Chief Deputy Kevin Beck noted multiple maintenance updates and improvements being made to the county jail at the board’s November 7 meeting. The improvements are being made to satisfy state inspection recommendations. The last inspection was in May. The jail was downgraded to a 90-day facility in February by the Minnesota Department of Corrections. Food service requirements … [Read more...]
Fillmore County land rent survey results
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s land rent survey. According to our survey results, 2017 land rental rates in Fillmore County averaged between $193.57-$202.67/acre. Survey responses for 2017 land rent ranged from $90.00-$300.00/acre. The predicted average for 2018 land rental rates is between $187.71-$197.47/acre. These values are based on 122 returned … [Read more...]
Economic impact of a veterans home in Fillmore County
The effort to have a veterans home built in Fillmore County has been ongoing for more than three years. Committees co-chaired by Don Gildner in Preston and Bill Rohe in Spring Valley know the road ahead will be a long and challenging one, but well worth the effort. A study was completed which demonstrated the need. There are about 23,000 veterans over the age of 65 within a … [Read more...]
Buffer enforcement ordinance discussed
The Fillmore County Planning Commission met on October 26. A public hearing was held on the proposed county buffer enforcement ordinance. Duane Bakke explained the county changed its shoreland ordinance last year to match the state’s buffer law language. The ordinance being discussed this day details the county’s authority to enforce the buffer ordinance. The language in the … [Read more...]
County pleased with EQB decision
At the county board’s October 24 meeting, County Attorney Brett Corson reviewed the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) decision to table a request by Minnesota Sands to terminate the Environmental Impact Study (EIS). The EQB ruled in 2013 that MN Sands must complete an EIS before working multiple sand mine sites in Fillmore, Houston, and Winona Counties. Due to the … [Read more...]
County approves courthouse security proposal
At the October 10 county board meeting, the board unanimously moved forward with a courthouse security plan. A proposal from Marco which was one of two proposals submitted was accepted. The Courthouse Security committee, which was formed after the county was awarded a grant in the amount of $30,000 by the Safe and Secure Courthouse Advisory Panel, recommended accepting the … [Read more...]
County asked to approve land acquisitions
Mike Tenney, area DNR Wildlife Supervisor, and Robert McGillivray, Trust for Public Land (a non-profit conservation organization), answered questions concerning two separate requests for board approval of land acquisitions for wildlife management areas at the October 3 meeting of the county board. The first request was for the acquisition of 379 acres that straddle Preble and … [Read more...]
Looking for Breast Cancer Awareness stories
To promote Breast Cancer Awareness, the Fillmore County Journal would like to publish stories of local people who have dealt with breast cancer and are willing to share their journey. If you know someone who currently has breast cancer or is in remission, please contact us by email us at news@fillmorecountyjournal.com or call 507-765-2151 by October 10. … [Read more...]
Planning Commission recommends approval of event venue
Mike and Cindy Tomashek’s application for a conditional use permit for an event venue on their property, Camp Creek Farm, was discussed during a public hearing at the September 21 Fillmore County Planning commission meeting. The property is located one-half mile southeast of Preston in Section 5, Preston Township. Cindy Tomashek said the 2,400-square-foot building that had … [Read more...]
County certifies preliminary 2018 levy
At the September 26 meeting of the county board, the discussion of the preliminary levy was last on a busy agenda. County Coordinator Bobbie Vickerman reported that some recommended adjustments have been made which reduced the increase to 5.16% for 2018. The preliminary levy number includes an estimated 7% increase in health insurance, down from an earlier estimate of a 14% … [Read more...]