Wong Nystrom, senior account executive with Enterprise Fleet Management, Inc., presented the terms of a leasing program for sheriff department vehicles at the county board’s April 24 meeting. Nystrom suggested rotating the vehicles on a 3-5 year cycle through a partnership with Enterprise would lower the county’s operating costs and improve safety and reliability. Savings … [Read more...]
Chatfield approves CCTV upgrade
Melissa Burnett, cable television administrator, asked the city council at the April 23 meeting to approve the purchase of a HD Cablecast base unit and slideshow as recommended by the Cable Access Board. The total cost of the upgrade is $11,281.48. The school district has agreed to share the cost. The council approved the upgrade to high definition; the city’s share costing … [Read more...]
Trehus earns DFL endorsement for State Representative to serve Fillmore and Houston Counties
Thomas Trehus, Spring Grove School Board member and fifth generation Houston County resident, received his party’s endorsement to run for a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives this November. Local delegates of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota endorsed Trehus in Rushford on Saturday, April 7. “I would be honored to serve the communities of Fillmore and … [Read more...]
Planning Commission tweaks Renewable Energy Ordinance
At the April 19 meeting of the Fillmore County Planning Commission, revisions were made on a proposed ordinance for renewable energy. The county has only a wind power ordinance currently. This proposed ordinance will regulate both wind and solar energy systems. Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins explained the wind portion is similar to the current ordinance. However, more … [Read more...]
Spring Valley to hire WWTP Operator
During their regular meeting on April 23, all Spring Valley city council members were present as they discussed the best options for assuring the city’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) has a licensed operator who meets all of the regulatory guidelines (a Class B Operator). It was pointed out that the firm of Bolton & Menk has been providing this service to the city, but … [Read more...]
Hidden tax: Motorists shell out $76 billion in 2018 for gas taxes
BOSTON, MASS., April 17, 2018 — Against a backdrop of gas prices that have risen sharply in the last two weeks, motorists are sure to be upset: they’ll be paying $4 billion more in gasoline taxes in 2018 than they did in 2017. That’s $76 billion, or $208 million every day, up from the $72 billion total in 2017. The rise comes out to an average increase of about 2.6 cents per … [Read more...]
Rushford approves housing area platting
The Rushford City Council has formally approved the final platting for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) on the east end of the Himlie Business Park. Developer Bluff Country LLC (Mike Sexhauer) brought forward final plats for Himlie Manor to the Planning Commission April 19 and they were approved. The area was previously rezoned and a Tax Increment Financing District established … [Read more...]
Lanesboro Schools plans community meeting to discuss school update proposals
Lanesboro School Board member Dave Lawstuen gave the facilities committee report at the April 19 meeting. HSR Associates, the architecture firm working with the district on the buildings’ proposed improvements, provided maps, mock-ups, and a detailed concept plan to help those present at the meeting to visualize the changes and additions. The projects that the facilities … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central considers replacing Stop and Drop with back-to-school conferences
Principal Heath Olstad spoke to the Fillmore Central School Board at their April 24 meeting about a proposal to drop the traditional elementary Stop and Drop event and replace it with two days of back-to-school conferences starting with the 2018-19 school year. He explained that the change would not extend to the high school and that the open house for those students would … [Read more...]
Mabel-Canton won’t extend school year
Snow days were discussed at the Mabel-Canton School Board meeting on April 17. All members were present at the meeting, including Mark Weidemann, Jason Marquardt, Chris Miller, Principal Michelle Weidemann, student board representative Maddison Michels, Board Chair Cristal Adkins, Superintendent Gary Kuphal, business manager Aimee Lake, high school secretary Lynette Donald, … [Read more...]