Local News Headlines – Friday, September 18th

THE WINDOM E-D-A MET THIS WEEK.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE ‘SPEC’ BUILDING.  THE DEVELOPER WHO WAS ORIGINALLY WORKING ON THE PROJECT HAS INDICATED IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AT THIS TIME.  AS A RESULT, THE SITE IS BEING LISTED FOR SALE AGAIN AND OTHER DEVELOPERS ARE BEING CONTACTED.  THE PLAN CALLS FOR THE SPEC BUILDING TO BE CONVERTED INTO A 21-UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING WHICH WOULD BE LEASED BY HY LIFE FOODS FOR ITS EMPLOYEES.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE GRANT PROGRAM FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.  AS OF MONDAY, COTTONWOOD COUNTY HAD RECEIVED APPLICATIONS FROM 53 BUSINESSES AND 23 NON-PROFIT GROUPS. 

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON ACQUIRING SOME LAND FOR THE PROPOSED WOLF LAKE TRAIL.  THE MATTER WAS TABLED UNTIL A FUTURE MEETING.  A PRELIMINARY 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY WAS SET AT JUST OVER $2.2-MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 4.99%.  THAT AMOUNT MAY BE REDUCED BEFORE THE FINAL LEVY IS CERTIFIED IN DECEMBER.   A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON THE USE OF AVAILABLE FEDERAL FUNDING UNDER THE ‘CARES’ ACT.  POSSIBLE USES INCLUDE BUSINESS GRANTS THROUGH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND HELPING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH EXPENSES FOR DISTANCE LEARNING.  A CONTRACTORS’ BILL WAS APPROVED FOR PAYMENT FOR WORK ON THE NEW TENNIS COURTS. 

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.  ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS WERE PRESENTED.  THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL REPORTED ON TEACHERS AND STUDENTS GETTING THEIR FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.  THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL REPORTED THAT THE STUDENT SENATE HAS DECIDED TO POSTPONE HOMECOMING UNTIL THE SPRING.  THE SUPERINTENDENT NOTED THAT ENROLLMENT TO BEGIN THE SCHOOL YEAR MAY BE LOWER THAN ORIGINALLY EXPECTED, DUE TO COVID-19.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE BUILDING PROJECTS.  THE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER IS NEARLY COMPLETED.    

 

WINDOM WILL HOLD THE CITY-WIDE CLEANUP PROGRAM ON SATURDAY.  THIS IS A ONE-DAY ONLY EVENT.  THE PICKUP IS FOR HOUSEHOLD GOODS, FURNITURE AND OTHER ITEMS TOO LARGE TO FIT IN A REGULAR GARBAGE BAG.  ITEMS SHOULD BE PLACED AT THE CURB IN SEPARATE PILES BY 6:00AM ON SATURDAY.  DO NOT PLACE ITEMS IN THE ALLEY.  ITEMS THAT WILL NOT BE PICKED UP INCLUDE HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE, HAZARDOUS WASTE, USED OIL, CONCRETE, BUILDING MATERIALS, PAINT, AUTO BODIES, BATTERIES, FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS AND TIRES.  MATTRESSES, APPLIANCES AND HOME ELECTRONIC ITEMS WITH TAGS WILL BE PICKED UP FOR RECYCLING.   

 

EVENTS ARE BEING HELD THIS WEEKEND TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE TAMMY HALL MEMORIAL FUND AND THE WINDOM LIONS CLUB.  ON SATURDAY, A FOUR-PERSON BEST-BALL GOLF TOURNAMENT IS BEING HELD AT THE WINDOM COUNTRY CLUB, WITH CASH PRIZES FOR THE TOP TEAMS.  ALSO ON SATURDAY, A BEAN-BAG TOURNAMENT IS BEING HELD IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE WINDOM CITY ARENA.  PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE TAMMY HALL MEMORIAL FUND.  A MEAL WILL BE SERVED AT 6:00PM.  THE JEREMY DE WALL BAND WILL BE PLAYING AT THE ARENA AT 7:30 SATURDAY NIGHT.  PEOPLE ATTENDING ARE REQUESTED TO MAKE DONATIONS TO HELP SUPPORT THE WINDOM LIONS’ CLUB.  THE LIONS’ CLUB WILL BE SERVING BEVERAGES. 

 

THE HERON LAKE-OKABENA SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK.  THE BOARD SET A PRELIMINARY 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY LIMIT AT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ALLOWED.  THE LEVY WOULD REPRESENT A REDUCTION OF ABOUT 3.8% FROM THE CURRENT YEAR’S LEVY.   THE BOARD APPROVED A THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT FOR ROOF MAINTENANCE SERVICES.  IN PERSONNEL BUSINESS, THE BOARD APPROVED A CONTRACT FOR A LONG-TERM SUB, AND APPROVED AN OVERLOAD ASSIGNMENT.  A FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE WAS APPROVED.  FALL COACHING CONTRACTS WERE APPROVED.   SEVERAL F-F-A VOLUNTEER POSITIONS WERE APPROVED.   ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS WERE PROVIDED.