County Administrator Bobbie Hillery explained on the purpose of the Truth in Taxation Hearing is to discuss the county’s 2025 budget and levy. Several people attended theDecember 3 meeting to express their concerns after recently receiving their property valuations and proposed 2025 property tax. Hillery said they could meet with staff from the assessor’s office after the … [Read more...]
Houston County Fair Deemed a Success, Proposed Levy Stays at 7.5%
Houston County Fair Manager Jessica Heberlein appeared before the Houston County Board of Commissioners on December 3 to deliver the fair’s annual report. Chairman Eric Johnson opened the meeting promptly at 9 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the approval of the meeting agenda and the minutes from the November 26 commission meeting. Commissioners present … [Read more...]
Rushford Village Debates CEDA Contract
The December 3 Rushford Village City Council meeting started with a discussion with Community Economic Development Authority (CEDA) Community and Business Development Specialist Rebecca Charles. She stated she and city engineer Derek Olinger of Bolton & Menk met regarding the potential Safe Routes to School Project and grant. At the last meeting, Olinger expressed … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Considering Body Worn Cameras
At the board’s December 3 meeting, Sheriff John DeGeorge explained body worn cameras could be integrated with the squad car camera system. Funding for body worn cameras is in the 2025 Sheriff Department budget. There is a process that must be adhered to before the cameras are purchased. Policy that details when the cameras will be activated will be discussed at the December … [Read more...]
Chatfield School Board Votes Against Proposed Solar Project
At the December 4, 2024, school board meeting, board members David Sowinski, Katie Priebe, Josh Thompson, Tom Keefe and Mark Johnsrud were present. Also present were Superintendent Ed Harris, high school principal, Eric Nelson; Student Activities director, Dan Schindler; and Student Senate representatives Kylie Sinn and Jorja Fishbaugher. Board member Jill Harstad was … [Read more...]
Preston to Investigate Options for EDA Director
At the December 2 city council meeting, it was decided to look into other options for the EDA. No motion was made to sign a 2025 contract with Community for Economic Development Associates (CEDA) for 2025. The current contract with CEDA provides for an EDA director for two days per week; the contract will end December 31, 2024. Councilman Dean Aug was absent from the … [Read more...]
Fountain Looking for Smoke Solution
At the December 4 meeting, the Fountain City Council heard from citizen Kaye Unnasch during the time for public comments. Unnasch resides at 603 Birch Street. In recent discussion regarding external wood stoves/boilers within the city, it was noted that Unnasch’s wood boiler is not up to code. Having received a letter from the city regarding the non-compliance, Unnasch stressed … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Receives $100,000 Grant for Rural Business Development
The city of Lanesboro was recently awarded $100,000 in USDA grant funds to support business development, expansion, and succession. This is Lanesboro’s second $100,000 grant within a four-year span. The purpose of the USDA grant program is to promote economic development and job creation. Applicants for these grant funds, such as the city of Lanesboro, compete for grant dollars … [Read more...]
M-C Hosts Joint Board Meeting with Mabel and Canton City Councils
Members of the Mabel and Canton city councils attended a joint board meeting hosted by the Mabel-Canton Public School Board on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at the school in Mabel. The meeting has been held annually for approximately the last six years. Attendees at this year’s meeting agreed that it is a useful communication tool, is very informative, and should … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Council Approves 2025 Tax Levy
The December 2 Lanesboro City Council meeting opened with the annual Truth in Taxation public hearing. There were no questions or comments. Four Lanesboro residents spoke about the library board during the public comments portion of the meeting. Anna Loney said that she felt the lines of communication were still blurred, even after the mediated joint meeting between the city … [Read more...]
Rushford Opens New Grant for Businesses
The Rushford Economic Development Authority (EDA) has worked double time in recent years to promote new and existing businesses through a number of grant opportunities. At the November 25 Rushford Council meeting, City Administrator Tony Chladek detailed the premise while Councilors and EDA members Sally Ryman and Leigh Volkman further clarified details. Dubbed the Rushford … [Read more...]
Dabelstein Mine CUP Approved
The Fillmore County Planning Commission held a public hearing at the November 21 meeting to consider the conditional use permit application submitted by Minnesota Sands, LLC. A lengthy and thorough operation and reclamation plan (about 300 pages) for industrial sand mining in Pilot Mound Township was prepared by Summit Envirosolutions, Inc. and was submitted as part of the … [Read more...]
Chatfield’s Public Safety Funding for Police and Fire Equipment
At the November 25 Chatfield City Council meeting, approval was granted for use of some of the one-time public safety funding. The one-time allocation was divided among several departments by the Personnel/Budget Committee: $33,242 for the Fire Department, $40,000 for Ambulance Department, $36,810 for Police Department, and $21,667 for Public Works. Police Chief Shane Fox … [Read more...]
Peterson Resignation Turns Into Changed Role
A special meeting of the Peterson Council was held November 25 to discuss the resignation of Public Works Director Tim Hallum and formal hiring timeline for the position. Hallum had tendered his resignation with City Clerk Chris Grindland effective December 15, agreeing to stay on part time and train a new employee. However, the council had not yet approved any resignation … [Read more...]
Money Talks as Kingsland Board Hears Audit Report
Jason Boynton of Smith Schafer presented the audit report for the district at the Kingsland School Board meeting on November 18. “Overall we have a clean opinion on the audit and there is nothing of concern to bring to the board’s attention,” Boynton said. “At the end of the fiscal year we averaged 542 students, which is down four. If you look back to 2016 there were 601 … [Read more...]