Local News Headlines – Thursday, December 10th

THE DES MOINES VALLEY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY WILL HOLD A BOARD MEETING AT 9:00 THURSDAY MORNING IN THE CAFETERIA AT THE JACKSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER EAST BUILDING.  A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WILL BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE.  THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE AN UPDATE ON COVID-19.  THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER THE APPOINTMENT OF A COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR.  THEY WILL CONSIDER AN AGREEMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH CONSULTING SERVICES.  THE BOARD WILL GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO CONDUCT THE ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. 

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HOLDS A SPECIAL MEETING AT 6:00 TONIGHT AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.  THE BOARD WILL BE HOLDING THE ANNUAL ‘TRUTH-IN-TAXATION’ HEARING.  A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED 2021 SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET AND THE 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY.  INFORMATION WILL BE PRESENTED ON THE RECENT HISTORY OF THE TAX LEVY, DEBT SERVICE, STATE AID AND MORE.  THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED TAX LEVY.  FOLLOWING THE HEARING, THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD WILL CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO CERTIFY THE FINAL 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY. 

 

PUBLIC VOTING WILL BE ACCEPTED TODAY IN THE WINDOM HOLIDAY LIGHTING CONTEST.   THE CONTEST IS BEING SPONSORED BY THE WINDOM AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU.  THERE ARE 18 BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING IN THE CONTEST AND 48 RESIDENTIAL HOMES.  A LIST OF THE PARTICIPANTS AND A MAP OF LOCATIONS MAY BE FOUND IN THE MOST RECENT EDITION OF THE SHOPPER.  MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE DISPLAYS TODAY.  GO TO THE WINDOM AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FACEBOOK PAGE AND LOOK FOR A LINK TO CAST YOUR VOTE.  WINNING RESIDENTIAL HOMES WILL RECEIVE CHAMBER BUCKS; WINNING BUSINESSES WILL RECEIVE CASH PRIZES. 

 

THE WESTBROOK CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK.  THE TRUTH-IN-TAXATION HEARING WAS HELD.  THE COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE THE 2021 PROPOSED BUDGET AND CERTIFIED THE 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY.  THE LEVY WILL INCREASE BY JUST OVER 3.7% FROM THE CURRENT YEAR’S LEVY.  THE STREET DEPARTMENT HAD AN UPDATE ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SEWER LIFT STATION.  BIDS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AND WORK COULD BEGIN YET THIS YEAR, WEATHER PERMITTING.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED NEW BYLAWS AND OFFICERS FOR THE AMBULANCE SERVICE.  THEY ACCEPTED A DONATION OF $6,000 FROM THE STORDEN LEGION ON BEHALF OF THE AMBULANCE SERVICE. 

 

                                             

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.