The Spring Valley city council held a regular council meeting on August 23 at city hall, with all members present (Luan Ruesink, Chris Danielson, Greg Brooks, John Dols and Mayor Tony Archer). Also attending was City Clerk/Administrator Deb Zimmer. With a light agenda, the meeting ended in under 15 minutes. One topic that saw comments from the entire council was the success … [Read more...]
Summer 2021 tree health
By Valiree Green MN DNR Forestry, Caledonia As summer ebbs on, the office is receiving more and more calls about “sick” trees and other plants. Before getting into specifics, it is worth noting that several issues often can assault plants (and people) before showing signs of distress. Often multiple factors are at play, and there is seldom “a smoking gun.” For a start, … [Read more...]
Minimum wage increases January 1, 2022
Minnesota’s minimum-wage rates will be adjusted for inflation January 1, 2022, to $10.33 an hour for large employers and $8.42 an hour for other state minimum wages. The current large-employer minimum wage, $10.08, will increase by 25 cents to $10.33. Other state minimum wages, including the small-employer, youth and training wages, as well as the summer work travel exchange … [Read more...]
College News
Spring 2021 Graduation List • Bethel University: Matthew Killoran, Chatfield, BA, Communication Studies • Iowa State University: Nicholas Maki, Chatfield, BS, Civil Engineering, Cum Laude; Matson Kiehne, BS, Agricultural Studies • Luther College: Helen Detlefsen DeLano, Harmony, BA, Environmental Studies; Cassidy Ruud, Lanesboro, BA, Nursing, Summa Cum Laude; Treyten … [Read more...]
Rushford to see legislative results
Elizabeth Wefel, attorney and lobbyist for Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) presented to the Rushford Council, August 23, an update of legislative progress in a number of areas. CGMC represents 109 municipalities in Minnesota working on Local Government Aid (LGA) and property taxes, economic development, annexation and land use, transportation, environment and … [Read more...]
Houston Schools stay with “recommended” masks
The public comment period at the regular Houston School Board meeting on August 19 brought a group of parents opposed to mandatory mask wearing at Houston Schools. Tara Klinski informed the board that neither they or any other governmental entity were coparenting her children and that their family would not be going back to masks. Klinski declared, “Our children are not shields … [Read more...]
Lanesboro school finalizes back to school plans
At the August 19 Lanesboro School Board meeting, Superintendent Matt Schultz updated the board on the district’s plans for the upcoming school year. School starts on September 7, but back-to-school conferences will be held on September 7 and 8 so the students’ first official day will be on September 9. Teachers who are in their first three years of teaching will start on August … [Read more...]
Chatfield approves incentive program for commercial development on Enterprise Drive
Chris Giesen, EDA, outlined the proposal for the Enterprise Drive Development and Incentive Program at the city council’s August 23 meeting. Program details resulted from discussions between the EDA and the Public Works committee. The program will provide an incentive to purchase a lot and to build a new commercial building by providing a rebate to the owner when construction … [Read more...]
Real Bites
Four Daughters Vineyard & Winery This past weekend, a collection of relatives gathered at Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery, just outside of Spring Valley, Minn. We celebrated Randy Reiter’s 50th birthday, a little earlier than usual, because the weather was perfect. This is my wife’s brother. We selected Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery because we’ve all agreed … [Read more...]
CBS News national correspondent Kris Van Cleave interviews Caledonia mayor
On August 23, the Caledonia City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting from 6-7:50 p.m. in the Caledonia City Hall Council Chambers. Council members presen were Mayor DeWayne “Tank” Schroeder, Amanda Ninneman, Robert “Bob” Klug, and David Fitzpatrick. Absent was Brad Rykhus. Mayor Schroeder led the council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. The commissioners … [Read more...]