Local News Headlines – Thursday, August 27th

THE MT LAKE SCHOOL BOARD HELD A SPECIAL MEETING THIS WEEK.   THE ADMINISTRATION PRESENTED THE “RETURN TO LEARN” PLAN FOR THE DISTRICT.  THE PLAN CALLS FOR ALL STUDENTS TO ATTEND CLASS IN PERSON WITH ROOMS AT 50% CAPACITY AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.  STUDENTS WHO DO NOT WISH TO ATTEND IN PERSON WILL BE OFFERED DISTANCE LEARNING.   THE BOARD VOTED TO APPROVE THE PLAN.  THE MT LAKE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED A DEVICE PROTECTION PLAN.  STUDENTS IN GRADES 7-12 WILL NEED TO PAY A $20 FEE OR PROVIDE PROOF OF INSURANCE COVERAGE.   THE COMPLETE “RE-START BLUEPRINT” FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR WAS PRESENTED AND APPROVED. 

 

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD HELD A REGULAR MEETING LAST WEEK.  THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY FARM FAMILY OF THE YEAR WAS RECOGNIZED.  THE BOARD APPROVED A RESIDENTIAL HOUSING TAX ABATEMENT FOR A NEW HOUSE IN WINDOM.  A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WAS APPROVED FOR A GRAVEL PIT IN SECTION 1 OF AMBOY TOWNSHIP.  THE BOARD SCHEDULED A PUBLIC HEARING ON A REVISED COUNTY NUISANCE ORDINANCE.  APPROVAL WAS GIVE TO SELL TWO PARCELS OF TAX-FORFEITED PROPERTY TO THE WESTBROOK E-D-A.  KELLY SMITH WAS HIRED AS A NEW INFORMATION SYSTEMS TECHNICIAN.  PAUL JOHNSON WAS APPOINTED TO THE BOARD FOR THE RED ROCK RURAL WATER SYSTEM.   

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A WORK-SESSION THIS WEEK.  THE BOARD APPROVED PAYMENT OF CONTRACTORS’ BILLS FOR WORK ON THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND THE REMODELING OF THE HIGHLAND SCHOOL BUILDING.  THE BOARD AUTHORIZED AN ADDITIONAL 8-HOURS A DAY OF CUSTODIAL DUTIES AND 3-HOURS A DAY OF FOOD SERVICE DUTIES.  A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL ITEMS WERE HANDLED, INCLUDING THE HIRING OF SEVERAL PARA-PROFESSIONALS, A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AND THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS.  THE CONTRACT FOR NURSING SERVICES WAS INCREASED TO 6-½ HOURS A DAY.    

 

THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR WINDOM AREA HEALTH MET THIS WEEK.   THE REPORT OF PATIENT ACTIVITY FOR JULY SHOWED MOST AREAS WERE ABOVE BUDGETED LEVELS.  THE JULY FINANCIAL REPORT SHOWED A NET INCREASE FOR THE MONTH OF JUST OVER $66-THOUSAND.  THROUGH THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE FACILITY IS SHOWING A NET INCREASE OF JUST OVER $639-THOUSAND.   IT WAS REPORTED THAT A PROVIDER IS NOW OFFERING NEUROLOGY SERVICES THROUGH THE OUTREACH CLINIC.  THE THERAPY DEPARTMENT IS EXPANDING ITS USE OF TELE-MEDICINE.   THE WELLNESS CENTER IS INCREASING ITS HOURS.  NEW CLASSES ARE BEING OFFERED. 

 

THE MT LAKE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS ADOPTED A PLAN FOR THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.   BASED ON THE AVERAGE CASE LOAD IN COTTONWOOD COUNTY, MT LAKE WILL BEGIN THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR WITH ALL STUDENTS ATTENDING CLASS IN PERSON WITH CLASSROOMS AT 50% OF CAPACITY AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.  STUDENTS WHO DO NOT WANT TO ATTEND IN PERSON WILL BE OFFERED DISTANCE LEARNING.  INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO PARENTS THROUGH THE DISTRICT WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, E-MAIL AND THE INSTANT ALERT SYSTEM.  STAFF MEMBERS HAVE GONE THROUGH TRAINING ON THE RE-START PLAN.  THE DISTRICT HAS ADOPTED A SCHEDULE OF CLEANING AND DISINFECTING.    

 

THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK.   THERE WAS A PRESENTATION BY NEXT ERA ENERGY RESOURCES ON THE “THREE WATERS” WIND PROJECT.  THE JACKSON FOOD SHELF REQUESTED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR 2021.  THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS DIRECTOR DISCUSSED THE REPLACEMENT OF SOME MOBILE DEVICES.  THE 2019 COUNTY AUDIT REPORT WAS PRESENTED.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE.  THE BOARD HELD A ZOOM MEETING WITH AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM TO DISCUSS FACILITY PLANNING FOR THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE.   THEY DISCUSSED THE USE OF SICK LEAVE DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.