The Spring Valley City Council kicked off their February 12 meeting with a hearing to review the wastewater treatment plant’s (WWTP) plans for the future. While the council has long known and planned for the WWTP upgrade project, it now has a definite deadline of January 1, 2031, due to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) compliance schedules. Drew Weber and Jake … [Read more...]
Possible Record Set by Canton City Council
When the Canton City Council ended its February 14 meeting, councilors commented that they may have set a new record for shortest meeting – the meeting began at 6 p.m. and ended at 6:08 p.m., just eight minutes long. With no members of the public present, few reports, and no old business to revisit, councilors were able to make quick work of things. A few points which were … [Read more...]
Music on the Bluff Series to be Held in Whalan
It was announced at the Whalan City Council meeting on February 12 what bands will be playing at the Music on the Bluff series which will be held in Whalan in 2024. Attending the February meeting were Mayor David Hallum, council members Thore E. Johnson, Sheila Higbe, Kim Berekvam and Owen Lewis (remotely), as well as City Clerk/Treasurer Teresa Grossell. The Agenda with … [Read more...]
Caledonia’s Long-Anticipated Warrior Avenue on the Road to Becoming a Reality
City Clerk/Administrator Jake Dickson announced at the Caledonia City Council meeting on February 12 that the city submitted three applications for road funding for Warrior Avenue and the planned roundabout at the intersection of Highway 76 and 44. The city received good news on two of those and is waiting to hear from the third one. Dickson said, “We will probably be … [Read more...]
Houston County Public Health Receives Funding for Housing Initiatives
During the Houston County Commission meeting on February 13 John Pugleasa, director of Public Health and Human Services, outlined the intended utilization of housing funds allocated by the Department of Revenue. In 2023, $26,242.00 was allocated and must be spent by the end of 2024. The allocation for 2023 and 2024 is a total of $98,990, and Pugleasa estimates that the … [Read more...]
Fillmore County to Apply for Land Survey Grant
At the February 13 meeting of the Fillmore County Board, Joel Thoreson, county surveyor, and Jarad Carolan, county assistant surveyor, explained the application process for a Public Land Survey System (PLSS) Preservation Program grant. In 2023, the legislature passed the Public Land Survey System Preservation Grant Program that provides $9.7 million to help counties find the … [Read more...]
Does Houston Need More Stop Signs?
Matt Mohs, Houston’s city engineer, reported the results of his studies on stop signs at the February 12 city council meeting. The council had directed Mohs to investigate after citizens had shared concerns about the intersections of Chase and Spruce, Spruce and Maple and Ellsworth and Spruce. Mohs shared a document called Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control, which … [Read more...]
Rushford Business Park – Down to Just 2
The city of Rushford purchased 23.5 acres of farmland from Wallace Himlie in 2007. The $699,999 parcel sold for $31,000 an acre and was purchased as a potential site for Tri-County Electric to build a new complex after the 2007 flood destroyed their facilities and as an opportunity for potential growth and job development for the community. The city platted nine … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Bus Drivers Essential to the School
Bus drivers are truly appreciated by all schools and parents alike. At Lanesboro School, you might even say they are treasured! According to Superintendent Matt Schultz, maintaining their own buses has long been a priority. Lanesboro School has a large segment of open enrolled students; buses travel all over the county picking up and delivering students each day. If the school … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Schools’ Possible Calendar
February 14 found the members of the Lanesboro School Board listening to Superintendent Matt Schultz present a proposed calendar for next school year. The calendar needs to be somewhat different next year. With the passage of the READ Act by the legislature, Lanesboro needs to build in additional teacher workshop days to train teachers in teaching reading. At this point, … [Read more...]