City of Rushford staff recently discovered a neglected notation in the schedule for the 2016 Project that provides a surprising reduction in the city’s proposed levy for 2017. The new find will allow for a reduction in required debt service levy and will amend the levy increase needed from 8.19% to 5.3%. The total savings is $31,000. City Clerk/Treasurer Kathy Zacher and City … [Read more...]
County asked to approve land acquisitions
Mike Tenney, area DNR Wildlife Supervisor, and Robert McGillivray, Trust for Public Land (a non-profit conservation organization), answered questions concerning two separate requests for board approval of land acquisitions for wildlife management areas at the October 3 meeting of the county board. The first request was for the acquisition of 379 acres that straddle Preble and … [Read more...]
Preston discusses options for lowering health insurance costs
The city of Preston faces a 15% increase in health insurance costs for 2018. Only a 10% increase had initially been figured into next year’s budget. At the October 2 council meeting, City Administrator Joe Hoffman explained the reason for the unexpected increase and possible options to lower health insurance costs in the future. The city purchases health insurance through the … [Read more...]
Fountain able to dissolve plan with Pollution Control
The City of Fountain received some welcome news at the Wednesday, October 4 council meeting. After achieving six consecutive months of compliance at the wastewater treatment plant, the city has the option to dissolve it’s corrective action plan with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). A meeting was recently held between representatives from the city and the state … [Read more...]
Lanesboro business owners disagree with proposed parking ordinance
“We’ve been here for 29 years, and we’ve done everything that the city has asked us to do, but this is an issue. We need that area to park,” Historic Scanlan House and the Little River General Store owner Kirsten Mensing said in response to the Lanesboro City Council’s proposed parking ordinance. A concern had previously been brought to the council regarding business owners … [Read more...]
Kingsland OK’s facilities plan
The Kingsland School Board met in special session October 2 at 6 p.m., with all members present (Doug Plaehn, Ann Oeltjen, Deb Larson, Tiffany Mundfrom, Jackie Horsman, Heather Betts, and Interim Superintendent James Hecimovich). The only item on the agenda was the Facilities Plan. A motion was made by Mundfrom, and seconded by Horsman to direct the administration to … [Read more...]
Rushford Village reaffirms decision
Rushford Village Council has made it clear: the Village Hall is not a commercial property for rent. Inquiries in 2016 and again this year led to several discussions about repeat rental of the community center space, specifically long-term rental. “We’re not set up for that, on a regular basis,” cautioned Councilor Dennis Overland. “There are other places for rent for those … [Read more...]
Rural Lanesboro fiber build to begin in October
The golden shovel kick-off event with Fillmore County and AcenTek representatives was held the morning of September 22 in Lanesboro. Construction to install the necessary infrastructure to bring wireline high speed internet to the city of Whalan and sections of Carrolton and Holt Townships is expected to begin in early October. It will be completed in 2018. AcenTek will build … [Read more...]
Spring Valley plans street project in 2018
The Spring Valley City Council met in regular session September 25, with all members present (Tony Archer, Todd Jones, Mayor Jim Struzyk, Jessy Betts, Mike Hadland and City Administrator Deb Zimmer). No visitors had signed up to address the council. Brian Malm, representing the firm of Bolton & Menk, was on hand to explain the preliminary plans for Spring Valley’s … [Read more...]
Planning Commission recommends approval of event venue
Mike and Cindy Tomashek’s application for a conditional use permit for an event venue on their property, Camp Creek Farm, was discussed during a public hearing at the September 21 Fillmore County Planning commission meeting. The property is located one-half mile southeast of Preston in Section 5, Preston Township. Cindy Tomashek said the 2,400-square-foot building that had … [Read more...]