At the August 1 regularly scheduled Houston County Commission meeting, commissioners approved the purchase of two “chillers” from Winona Controls to replace the current HVAC systems in the Historic Courthouse. The county received a bid from Winona Controls and Winona Heat and Vent for two units. Winona Controls came in at $128,000, and Winona Heat and Vent at $163,310. … [Read more...]
Children’s Mental Health Case Management
Fillmore County Children’s Mental Health case workers made their first presentation to the county board at the August 1 meeting. The county terminated its contract with Hiawatha Valley Mental Health in Winona on May 1. The county now provides children’s mental health services. The Fillmore County Children’s Mental Health team includes caseworkers Ashley Greden, Andrea … [Read more...]
Q & A session on Houston referendum
The Houston School Board held an extended Q & A session following a board meeting at a special meeting July 20. Public comment was allowed as usual, with a three-minute limit during the meeting as well. Tom Weber from SiteLogiQ and Ryan Fetters from Baker Tilly attended the meeting to help answer questions regarding the referendum. Board member Arlin Peterson brought up … [Read more...]
Polly Heberlein appointed Houston County interim auditor/treasurer
At the July 25 regularly scheduled Houston County commission meeting, commissioners appointed Houston County Deputy Auditor/Treasurer Polly Heberlein as interim auditor/treasurer. Heberlein will serve the remainder of the elected term vacated by Donna Trehus. Heberlein was selected from a field of four candidates, all of whom were interviewed by commissioners at the July 11 … [Read more...]
Early birthday present changes Ann Thacher’s life
Ann Thacher of Bristol Center (west of Harmony) received an amazing gift for her birthday this year. “It was like an early birthday present,” she said. On April 26, the week of her birthday, she received a phone call that would change and save her life. “When they called and said, you got a kidney, I was kind of in shock.” Thacher had waited four years for that call. On May 17, … [Read more...]
Summer fun in Lanesboro
Join the community of Lanesboro, Minn. at the 39th Annual Buffalo Bill Days, August 3 through the 6. Family movie night kicks off the four-day event. The Disney movie “Encanto” will start at 8:30 p.m. in scenic Sylvan Park. New this year, a dunk tank! On Saturday, August 5, from 12-2 p.m., take aim at the Lanesboro Fire Department, from 2-4 p.m. teachers will be waiting in … [Read more...]
Fillmore County continues 2024 budgeting process
Four departmental budgets were reviewed at the county board’s July 25 meeting. Terry Schultz, Facilities Maintenance supervisor, detailed budgets for the Building Maintenance department and Infrastructure. The proposed Building Maintenance budget is about $20,000 higher than the 2023 budget, or $563,195 for 2024. The increase is mostly due to gross salaries and the county … [Read more...]
Fravel’s attorney seeks police body camera footage
In the Adam Fravel case, an omnibus hearing originally scheduled for July 20, 2023, in the Winona County District Court, was postponed to September 22. Fravel has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder for allegedly killing Madeline Kingsbury, his former partner and the mother of their two children. Kingsbury went missing on March 31, 2023, and her remains were … [Read more...]
Rushford gets SMIF update
At the July 24 meeting, the Rushford Council heard from Southern Minnesota Initiative Fund (SMIF) representative Andi Arnold, who discussed ongoing programs, grants, loans, and investments in communities and future partnerships and programs. Rushford is just one of the cities in Fillmore County benefitting from the SMIF partnership. According to Arnold’s report, for every $1 … [Read more...]
Chatfield decertifies three TIF districts
Three resolutions were adopted at the July 24 meeting of the Chatfield City Council decertifying three tax increment financing districts. Councilor Josh Broadwater was absent. Chris Giesen, EDA director, explained the three TIF districts have run the course of their agreements. They are all on the Fillmore County side of Chatfield. District 3-2 was created in 2003 to assist … [Read more...]