Local News Headlines – Thursday, October 15th

THE LOCAL SONS OF NORWAY STAVANGER LODGE WILL HOLD A SPECIAL PROGRAM AT 7:00 THURSDAY EVENING AT THE COUNTY MUSEUM IN WINDOM.  THERE WILL BE A VIDEO ON THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SONS OF NORWAY ORGANIZATION.  THE PROGRAM WILL DISCUSS THE HISTORY OF PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS THAT OPERATED IN MINNESOTA DURING WORLD WAR TWO.  THE GUEST SPEAKER IS COLLEEN GENGLER OF IONA.  DURING WORLD WAR TWO, GERMAN AND ITALIAN PRISONERS OF WAR WERE HELD AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS INCLUDING NEW ULM, FAIRMONT, AND WERE USED AS WORKERS AT SOME FARMS IN JACKSON COUNTY.   THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ATTEND.  FACE COVERINGS ARE REQUIRED AND SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL BE FOLLOWED.   

 

THE WINDOM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MET THIS WEEK.   A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON THE SALE OF A 1-ACRE PARCEL IN LOT 2, BLOCK #2 AT THE NORTH WINDOM INDUSTRIAL PARK.  THE BIG BEND SNOW RIDERS ARE PLANNING TO DEVELOP THE SITE AS A MAINTENANCE SHOP AND MEETING ROOM.  THE E-D-A REVIEWED A PROPOSED LEASE WITH HY LIFE FOODS FOR LOT 1, BLOCK #2 AT THE NORTH WINDOM INDUSTRIAL PARK.  THEY VOTED TO APPROVE A 3-YEAR LEAST FOR THE SITE.  HY LIFE FOODS WILL COVER ALL COST OF IMPROVEMENTS TO DEVELOP THE SITE FOR A MODULAR DORMITORY HOUSING PROJECT.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE E-D-A SPEC BUILDING.   

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD WAS HELD THIS WEEK.  A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL ITEMS WERE HANDLED.  AMONG ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS, THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL REPORTED THAT THE 4TH-GRADE CLASS WILL MOVE INTO THE HIGHLAND SCHOOL BUILDING AT THE START OF THE 2ND QUARTER ON NOVEMBER 16TH.   THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL REPORTED ON PLANS FOR HOMECOMING.  THE SUPERINTENDENT HAD AN UPDATE ON DISTRICT ENROLLMENT.  AS OF OCTOBER 1ST, THE DISTRICT HAD ENROLLMENT OF 1,092 STUDENTS, SLIGHTLY MORE THAN LAST YEAR.  KINDERGARTEN IS THE LARGEST CLASS IN THE DISTRICT WITH 106 STUDENTS.   

 

THE WINDOM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK.  A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON A ZONING APPLICATION FROM THE WINDOM E-D-A AND HY LIFE FOODS, SEEKING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR MODULAR DORMITORY-STYLE HOUSING IN A DISTRICT ZONED FOR INDUSTRIAL USE.  THE COMMISSION REQUESTED MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSAL.  THEY WILL MEET AGAIN ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27TH TO CONTINUE DISCUSSION ON THE MATTER.  IN OTHER BUSINESS, THE COMMISSION VOTED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A PROPOSED HOUSING PROJECT IN THE 300 BLOCK OF 19TH STREET.  THE PLAN CALLS FOR NEW TOWNHOUSES AND COTTAGE-STYLE HOUSES.   

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK.   INFORMATION WAS PRESENTED ON THE PROPOSED RE-FINANCING OF SOME BONDS THAT WERE ISSUED FOR THE RED ROCK RURAL WATER SYSTEM.  A BID WAS ACCEPTED FOR A BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT IN HIGHWATER TOWNSHIP.  THE BOARD APPROVED A PROJECT TO UPGRADE THE ELECTRICAL SERVICE AT THE CAMPSITES IN DUTCH CHARLIE PARK.  THE BOARD ACCEPTED STATE FUNDING FOR THE SEPTIC SYSTEM GRANT PROGRAM.   THE BOARD WENT INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS LAND NEGOTIATIONS AND DEVELOP AN OFFER FOR A PARCEL OF PROPERTY.