Local News Headlines – Friday, December 11th

THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK.   A CONTRACT WAS APPROVED FOR A HIGHWAY RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT ON 11 MILES OF COUNTY HIGHWAY 4.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON THE COUNTY’S ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.  THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE PROS AND CONS OF HAVING A COUNTY COORDINATOR VERSUS A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.  SALARIES WERE SET FOR COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS FOR 2021 WITH NO INCREASE.  WAGES WERE SET FOR NON-UNION EMPLOYEES.  PERFORMANCE STEP INCREASES WERE APPROVED FOR ELIGIBLE UNION AND NON-UNION EMPLOYEES.  TWO PEOPLE WERE RE-APPOINTED TO THE LIBRARY BOARD.   

 

THE WINDOM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK.   A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON A ZONING APPLICATION.  A DEVELOPER IS SEEKING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AT THE SITE OF THE GUARDIAN INN MOTEL.  THE PLAN IS TO CONVERT THE PROPERTY INTO 1, 2 OR 3-BEDROOM APARTMENTS WITH A DETACHED GARAGE, PLAYGROUND AREA AND A PICNIC AREA.   THE COMMISSION VOTED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE APPLICATION, WITH A CONDITION THAT A 6-FOOT PRIVACY FENCE BE ADDED ALONG THE SOUTH PROPERTY LINE.   THE COMMISSION ALSO DISCUSSED OPTIONS FOR DEVELOPING MORE HOUSING IN WINDOM.   

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE FULDA CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD THIS WEEK.  THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THAT THE 1993 RESCUE TRUCK HAS BEEN SOLD TO THE CITY OF BEARDSLEY.  THE COUNCIL DETERMINED THAT THE CITY WILL NOT WAIVE THE LIMITS ON ITS LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE.   THE FINAL 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY WAS CERTIFIED AT JUST OVER $459-THOUSAND, AN INCREASE OF 4.31% OVER THE CURRENT YEAR’S LEVY.  TOBACCO LICENSES WERE APPROVED FOR THREE LOCAL BUSINESSES.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED A NEW CONTRACT WITH THE FIRM THAT HANDLES BILLING SERVICES FOR THE AMBULANCE DEPARTMENT.  THEY APPROVED A SCHEDULE OF FEES FOR CITY SERVICES.    

 

THE MT LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING ON MONDAY.  MT LAKE STUDENTS IN THE 9TH THROUGH 12TH GRADES HAVE BEEN ON DISTANCE LEARNING SINCE NOVEMBER 30TH.  FOLLOWING A SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING THIS WEEK, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE SENIOR HIGH STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL IN PERSON STARTING ON MONDAY.  ALL OTHER STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ATTENDING SCHOOL IN PERSON.   THE MT LAKE SCHOOL DISTRICT REMINDS PARENTS THAT THEY SHOULD NOT SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL IF THEY ARE SICK.  IF A CHILD MIGHT HAVE COVID-19 SYMPTOMS, HAVE THEM TESTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 

  

A MEETING OF THE WINDOM COMMUNITY CENTER COMMISSION WAS HELD THIS WEEK.   COMMISSION MEMBERS REVIEWED RENTAL SURVEYS FROM TWO RECENT EVENTS.  ALL COMMENTS WERE POSITIVE.  A PLAQUE IS BEING CREATED TO RECOGNIZE DONORS AND CONTRIBUTORS FOR THE OUTDOOR PAVILION AREA.   THE COMMISSION APPROVED A PLAN TO OFFER 25% OFF REGULAR ROOM RENTAL RATES DURING THE WINTER SEASON.  THEY ALSO APPROVED A PLAN TO OFFER 25% OFF REGULAR RATES FOR WEEKDAY ROOM RENTALS FROM 7:00AM TO 4:00PM.  THE COMMISSION DISCUSSED ITS ‘SMART’ GOALS FOR 2021.  ONE GOAL IS TO INCREASE REVENUE AT THE FACILITY BY 10% IN 2021.  ANOTHER GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE.