia and move manufacturing operations overseas. “It has been brought to our … [Read more...]