The Fillmore County Planning Commission held their first meeting of 2018 on March 15. The last meeting of 2017 was held on October 26. Zoning administrator Cristal Adkins opened the meeting and welcomed new member Trinity Johnson. Johnson will replace Brad Erickson who retired from the committee after 12 years of service. Gary Ruskell was elected chairman and Steve Duxbury was … [Read more...]
County adopts five-year highway construction improvement plan
At the March 13 meeting of the Fillmore County Board, County Engineer Ron Gregg presented the county’s five-year highway construction improvement plan (2017-2021). The five-year capital improvement plan had been discussed in the Highway committee. Gregg noted changes may occur, as the plan is subject to funding and priority. Chairman Mitch Lentz commented that needed projects … [Read more...]
Fillmore County proactively battles cyberbullying and sexting
The Fillmore County Sheriff’s Department and Fillmore County Attorney’s Office are in the midst of an initiative geared towards bringing awareness to the effects of bullying and social media usage and its gaining momentum. “The main goals of our campaign on appropriate social media usage is to keep our younger citizens, and all citizens, safer, to prevent them from becoming … [Read more...]
Failure to recycle cardboard costs county
Commissioners discussed fines imposed by Winneshiek County Sanitary Landfill for cardboard contaminated loads at their March 6 meeting. Andrew Hatzenbihler, solid waste administrator, reported the county has been charged $150 per ton (normally $68 per ton) on a trailer load delivered to the landfill on February 13 because of cardboard contamination. Hatzenbihler said … [Read more...]
County thanks employees for their service
At the February 27 meeting of the County Board, Fillmore County employees were recognized for their contribution to the county. Each year employees that have been with the county for 5, 10 15, 20, 25, or 30 years are given a certificate of appreciation for their service. This year 27 employees were recognized. Todd Kokinos, maintenance specialist, III, Highway De partment, … [Read more...]
Heidi “Bly” Jones announces candidacy for Fillmore County Auditor/Treasurer
Heidi Jones has announced she will run to fill the vacant seat as the Fillmore County Auditor/Treasurer at the November election. Heidi has lived in the area her entire life, graduating from Kingsland High School in 1995. For the last 12 years she has been a resident in the City of Ostrander, where she is serving her second term as an elected city council member and serves … [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...]
County reports its legislative priorities
Rep. Greg Davids and Senator Jeremy Miller were at the February 6 county board meeting to hear the county’s legislative priorities for the 2018 legislative session. County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman thanked legislators for 2017 legislation that stabilized and added funding for county program aid. Fillmore County’s CPA increased by $90,000. The county noted its opposition … [Read more...]
Fillmore County solid waste administrator settling into his new job
“I wanted something more than a straight desk job,” Solid Waste Administrator Drew Hatzenbihler said. “I wanted to be active outside too.” He found what he was looking for in his position of Solid Waste Administrator at the Fillmore County Resource Recovery Center. Hatzenbihler began his new job at the center in the summer of 2017. At that time, the position was merged with … [Read more...]
Compromise moves land acquisition forward
Mike Tenney, DNR, and Robert McGillvray, The Trust for Public Land, faced commissioners at their January 23 meeting to ask them for a third time to consider a land acquisition of 337 acres from the Larson Family Trust. The land is to be added to the Choice Wildlife Management Area. It straddles Norway and Preble Townships. Tenney said we now propose to single out about 42 … [Read more...]