At the March 11 meeting of the county board, the operation of the Assessor’s Office during this interim period without an assessor was discussed. Commissioner Duane Bakke was absent. Action was taken approving an agreement with Dodge County to provide needed assistance in the assessor’s department. Matt Naatz will work as an independent contractor eight hours every other week … [Read more...]
Houston Robotics Presents at School Board Meeting
The Houston Robotics program came from a humble beginning in 2014 with a storage space in a closet in the shop classroom. At the Houston School Board meeting March 6, Coach Bob Carlson and students William Carlson and John Lee demonstrated their most recent robot to the board. The robotics team had just recently returned from a three-day regional tournament held in Duluth. … [Read more...]
Rushford Ambulance Growing Opportunities
Rushford Ambulance Director Joey Busse updated the Rushford City Council at the March 10 meeting. He included details on legislative progress, personnel, training, recruitment/retention, and equipment and vehicle updates. “I’ve done quite a few things with the service so far,” began Busse, who has been in the role since June last year. “A lot of the things I’m doing is trying … [Read more...]
Audits and Cannabinoids Top Spring Valley Council Agenda
The Spring Valley City Council welcomed Kali Lentz of Smith Schafer as she shared the annual audit report during their March 10 meeting. According the Lentz, the city received and unmodified clean opinion for the 2024 audit. The audit showed the general property tax levy represented 43% of the total governmental revenues in 2024 with $1,815,949. The tax increment financing … [Read more...]
Chatfield School Board Approves Proposed Budget Reductions
At the March 12, 2025, school board meeting, board members David Sovinski, Josh Thompson, Tom Keefe, Jill Harstad and Mark Johnsrud and Katie Priebe were present. Also present were Superintendent Ed Harris, principals Eric Nelson and Shane McBroom, and Student Senate representatives Lexi Kivimagi and Lucy Allen. Reports Student Senate representatives explained that they … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Board Hears HVED Update
Deb Marcotte, executive director of HVED, attended the Lanesboro School Board regular meeting March 12 to update the board on the progress on the remodel of the former Winona Mall into a centralized location for HVED services. HVED (Hiawatha Valley Education District) provides special education services to area schools. Marcotte informed the board that she is putting a … [Read more...]
M-C Superintendent Kuphal Addresses Canton Council on Bond Referendum
The Canton City Council met at 6 p.m. on the beautiful spring evening of March 12. After approving the consent agenda, the board heard from Mabel-Canton Superintendent Gary Kuphal regarding the upcoming bond referendum for the M-C district. The previous referendum passed in 2020 didn’t go as far as they had planned due to post pandemic inflation on building materials, and … [Read more...]
New Peterson Public Works Director
On March 12, the city of Peterson unanimously approved the hire of Jeff Rein as Public Works director following the resignation of former Director Tim Hallum in late February. Rein has seven years of experience in the role having previously worked for the city of Mabel. While he no longer has his water license, he will begin the process of regaining it. “He is well certified … [Read more...]
Fillmore and Houston County Police Reports
Caledonia Police Department Nicholas Michael Douglas, 27, Houston, Minn., 1/1/2025, Driving After Revocation, Fine $200, Total Fees $275. Chatfield Police Department Keaton Oakley Moulton, 23, Menomonie, Wis., 1/30/2025, Speeding (39/30), Fine $40, Total Fees $125. Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office Brandon Sean Cole, 33, Ostrander, Minn., 12/22/2024, Driving After … [Read more...]
Harmony’s Bike Trail Expansion Underway
At the March 11 Harmony City Council meeting, the consent agenda was approved and included the minutes of the February 11 meeting, the claims and February checks, the cash in CD, and the cash balances. A letter stating that the city had taken the actions required by an earlier letter sent by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency or MPCA in February was approved as well as the … [Read more...]