At the September 21 Preston City Council meeting, members unanimously approved a preliminary budget/levy of $1,034,386 for 2021; this represents an increase of $51,347, or 5% over 2020. City Administrator Joe Hoffman explained the majority of the increase is due to funding that is being set aside for bond payments, of which the first one will be due in early 2022 for the 2021 … [Read more...]
Houston School Board shows its flexibility
By Wanda Hanson The Houston School Board showed its flexibility in many ways at their September 17 meeting. A new seating configuration awaited their arrival at the meeting. Since the public had commented that not all of the board could be seen on their YouTube stream, the board seating arrangement was reconfigured with plexiglass dividers used to continue to ensure social … [Read more...]
Spring Valley Council declines pay increase
The Spring Valley City Council met September 14 with all members present (Luan Ruesink, Chris Danielson, Mike Hadland, John Dols, and Mayor Tony Archer). Also attending was City Clerk/Administrator Deb Zimmer. Zimmer brought up that the council could consider a pay increase for themselves. She said if a pay increase is implemented, it would be effective after the upcoming … [Read more...]
Wykoff mulls CARES Act funding uses
On September 14, the Wykoff City Council met in regular session. All council members were in attendance (Lyle Morey, Richard Gleason, Mayor Al Williams, Mary Tjepkes and Mary Sackett) as well as City Clerk Becky Schmidt and Deputy Clerk Luann Hare. Maggie Ramaker addressed the council on behalf of Wykoff Commons. She spoke about a request that was also outlined in a letter … [Read more...]
Chatfield’s Wastewater Treatment Plant operating efficiently
Steven Schlichter, WWTP superintendent, reported on operational strategies that have achieved higher effluent quality at the Chatfield City Council’s September 14 meeting. Councilor Josh Broadwater was absent. Schlichter noted the consistent success that has been achieved in the removal of phosphorous in 2020, significantly better than in 2018 and 2019. With the change in … [Read more...]
Clear titles, street improvements, and 2021 budgets for Houston
By Wanda Hanson At the September 14, 2020 Houston City Council meeting, Attorney Mike Murphy presented the Chapel land issue to the council. Survey work is needed to clean up the legal title for the water treatment plant and a tillable field owned by Jim Chapel. A “quiet” title would clarify the city ownership of 1.688 acres for the treatment plant. An extension of Sheridan … [Read more...]
Lanesboro school facilities project on track to finish by December 31
Like most schools across the country, and even the world, 2020 has been an unusual and challenging year for Lanesboro Public School. The 2019-2020 school year wrapped up with distance learning for all students thanks to COVID-19, and the 2020-2021 year just began with the in-person/hybrid learning models, necessitating lots of changes for both students and teachers. And as if … [Read more...]
Trollskogen Park shelters to be renovated
Mayor Sarah Schroeder and Council members Karen Folstad, Travis Torgerson, and Scott Solberg attended the September 15, 2020, regular meeting of the Spring Grove City Council at the Fest Building. Councilman Chad Roland participated in the meeting via Zoom. Also present were Julie Amundson, City Clerk/Administrator; Jordan Gerard, The Caledonia Argus; and Charlene Selbee … [Read more...]
Rushford approves feasibility report on 2022 project
The City of Rushford received a Preliminary Engineering Report for Highway 30 Reconstruction Project at the September 14 council meeting. City Engineer Derek Olinger, from Bolton & Menk, was present to discuss the report, one of many steps to getting the 2022 project underway. Despite being more than 18 months until the proposed start of construction, there are countless … [Read more...]
Rushford Village continues discussions on zoning issue
The Village Council sought clarification from Zoning Administrator Jon Pettit at the September 15 meeting regarding recent discussion of zoning issues at 29705 Highway 43 South. At the August meeting the council voted to approve a fine to property owner Dave Lind regarding the construction of a building without a permit. At the time, the council also approved seeking … [Read more...]