Local News Headlines – Thursday, Nov 19th

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK.   PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE HELD ON THE 2020 MISCELLANEOUS SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AND THE ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR THE 2020 STREET PROJECT.  THE COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE ALL ASSESSMENTS.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED TWO RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.  THEY VOTED TO APPROVE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT FOR THE “GOVE ACRES” HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.  THEY ALSO APPROVED A VARIANCE FOR A GARAGE ADDITION.  THE COUNCIL VOTED TO TABLE AN APPLICATION FROM THE WINDOM E-D-A AND HY LIFE FOODS FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING.  THAT MATTER WILL BE MOVED TO THE DECEMBER 1ST COUNCIL MEETING. 

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO MAKE COMMENTS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE HIGHWAY 60 CORRIDOR STUDY IN WINDOM.  MINN-DOT IS WORKING WITH A CONSULTING FIRM TO STUDY THE HIGHWAY 60-71 CORRIDOR AND PLAN FOR FUTURE PROJECTS.  PEOPLE MAY VIEW A “VIRTUAL” OPEN HOUSE ONLINE THROUGH NOVEMBER 23RD.  GO TO THE MINN-DOT WEBSITE AND LOOK FOR THE “HIGHWAY 60 WINDOM STUDY.”  A PAPER COPY OF THE REPORT MAY BE READ AT THE WINDOM CITY HALL OR THE WINDOM PUBLIC LIBRARY. PEOPLE MAY FILL OUT A QUESTIONNAIRE AND PROVIDE COMMENTS ON THE PROJECT.  SOME OF THE PROPOSALS INCLUDE THE POSSIBLE USE OF ROUNDABOUTS OR J-TURN INTERSECTIONS AT THE NORTH AND SOUTH JUNCTIONS OF 60 AND 71. 

THE MT LAKE CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK.     THE COUNCIL DISCUSSED A PROPOSAL TO DO SOME INTERIOR REMODELING AT THE CITY HALL BUILDING.  THE PLAN WOULD INCLUDE CHANGES TO THE FRONT COUNTER TO MAKE BETTER USE OF AVAILABLE SPACE.  AN ARCHITECT WILL BE PROVIDING MORE DETAILS AND AN ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF THE PROJECT.  THE COUNCIL REVIEWED THE PROPOSED 2021 CITY BUDGET.  A PUBLIC BUDGET AND TAX HEARING WILL BE HELD ON DECEMBER 1ST.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON VACANCIES AND EXPIRING TERMS FOR MEMBERS OF VARIOUS CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.  THE MAYOR WILL BE PREPARING NEW APPOINTMENTS.   

THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS UPDATED ITS COVID-19 DASHBOARD.  AS OF WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, THE DASHBOARD IS REPORTING THE FOLLOWING TOTALS:  OUT OF 1098 STUDENTS, THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS HAD A TOTAL OF 15 CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19.  SEVEN OF THOSE CASES ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVE.  OUT OF 212 STAFF MEMBERS, THE DISTRICT IS NOW SHOWING A TOTAL OF 9 CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 WITH SIX CASES CURRENTLY ACTIVE.  EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT MOVED ALL STUDENTS TO DISTANCE LEARNING.  AFTER CONTACT TRACING FOR CLOSE CONTACTS, WINDOM HAD OVER 300 STUDENTS AND 36 STAFF MEMBERS ON QUARANTINE ON MONDAY.  DISTANCE LEARNING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH DECEMBER 4TH.