Curt Sorenson, Charter Commission chair, reported at the February 12 meeting of the Chatfield City Council that the commission has discussed at length what sort of government structure to recommend for the city. Councilor Pam Bluhm was absent. According to Sorenson, city hall doesn’t operate exactly in the way the current Charter describes. He added this is not a bad thing. … [Read more...]
Harmony City Council, EDA, and Fillmore Central School Board attend their annual joint meeting
The Harmony City Council met with the Fillmore Central School Board and the Harmony EDA for their annual joint meeting on February 13 at 6:30 p.m. Each organization gave an update on their progress over the last year and discussed ways to work together. The school is interested in doing a land swap with the city which would allow them to put a new football field in where … [Read more...]
Spring Valley seeks bids for street project
The Spring Valley City Council met in regular session February 12. All members were present (Tony Archer, Todd Jones, Mayor Jim Struzyk, Jessy Betts, Mike Hadland and City Administrator Deb Zimmer). No visitors had signed up to address the council. The council approved Resolution 2018-10, Approving Plans and Specifications and Ordering Advertisement for Bids. The resolution … [Read more...]
County moves forward with office building remodel
At the February 13 meeting of the county board, plans for a remodel of the Fillmore County office building were approved. County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman explained a remodel has been a topic of discussion for almost two years. A plan to have one front desk for both social services and public health has been put off because of the significant cost. Jessica Erickson, … [Read more...]
Peterson waits for further review
For a small town, sometimes no news is good news. The brief Wednesday, February 14 Peterson Council meeting saw no items of official action. However, the city is waiting on a number of big items which should make March and April meetings interesting. Mayor Tim Hallum led the agenda review with Councilors Loren Rue and Lisa Price in attendance, as was City Clerk Christopher … [Read more...]
Rushford amends zoning map for development
At the February 12 meeting, the Rushford City Council unanimously approved a recommendation from the Rushford Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals that will make way for a residential Planned Unit Development. Referred to as “Himlie Manor,” the six-duplex development will be constructed in the southeast end of the Himlie Business Park should it meet all final … [Read more...]
Search for Miss Pre-Teen Fillmore County announced
Young girls between the ages of 10 to 12 years: applications are being accepted for the title of 2018 Miss Pre-Teen Fillmore County. Miss Pre-Teen Fillmore County will represent her county at the Miss Pre-Teen Minnesota pageant, which will be held April 28, 2018, at the Wellstone Center in St. Paul, Minn. The young lady chosen as Miss Pre-Teen Fillmore County will become … [Read more...]
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation awards $124,338 in grants Nine organizations receive Early Childhood Grants
OWATONNA, MN, February 2, 2018 – Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently approved nine grants totaling $124,338 to support asset-based collaborative approaches to meeting the needs of children birth to age five and their families. The 2018 Early Childhood Grant award recipients are: • $20,000 to A Chance to Grow to embed the S.M.A.R.T. (Stimulating Maturity … [Read more...]
Kingsland ponders long 2019 summer break
The Kingsland School Board held a “work session” meeting on February 5, with all members present (Doug Plaehn, Ann Oeltjen, Leah Stier, Jackie Horsman, Tiffany Mundfrom, Heather Betts, and Interim Superintendent James Hecimovich). The board has adopted a process in which much of the discussion and “hashing out” on issues is done during work sessions, and then decisions are … [Read more...]
PeopleService addresses Ostrander concerns
A regular meeting of the Ostrander city council was held on February 6, with all members in attendance (Pam Kunert, Mayor Pat Nesler, City Clerk Wendy Brincks, and Heidi Jones and DJ Start). Rick Whitney (PeopleService) addressed the council regarding issues that he’s heard have been concerns, related to PeopleService’s work at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). He … [Read more...]









