On March 21, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) awarded 36 grants for a total of $143,810 in funding to applicants throughout southeastern Minnesota. This included four school residency grants for $11,810, fourteen emerging artist grants for $42,000, and eighteen advancing artist grants for $90,000. SEMAC is the State Arts … [Read more...]
SMEC answers Kingsland School Board questions
The Kingsland school board met for a regular meeting on the evening of March 20 at 6 p.m. In attendance was Superintendent Scott Klavetter, board members Carmen Anderson, Gary Broadwater, Pam Freet, Kyle Rader, Cindy Seabright and Steve Tammel. After the pledge of allegiance, the board took time to give thanks for several recent donations. The VFW Auxillary Post #4114 donated … [Read more...]
Houston School Board reaches consensus
At their third special workshopping session with SiteLogiQ, the Houston School Board reached a consensus on their proposed building referendum. While no vote was taken and nothing is written in stone, the board decided on an approximate cost, the projects to be included, and the question (questions) to be asked when the public vote is held. To begin the session, Andy Fields … [Read more...]
Mabel-Canton in dire need of custodians
Mabel-Canton School Board members regretfully accepted the resignation of Daryl Melbostad, building maintenance supervisor, at the March 21 regular school board meeting. Superintendent Gary Kuphal explained, “It is extremely difficult to find school custodians.” Kuphal recommends that the school take a serious look at custodian wages. The head custodian position is hourly, … [Read more...]
NASS 2022 yield estimates for Fillmore and Houston Counties
By Katie Drewitz University of Minnesota Extension National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) crop yield estimates for 2022 have been posted. Looking at this data is an opportunity to assess yield trends in the counties to better understand yield potential. Today’s article will focus on corn and soybeans, but NASS also has estimated yields for a variety of other crops across … [Read more...]
Harmony’s Small Cities Grant is underway
An update on the Small Cities Grant from Semcac Housing Rehab Coordinator Cindy Vitse was reviewed by the Harmony City Council at their March 14 meeting. Vitse has started to send letters to the first 15 applicants for the homeowner rehab portion of the project. The consent agenda was approved and included the minutes of the February 14 meeting, the claims and February … [Read more...]
Harmony to host bloodmobile on March 28
Harmony will be hosting a bloodmobile at the Harmony Community Center, 225 Third Avenue SW, from 1-7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Donating is by appointment only, but masks are no longer required. All donors will be required to provide identification before donating, so please remember your donor card or driver’s license. RapidPass (redcrossblood.org/RapidPass), which is … [Read more...]
Rushford approves water tower restoration
At the March 13 meeting, the Rushford Council received a recommendation from KLM Engineering to award the bid for a water tower restoration project. Initially, the city intended to have the project completed before July. However, the city altered the bid request to allow flexibility in the completion time. “We got six bids because we weren’t so fussy about the timeline. … [Read more...]
Assessment hearing, audit top SV council agenda
The March 13 meeting of the Spring Valley City Council kicked off with the assessment hearing for the upcoming Farmer Street Improvement Project, which is set to begin in approximately June 2023. The cost for the street project will be split between the city of Spring Valley, Spring Valley Public Utilities and Fillmore County. The city’s portion is estimated at $918,000, … [Read more...]
Hokah City Council approves major city water system improvements
The Hokah City Council met March 7 at the Hokah Fire Department. Mayor Lee Tippery called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Also present were Lindsey Martell, city clerk/treasurer; and Council members Cindy Oldenburg, Tom Bernsdorf, Cory Lorenz and Tom Oldenburg. After approving the various items in the Consent Agenda including the February meeting minutes, bills payable and … [Read more...]