Houston County Commissioners declared a state of emergency for damage resulting from the ongoing flooding of the Mississippi River at the commission meeting on Tuesday, May 9. The river started flooding on April 17. Houston County Emergency Management director Mark Olson explained that threshold for Houston County is $4,1831.46. As of Monday, May 8 the town of Brownsville … [Read more...]
Chatfield presents 2023 Heritage Preservation Award
At the May 8 city council meeting Chris Giesen, Heritage Preservation Commission chairman, presented the 2023 Heritage Preservation Award to Mike and Julie Sogla. Councilor Josh Broadwater was absent. The commission exists to assist in the preservation of unique/architecturally significant and historic buildings and other projects in Chatfield. This year’s award presented to … [Read more...]
Chatfield board hears from the newly formed Chatfield Education Foundation
At the May 10, Chatfield School Board meeting, board members Josh Thompson, Jill Harstad, David Sowinski, Mark Johnsrud, Katie Priebe and Tom Keefe were present as well as Superintendent Ed Harris, Principals Shane McBroom, Eric Nelson, Community Education Director, LuAnn Kleven, and Lorri Lowery, administrative assistant were present. Representatives of the Chatfield … [Read more...]
Summer street repairs effect on Lanesboro School
Superintendent Matt Schultz and the Lanesboro School Board discussed the effects the summer street work will have, at the school at the May 10 regular board meeting. Although Kirkwood Street East past the front of the school will be completely torn up, access will be available all summer through the park road. The street will be widened to provide additional diagonal parking … [Read more...]
Improvements to the Eitzen dog park
Eitzen Mayor Jeffrey Adamson welcomed the council’s guests to the May 9 regularly scheduled city council meeting. Resident Cathie Scheeler expressed her frustration, “We are here because we thought the city was going to provide a dog park. As we stand now, we do not have a dog park because a dog park has to be an area where people can freely let their dogs off the lease to run … [Read more...]
Water receding at Wildcat Park
County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski updated the commission on Wildcat Park now that the river is going down. Pogodzinski explained, “The water is coming down. We expect to get in there and start doing some clean-up work tomorrow and Thursday. If all goes as planned, campers can start hauling in their campers Thursday evening. We won’t have the water test results back until Friday … [Read more...]
Fillmore County to replace radio tower microwave equipment
Sheriff John DeGeorge explained the radio microwave equipment, which is part of the ARMER 800 mhz radio communication system, is not working on two of the three towers near Preston. The equipment is on a tower near the office, on a tower uphill near POET, and on the Amherst tower. DeGeorge recommended replacing the equipment on all three towers. The Amherst tower equipment is … [Read more...]
Fountain approves 50-year lease of city-owned land
At the May 3 meeting, the Fountain Council unanimously approved a 50-year lease of city-owned land to Harmony Telephone Company. The plot of land at 91 Pine Street is roughly 50 feet by 50 feet. A 10-foot by 20-foot “hut building” will be constructed to house the company’s fiber optic equipment. City Clerk Mary Tjepkes contacted the cities of Wykoff, Lanesboro, and Preston … [Read more...]
Preston seeks Tourism/Chamber/EDA director
Gabby Kinneberg, current Tourism/Chamber/EDA director, has submitted her resignation, effective May 22. At the May 1 Preston City Council meeting City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton provided four options for her replacement. The options included advertising for the position as it now, to include all three areas. Other options included contracting out EDA services or hiring … [Read more...]
Lanesboro residents address bridge closure
Several Little Norway residents spoke at the May 2 Lanesboro City Council meeting about the recent closure of the Little Norway walking bridge due to safety concerns. “We use the bridge everyday,” Melissa Johnson stated. “I understand if it needs to be closed to the general public, but for us, we don’t have any other option.” As long as the bridge is closed, Little Norway … [Read more...]