Well over half of all Minnesota counties already have a Wheelage Tax; Fillmore County does not. Highway Engineer Ron Gregg provided information about this possible source of road and bridge funding at the July 11 county board meeting. Commissioner Duane Bakke was absent. During the last legislative session the possible amount for a Wheelage Tax was raised from $10 to $20 per … [Read more...]
County establishes broadband development fund
Out going EDA director Sam Smith introduced the new EDA director, Stephanie Hatzenbihler, at the June 27 meeting of the county board. Smith will continue with CEDA in the Mankato area. This was his last day with Fillmore County. During his time with the Fillmore County EDA, Smith worked to expand broadband to rural areas in the county. Rural Lanesboro was one of two … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Courthouse to receive funding through Safe and Secure Courthouse Initiative
ST. PAUL, MN, June 29, 2017 – Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea today announced the award of $1 million in grants through the Safe and Secure Courthouse Initiative. The grant funding will go towards the implementation of safety and security improvements in 57 county courthouses across Minnesota, including the Fillmore County Courthouse. Safe and Secure … [Read more...]
What lies ahead for the Fillmore County Jail
Fillmore County’s jail is nearly a half century old, built in 1970. The jail was remodeled in 1995, at which time it was rated as a 24 bed facility. At that time a new garage, juvenile holding area, and multi-purpose room was added. The aging jail is plagued with mounting maintenance needs. Systems are dated and/or deteriorating. A water softener has never been in use; minerals … [Read more...]
Search for Mrs. Fillmore County announced
Applications are being accepted for the title of Mrs. Fillmore County! Mrs. Fillmore County will have the honor of representing her county at the Mrs. Minnesota pageant, which will be held at Wellstone Center, April 28, 2018 in St. Paul, Minn. The woman chosen as Mrs. Fillmore County will become an ambassador from the Fillmore County area and will receive the official title … [Read more...]
Fillmore County: Increasing community philanthropy
In 1991, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) help seed our first community foundation in Wanamingo as a way to increase local giving. Even though SMIF serves a 20-county area, we realize that people want to give hyper-locally. SMIF is now the umbrella organization for 26 community foundations and 37 designated funds in our 20 counties. A big part of regional … [Read more...]
County reduces EMV for appellant
County Assessor Cindy Blagsvedt presented the Fillmore County 2017 assessment summary at the Fillmore County board of Appeal and Equalization meeting held on June 13. The total value of all property within the county increased 9.9% over the prior year. The increase was driven by 11% plus increased value of Ag/rural land and Seasonal Recreation land. There were 23 bareland … [Read more...]
Veterans home committee members visit Chippewa Falls Veterans Home
Committees have been meeting now for months in Preston and Spring Valley, gathering information and planning for the possibility of building a veterans home in their Fillmore County community. Ron Scheevel and Don Gildner serve as co-chairs on the Preston committee. There is a competition between the two communities, each hoping to have the home built in their community. … [Read more...]
County works through Solid Waste issues
At the May 23 meeting of the Fillmore County Board, concerns were raised over Strongwell Corporation’s dusty waste that is being delivered to the Resource Recovery Center, which may be hazardous. County Attorney Brett Corson referred to a letter sent to William Hanson Waste Removal in March which raised several issues, for example, TVs in black plastic bags that were not … [Read more...]
County PTO policy and staffing structure
Much of the May 9 County Board meeting was dominated by long discussions concerning PTO policy and staffing structure for Community Services. Commissioner Mitch Lentz was absent. The county is in the process of updating its policies. The proposed update of the PTO policy has resulted in a lot of comments from employees. Proposed new language: “Employees initially hired … [Read more...]