All districts were again represented at the August 27 meeting of the Fillmore County board of commissioners. Newly elected Larry Hindt, representing the third district, was sworn in last week by Judge Matthew Opat. More budget proposals for 2020 were reviewed. Departmental budgets reflect salary increases of 2.5% and health insurance increases of 7.5%. The preliminary 2020 … [Read more...]
Street vendors; a growing problem
A letter authored by Steven Rowland, Western Days, Inc. co-chairman, was addressed to the city council. It was the basis for a relatively long discussion concerning “street vendors” at the August 26 Chatfield City Council meeting. Rowland maintains the number of street vendors is a growing problem, as they take away business from established permanent businesses in … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central set to begin 2019-20 school year
At the August 27 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, Principal Heath Olstad gave a report on the upcoming school year. The high school open house will be held on August 28. At that time, students along with their parents will be able to see the new renovations and updates at the high school. The football field is almost finished although the lights aren’t up yet so the … [Read more...]
Bid grudgingly accepted for 2019 Street and Utility improvements
City Engineer Brett Grabau reviewed the only bid submitted for Preston’s 2019 Street and Utility Improvements at the city council’s August 23 meeting. The bid submitted by Rochester Sand and Gravel was about $100,000 higher than the engineer’s estimate. Their bid is $443,376.65, of which, $418,873 represents the assessable portion of the project. The total project cost to do … [Read more...]
Fighting drugs in our neighborhoods
On August 14 the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office and Fillmore County Attorney’s Office teamed up at the Methodist Church in Fillmore, Minn., to address illegal drugs in Fillmore County. Topics covered education on the wide variety of illegal drugs as attendees learned how these substances are made and distributed. A strong emphasis was placed on how the residents of the … [Read more...]
Lanesboro school opens bidding for facilities project
At the August 15 Lanesboro School Board meeting, Superintendent Matt Schultz reported that approximately 30 contractors were present for the recent pre-bid meeting. A tour of the building was conducted to allow them to see the site before they put their bids together. “Our next step then is to close the bidding on August 22 at 2 p.m.,” Schultz said. The asbestos abatement has … [Read more...]
Rushford-Peterson buckles down enrollment policy, discipline matrix
With new R-P Superintendent Jon Thompson at the helm, the school board appears to be making steady progress on getting any needed modifications and updates in place prior to the start of the 2019-2020 school year. At the Monday, August 19 meeting, Thompson asked the board to consider open enrollment policy revision. “I’m asking the board to do this a little differently,” … [Read more...]
Thompson is new Kingsland Building & Grounds director
At the Kingsland School Board meeting on August 19, Jason Thompson was unanimously approved as the new Building and Grounds director. All board members were present (Board Chair Jackie Horsman, Maranda Emig, Natasha Howard, Tiffany Mundfrom, Leah Stier, Kyle Rader and Superintendent James Hecimovich). Also attending were Principal Scott Klavetter, Jason Thompson and Business … [Read more...]
Rushford Village moves forward with mutual aid agreements
With the onslaught of heavy rains this spring and summer, the City of Rushford Village found a need for outside help. Emergency situations, such as pumping stormwater, cleanup efforts, and road washouts, while managed well by public works, suggested a need for mutual aid between the city and willing townships and municipalities. At the August 6 meeting, Mayor Gordon Johnson … [Read more...]
Minimum-wage rate adjusted for inflation as of January 1, 2020
Minnesota’s minimum-wage rates will be adjusted for inflation beginning January 1, 2020, to $10 an hour for large employers and $8.15 an hour for other state minimum wages. “This increase is a positive step for workers, yet more work needs to be done to ensure workers earn a living wage to support their families,” said Nancy Leppink, commissioner, Minnesota Department of … [Read more...]