Seventy-five people from all over Fillmore County attended the 2019 Economic Summit on Outdoor Recreation coordinated by the EDA. MiEnergy Cooperative sponsored the event held March 29 at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center. John Torgrimson, interim director for Eagle Bluff, gave a brief overview of Eagle Bluff which had 16,000 visitors in 2018. It partners with 140 … [Read more...]
County Board to consider solar energy ordinance
At the March 28 Planning Commission, a public hearing was held regarding the proposed replacement language of Section 709, Solar Energy Systems and the added Section 740, Solar Energy Farms. Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins explained the commission had decided to retain the existing Wind Energy Conversion Systems language and to address solar systems separately. The … [Read more...]
Lanesboro receives recognition from National Governors Association
At the April 1 Lanesboro City Council meeting, council member Autumn Johnson brought a report released by the National Governors Association to the attention of the rest of the council. The report, titled “Rural Prosperity Through the Arts and Creative Sector,” mentioned Lanesboro several times as a model of how to successfully promote the arts as a community. One of the … [Read more...]
Chatfield board continues budget cuts
At the April 3, board meeting, all board members were present along with Superintendent Ed Harris, Administrative Assistant Lorri Lowery, Business Manager Karyl Lyon and Principals Shane McBroom and Randy Paulson. Shane McBroom, elementary principal reported that MCA testing for grade three and grade five students will be completed this week. Students have filled their … [Read more...]
Preston receives an AA- bond rating
At the April 1 meeting of the Preston City Council, City Administrator Joe Hoffman cited reasons for the recent S&P Global bond rating of AA-/Stable for the city. This is a downgrade from an AA rating received by the city in 2013. That year the city was upgraded from AA- to AA. One reason for the downgrade is the city’s reserves have decreased as a percentage of … [Read more...]
Rushford Village hears from residents regarding water issues
At the Tuesday, April 2 Rushford Village Council meeting, discussion centered around the same issue that’s been highlighted at other recent meetings: water. Significant snowfall depths and spring thawing has been a pain in the side of the city for weeks, particularly in the south Rushford residential area. The area has identified for years as one needing some hefty drainage … [Read more...]
County sets physical location of taxpayer services offices
Over the last couple of months the county board has been considering a shuffling of offices for Tax Payer Services to fit them all on one level of the courthouse. On April 2 the board came to an agreement and unanimously approved a new office arrangement. Lands Records Director Brian Hoff and Auditor/Treasurer Heidi Jones were concerned about space and noise. Hoff addressed … [Read more...]
Fountain irons out right of way issues
“This whole town is screwed up with right of ways.” That was the sentiment from Fountain Public Works Director John Hanson at the Wednesday, April 3 council meeting. During the meeting, Clerk Rhonda Flattum and Mayor Jim Schott detailed for the council that the city had done some investigating with Fillmore County. It was determined that Cedar Street, which runs parallel to … [Read more...]
Walz releases revised budget proposal
Governor Tim Walz (DFL) announced his revised budget on March 22 for the 2020-21 biennium (July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021). The budget was revised due to the predicted economic slow down. Forecast numbers released late in February suggest that the state’s surplus will be closer to $1 billion, a half a billion less than the prior forecast. The revised budget totals $49.35 … [Read more...]
Chatfield replaces ToolCat/sweeper
The March 25 Chatfield City Council meeting was relatively brief. Brian Burkholder, Public Works, asked for approval to replace the 2015 ToolCat and sweeper attachment. The lowest of two quotes was received from Bobcat of Coole Region, Inc. out of Dresback. The total with trade for the purchase of a 2019 ToolCat is $11,555 and the total with trade for the new sweeper … [Read more...]