At the December 9 meeting of the Chatfield City Council, during the Truth in Taxation public hearing, numerous citizens took the opportunity to express their concerns and pose questions related to rising property taxes. City Clerk Joel Young gave an in-depth budget presentation, both looking back at 2019 and looking forward to 2020 and beyond. Construction of the new … [Read more...]
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation Awards $101,740 in Economic Impact Grants
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently approved seven grants totaling $101,740 to support organizations, units of government and public institutions in SMIF’s 20-county region. The Economic Impact Grant Program seeks to support current or future business growth, access or expansion of resources to underrepresented populations, and/or grow the community’s … [Read more...]
Melander resigns, Merchlewitz new Whalan city clerk
Mayor Marlys Tuftin announced at the December Whalan City Council meeting that Lolly Melander has resigned from the position of city clerk and Karla Merchlewitz is the new Whalan city clerk. Present at the regularly scheduled monthly council meeting, held on December 9, 2019, were Tuftin along with council members Kim Berekvam, Everett Johnson and Tanya Cook. Owen Lewis was … [Read more...]
Mabel hears request for music festival
During the Mabel City Council meeting on December 11, citizen Dustin Tollefsrud addressed the council regarding his wish to host a music festival in Mabel. All members were present (Adam Wilder, Mayor Jim Westby, City Clerk/Treasurer Karen Larson, Gary Morken, Terry Torkelson, and Kirsten Wyffels). Tollefsrud said he would like to hold the festival either on the weekend … [Read more...]
PFA awards more than $5.3 million in water infrastructure funding Three Minnesota cities will use funds to repair and replace their existing water infrastructure
The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA) awarded more than $5.3 million to the cities of Hamburg, Red Lake Falls and Tracy. “Keeping Minnesota’s waterways clean and safe is an investment in our citizens and our community,” said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. “I congratulate these three cities on their awards.” “Clean water is vital to the Minnesota economy,” said … [Read more...]
Telephone scam alert
The Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office would like to advise citizens that there has been an increase in spoofed telephone number scams. Spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID. Scammers often spoof a local business or government agency number. We have recently received reports of the Sheriff’s Office number being spoofed. … [Read more...]
Lanesboro EDA awarded grant funding for business enrichment series
The Lanesboro Economic Development Authority (EDA) is excited to announce that it has been awarded a grant from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) in the amount of $4,200.00. These funds will be used to host a Business Enrichment Series for entrepreneurs and local leaders. These Business Enrichment Workshops will be provided at no cost to the attendees and … [Read more...]
Harmony resident raises concerns over splashpad location
Harmony resident Samantha Grabau brought her concerns over the proposed location of the splashpad to the Harmony City Council at their December 10 meeting. Grabau’s home borders the trailhead park and, while she supports the idea of building a splashpad in Harmony, she has doubts about the trailhead being the best location. She noted that there is already an increase in traffic … [Read more...]
County looks at tobacco/vaping issue
Brenda Pohlman, Public Health educator, updated commissioners on the growing trend of electronic vaping devices and the growing use of these devices by young people at the December 3 County Board meeting. Pohlman brought a number of devices, most of which had been confiscated in local schools, to show the variety of devices available. The battery operated electronic devices … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Ambulance Service in dire need of volunteers
At the December 2 Lanesboro City Council meeting, Ambulance Director Deane Benson asked the council for permission to hold a town meeting in February or March of 2020. If the ambulance service does not get more volunteers to help staff it, there is a danger of losing its Advanced Life Support license. If that happens, the ambulance staff would only be able to perform triage, … [Read more...]