The Houston County Township Officers Association (HCTOA) held its 64th annual fellowship dinner on Thursday, September 25, at the Four Seasons Community Center in Caledonia. Township officers and their guests from the county’s 17 townships, along with Sheriff Brian Swedberg, Interim Administrator Carol Lapham, Assistant County Surveyor Tammy Mauss, all five commissioners, … [Read more...]
Fountain Holds Mural Ribbon Cutting
Ahead of the October 1 city council meeting, Fountain officials and residents celebrated the completion of the new city mural. Joining the festivities was artist Geri Ann Hanson, who designed and oversaw all volunteer painting done on the project which resembles an old-style postcard with rolling hills, trees, and sunshine surrounding a bike on the Root River State … [Read more...]
Caledonia Council Sets 12% Preliminary Levy
The Caledonia City Council set its preliminary tax levy during its regular meeting on Monday, September 22. The proposed levy reflects a 12% increase. While the levy may be reduced before the final approval in December, it cannot be increased once it is set. Mayor Jeremy Leis made a motion to approve the 12% levy along with the 2026 revised budget as presented. Councilmember … [Read more...]
Rushford Hears Change Proposal for Building Permitting
A great share of the September 22 Rushford City Council meeting was used for a presentation by Tom Wiener and Tanner Young of Construction Management Services (CMS) on proposed changes to the city’s building permit process. CMS is shifting away from hourly and mileage based fees to a lump sum percentage fee for building inspections. Building permits will have a scalable … [Read more...]
Proposed Telecommunication Towers Debated
At the September 18 meeting of the Fillmore County Planning Commission, applications for conditional use permits for four telecommunication towers were debated during public hearings. Mike Huizenga, project manager for GSS, Inc., had applied for conditional use permits on behalf of Cloud 1 Services to construct a 195-foot self-supporting telecommunication tower in each of … [Read more...]
SEMAC Announces Recent Individual Artist Grant Awards
On September 9, 2025, the SEMAC Board of Directors awarded $75,750 in Individual Artist & Culture Bearer grants to applicants throughout Southeastern Minnesota. This included eleven Advancing Artist grants and three Emerging Artist grants. SEMAC, a non-profit arts agency, is designated by the State of Minnesota Arts Board as the regional arts council for eleven … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central Sees Good Turnout for Conferences
At the September 23 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, Superintendent Heath Olstad reported that 276 out of 277 students were represented by parents or guardians at the elementary back-to-school conferences. The high school open house was also well attended with many students turning in paperwork and picking up their computers. “It was successful at both the open house and … [Read more...]
Campaigns Focused on Speeding, Impairment and Move Over Violations
ST. PAUL — A driver arrested for driving while impaired (DWI) with two young children in the car. A driver stopped twice in one day for speeding — 90 mph the first time, and 100 mph and arrested for DWI the second time. Those types of driving decisions can kill a mother, a toddler, a best friend, a spouse and a list of loved ones that goes on and on. That’s why law … [Read more...]
Houston County Sets 7.905% Preliminary Levy
The Houston County Commissioners approved a 7.905% preliminary levy and adopted the 2026 budget at their regularly scheduled meeting on September 23. It was emphasized that the levy cannot increase once the preliminary levy is set, but it can decrease when it is finalized in December. The total levy, less County Program Aid (CPA), is $16,074,171. Administrator Carol Lapham … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Managed IT Contract
At the September 23 meeting of the county board, an agreement with Marco Technologies, LLC for Managed IT services was approved. County Administrator Bobbie Hillery noted she had cut $12,000 from the Managed IT budget. The agreement with Marco requires a one-time payment of $26,701 for cyber security, server, license, and professional service. The county will be responsible … [Read more...]