Local News Headlines – Thursday, September 24th

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK.   THE PRELIMINARY 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY LIMIT WAS SET WITH AN INCREASE OF 3%.  THE BOARD APPROVED AN APPLICATION FOR AN EXPANSION PROJECT AT THE RED ROCK QUARRY.   A CONTRACT WAS APPROVED FOR SAFETY TRAINING SERVICES.  A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD AND THE BOARD VOTED TO APPROVE THE COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE WATONWAN RIVER WATERSHED.  THE BOARD REVIEWED A NEW PLAN TO FUND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW CELL AT THE LANDFILL.  THE BOARD VOTED TO ENTER A PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR A PARCEL OF PROPERTY. 

 

THE MT LAKE CITY COUNCIL HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.  PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE HELD ON THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF TWO NEW 4-PLEX HOUSING UNITS ON ESTATE DRIVE.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE PROJECT AND APPROVED THE USE OF TAX ABATMENTS.  A FINANCING PLAN FOR THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED, CALLING FOR $1.6-MILLION IN BONDS TO BE ISSUED.  IN OTHER BUSINESS, THE COUNCIL APPROVED A VARIANCE FOR A NEW STORAGE SHED IN THE 700 BLOCK OF KLEIN STREET.  THEY APPROVED A PLAN TO RE-FINANCE SOME OLDER DEBT.  A LETTER OF RETIREMENT WAS RECEIVED FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.  A PRELIMINARY 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY LIMIT WAS SET, WITH A PROJECTED INCREASE OF 8.5%.   

 

A MEETING OF THE WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SCHOOL BOARD WAS HELD THIS WEEK.  THE BOARD APPROVED A PRELIMINARY 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY LIMIT AT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ALLOWED UNDER STATE GUIDELINES.  THAT AMOUNT WILL LIKELY BE REDUCED BEFORE THE FINAL LEVY IS CERTIFIED IN DECEMBER.  THE BOARD APPROVED A CONTRACT WITH GREATER MINNESOTA FAMILY SERVICES TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN WESTBROOK TWO DAYS A WEEK.  IN PERSONNEL BUSINESS, THE BOARD APPROVED THE HIRING OF CONNIE LAMBERT AS A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER.  THEY APPROVED THE HIRING OF TWO PARA-PROFESSIONALS, A PART-TIME CUSTODIAN AND A PART-TIME NURSING ASSISTANT.   

 

ANOTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATION IS BEING IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 VIRUS.  REINBOWS, INCORPORATED IN WINDOM WILL NOT BE HOLDING ITS REGULAR FALL FUNDRAISER – THE KID’S RODEO – DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS.  STARTING THIS WEEK, REINBOWS HAS POSTED A SLIDE-SHOW ON ITS WEBSITE, FEATURING A ‘VIRTUAL’ KID’S RODEO GREATEST HITS WITH PICTURES OF PAST EVENTS.  TO HELP MAKE UP FOR THE LOSS OF ITS MAJOR FUND-RAISING EVENT, REINBOWS IS ACCEPTING DONATIONS BY CHECK OR CREDIT CARD.   DURING THE SUMMER, REINBOWS HAS BEEN ABLE TO HOLD SOME PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SEVERAL VISITS TO THE GOOD SAMARITAN CAMPUS IN WINDOM. 

 

THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK.  THE BOARD SET A PRELIMINARY 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY LIMIT AT JUST OVER $11.2-MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 3.6% OVER THE CURRENT YEAR’S LEVY.  THE BOARD APPROVED EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS AND CONTRIBUTION RATES FOR 2021.  AN ALLOCATION OF FEDERAL FUNDS WAS APPROVED FOR THE FAMILY SERVICES NETWORK.  A PROPOSAL WAS ACCEPTED FROM AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM TO HANDLE PLANNING AND PRE-DESIGN WORK FOR COUNTY FACILITIES.  3.2 LIQUOR LICENSES WERE APPROVED FOR THE JACKSON MOTORPLEX AND THE HORSE BARN AND HUNT CLUB.