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...]
Veterans discuss emergency care and housing
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s staff held a listening session for veterans on April 12 at the Fillmore County Office Building. Bree Maki, southern Minnesota outreach, and Alex Schueller, veterans and military outreach, led the group in a discussion of veterans issues and concerns. Smith, through a video recording, said the objective was to hear directly from veterans. She wants … [Read more...]
Native grass field in Wykoff?
On April 16, Kingsland Superintendent James Hecimovich asked the school board to consider his idea of turning the field at the former Wykoff school into a “native grass prairie land area” that Kingsland students could use for educational purposes. He explained he is referring to “the ballpark and the little park next to it, the old track field.” No action was taken at this … [Read more...]
Preston’s audit presented
Jason Boynton, Smith Schafer and Associates, presented the 2017 audit information for the city of Preston at the city council’s April 16 meeting. An unmodified, “clean” opinion was issued. Boynton said it was an overall good report. The general tax levy totaled $831,494. Other revenue included TIF collections in the amount of $74,307 and Local Government Aid (LGA) in the … [Read more...]