At the Fillmore County Board’s August 23 meeting, commissioners directed County Administrator Bobbie Hillery to look for cost savings to trim the county’s preliminary 2023 budget. Early budget numbers register a possible double digit percent increase in the levy. For several weeks now, each department head has provided preliminary numbers for 2023. This day several budgets … [Read more...]

The many budgets under the Sheriff’s Department were discussed at the county board’s August 9 meeting. The budgets under the Sheriff Department umbrella include 911 funds, sheriff office, Spring Valley contract, Mabel-Canton-Harmony contracts, forfeitures, DARE, dispatch, court security, jail, and emergency management. Sheriff John DeGeorge said a big change in the Sheriff’s … [Read more...]

The Fillmore County Planning Commission met on July 21 for a public hearing to consider an application for a conditional use permit for a sand and gravel pit, located in section 19 of Spring Valley Township. Mitch Froehlich spoke for Ulland Brothers, Inc., a local paving and excavation contractor (founded in 1920). The employee-owned company has a three-year lease agreement … [Read more...]

The newly hired Community Corrections Director Tom Jensen addressed the Fillmore County board for the first time at its July 26 meeting. Jensen has been on the job for the county since July 18. He has been working on the 2023 budget for the new department. The board voted to withdraw from Dodge-Fillmore-Olmsted Community Corrections and the Joint Powers Agreement, effective … [Read more...]

At the July 11 Fillmore County Board meeting, airport manager Pam Schroeder reported that the Fillmore County Airport will be awarded a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant in the amount of $950,000. It is one of four grants to be received by Minnesota airports. The federal funding is part of the bi-partisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that was signed into … [Read more...]

At the June 28 Fillmore County Board meeting, County Administrator Bobbie Hillery reported on the April Consumer Price Index (CPI). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics had reported that costs increased 8.3% before seasonal adjustment over the last 12 months. Hillery noted they generally use the April CPI to establish a possible cost of living increase in the budgeting process … [Read more...]

County Administrator Bobbie Hillery administered the oath to county commissioners and Auditor/Treasurer Christy Smith as Board of Appeal & Equalization members at the June 14 public meeting. County Assessor Jason McCaslin began by explaining the assessor’s role in the property tax system. The tax burden is to be distributed evenly and according to Minnesota statutes. Each … [Read more...]

The county has participated in the state program, the Council on Local Results and Innovation, since its inception by the Minnesota legislature in 2010. At the board’s June 14 meeting, County Administrator Bobbie Hillery reviewed the 2021 results. The intention of the program is to outline at least 10 goals for the coming year and to strive to provide quality services to its … [Read more...]

Bruce Schwartzman and Henry Pittner, BKV Group, presented a concept site plan, proposed schedule, and a preliminary construction estimate for the project at the county board’s June 7 meeting. Pittner detailed the plan which will include an addition on the west side of the existing building. The existing garage will be reused. All doors and areas of the facility will be … [Read more...]

Approval was given to advertise for a Community Corrections Director at the May 24 board meeting. Fillmore County withdrew from Dodge-Fillmore-Olmsted Community Corrections and the Joint Powers Agreement, effective January 1, 2023. Since then, David Drown Associates has done a review of the job description and classification for the director position. A Fillmore County … [Read more...]

The process for the construction of a large solar farm in Beaver Township moved one step closer after the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of an application submitted by Dairyland Power Cooperative for an electrical switchyard. The May 19 meeting was the first meeting of the Planning Commission since October 2021. Being the first meeting in 2022, new … [Read more...]

The Fillmore County Board at their May 10 meeting took a step forward to implement Fillmore County Community Corrections within the Community Services Model. The board has been discussing this move for a number of years. A resolution was unanimously approved to withdraw from the Dodge-Fillmore-Olmsted Community Corrections (DFO) and the Joint Powers Agreement, effective … [Read more...]