Calling all snowmobilers in Fillmore and Houston counties! Join your local snowmobile club! Your help is needed to maintain the snowmobile trails in your county. If younger snowmobilers do not step up and help, the well-maintained trails in southeast Minnesota may not be available to ride within the next five to ten years. Mabel-Canton Trailbusters President Devry Kerns … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Historical Society holiday event returns
FOUNTAIN, MN — The Fillmore County Historical Society is proud to announce the return of HisTrees & More (formerly known as Christmas Trees & More.) In 2019, Sara Sturgis had just started as the new executive director of the Fillmore County Historical Society and one of the first comments she heard was “We just loved the tree event,” or “We really miss coming in and … [Read more...]
Contract awarded for highway storage building
At the November 22 meeting of the Fillmore County Board, three bids were considered for construction of a highway department storage building at the Chatfield location. The lowest bid submitted by Swartzentruber Construction LLC in the amount of $562,725.31 was accepted as recommended by county engineer Ron Gregg. This amount is still higher than the $500,000 now set aside for … [Read more...]
Permit for auctions in Ag District considered
The Fillmore County Planning Commission met on November 17 to consider an application for a conditional use permit for auctions in the Agricultural District. Chairman Trinity Johnson opened the public hearing for an application submitted by Enos and Emma Hershberger, section 18 of Canton Township. This conditional use permit application is considered under Section 604.03(13) … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Community Corrections
At the November 8 Fillmore County Board meeting, the scheduled fourth quarter payment to Olmsted County Community Services in the amount of $119,851.50 was discussed. Fillmore County Community Corrections director Tom Jensen said they will have no authority until January 1, 2023. Until then, Dodge-Fillmore-Olmsted (DFO) Community Corrections is still bound by contract to … [Read more...]
Fillmore County joins Operation Green Light
At the county board’s November 1 meeting, the board accepted an invitation to join Operation Green Light for Veterans. The National Association of Counties and the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers invited counties, parishes and boroughs throughout the nation to join and demonstrate their support and appreciation for our veterans by lighting buildings … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Jail project update
Bruce Schwartzman, BKV Group, and Pete Filippi, Contegrity Group, reviewed design development plans, including site and floor plans, cost estimates, and a future schedule for the county jail addition and remodel at the county board’s October 25 meeting. The podular jail design provides staffing efficiencies. Schwartzman said the Department of Corrections is on board with the … [Read more...]
Fillmore County 2021 audit reviewed
Miranda Wendlandt, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, detailed items related to Fillmore County’s 2021 audit at the county board’s October 11 meeting. Wendlandt reported that the county’s financial statements were issued on September 27 prior to the Minnesota statutory deadline. CliftonLarsonAllen completes audits for about 20 Minnesota counties. There were no disagreements with … [Read more...]
Zoning enforcement in Fillmore County
Board Chairman Mitch Lentz initiated a discussion related to Zoning enforcement during the Fillmore County Board’s October 4 meeting. Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins, County Attorney Brett Corson, and Highway Engineer Ron Gregg contributed to the discussion. Adkins said if a zoning ordinance is in place you have to enforce it. People need to call her with complaints. … [Read more...]
Tom Kaase Candidate for Fillmore County Sheriff
1. Tell us about yourself. I’m married to Dorle Grindland Kaase and we have a son, Kaine. I have been a resident of Fillmore County for the past 58 years. I am a business owner (Kaase Trucking, Jailhouse Inn Bed and Breakfast, and our farm). I have 35½ years of Law Enforcement experience (12 years Fillmore County, 18 years Rochester Police Department, four years as the … [Read more...]
John DeGeorge Candidate for Fillmore County Sheriff
1. Tell us about yourself. I have worked for the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office for 25 years, and have been Sheriff for the last four years. I previously held the position of Captain, Patrol Sergeant, Undercover Narcotics Investigator, Deputy, Dispatcher and Jailer. I grew up in Rushford and am a lifelong resident of Fillmore County. I graduated from Rushford-Peterson High … [Read more...]
Fillmore County approves preliminary 2023 budget/levy
Fillmore County Commissioners at their September 27 board meeting unanimously approved the preliminary budget and levy for 2023. The budget in the amount of $12,399,295 requires a 3.95% levy increase, or $471,533 more than in 2022. County Program Aid for 2023 will be $940,355, or $125,351 more than in 2022. County Administrator Bobbie Hillery noted recent adjustments that had … [Read more...]
Fillmore County continues trimming 2023 budget
County Administrator Bobbie Hillery detailed more possible savings in the 2023 budget at the board’s September 13 meeting. Requested new tech positions in both the administration’s and the recorder’s offices were eliminated from the budget. A request for another full-time jailer was limited to a part-time jailer. Soil and Water Conservation District will not receive a … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office receives policy management award
At the September 6 Fillmore County Board meeting, Sheriff John DeGeorge explained every county in the state of Minnesota likely uses the services of Lexipol Connect. Fillmore County started using the service in 2012. Lexipol started a recognition program last year which is intended to help their users receive excellence in policy and online training. “Lexipol provides public … [Read more...]
Fillmore County board to consider lot width regulation amendment
The Fillmore County Planning Commission held a public hearing on August 18 to discuss a proposed amendment to Section 604.05(5), lot width regulations, of the county’s zoning ordinance. The current regulation requires a minimum width of 150 feet at the front of a buildable lot, plus a provision that the lot shall have either 66 feet of public road frontage or a recorded … [Read more...]