Local News Headlines – Tuesday, December 22nd

THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET AT 8:30 THIS MORNING AT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT BUILDING IN SLAYTON.  THE BOARD WILL HANDLE A NUMBER OF YEAR-END ITEMS.  2021 SALARIES WILL BE SET FOR COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS.  THE BOARD WILL SET SALARIES AND PER-DIEM RATES FOR COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS.  A SALARY INCREASE WILL BE APPROVED FOR NON-UNION EMPLOYEES.  A CONTRACT WILL BE APPROVED WITH THE MEDICAL EXAMINER.  THE BOARD MAY APPROVE A NEW LABOR UNION AGREEMENT FOR THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.  THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE WILL DISCUSS THE PURCHASE OF NEW VEHICLES. 

 

WINDOM AREA HEALTH WILL BEGIN PROVIDING COVID-19 VACCINATIONS THIS WEEK.  WINDOM AREA HEALTH HAS RECEIVED AN ALLOTMENT OF THE PFIZER COVID-19 VACCINE.  THE INITIAL DOSES WILL BE RESERVED FOR HEALTH-CARE WORKERS.  WINDOM AREA HEALTH HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO WILL BE THE FIRST TO BE VACCINATED.  VACCINATIONS WILL BE TAKING PLACE TODAY AND POSSIBLY TOMORROW, DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF DOSES AVAILABLE.  THE PFIZER VACCINE REQUIRES TWO DOSES TO BE ADMINISTERED, WITH THE SECOND DOSE TAKING PLACE AT LEAST THREE WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST DOSE.   

 

WINDOM RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON A POSSIBLE STATE GRANT OPPORTUNITY.  WINDOM IS CONSIDERING AN APPLICATION TO THE “TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM.”  IF APPROVED, FUNDS WOULD BE USED TO EXTEND TRAILS AND SIDEWALKS TO MAKE WALKING AND BIKING SAFER AND MORE CONVENIENT.  BEFORE MAKING A FINAL DECISION, THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO KNOW WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE PROGRAM.  MORE INFORMATION MAY BE FOUND ON THE WINDOM CITY WEBSITE UNDER “RECENT UPDATES.”  THERE IS A LINK TO FILL OUT AN ON-LINE SURVEY.  THERE ARE FIVE POTENTIAL SEGMENTS FOR THE PROGRAM. 

 

A LONG-TIME WINDOM BUSINESS IS CHANGING OWNERSHIP.   TRAVIS AND BRIDGET HODKIN, OWNERS OF ELITE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WILL BE PURCHASING SMITH APPLIANCE FROM ROB AND TAMI McMENIMEN.  THE SALE WILL BE FINALIZED IN EARLY JANUARY.  TO PREPARE FOR THE CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP, SMITH APPLIANCE WILL BE CLOSED FROM DECEMBER 24TH THROUGH JANUARY 3RD.  DELIVERIES AND SERVICE WORK THAT WERE ALREADY SCHEDULED WILL BE COMPLETED.  ROB AND TAMI McMENIMEN HAVE OWNED SMITH APPLIANCE FOR MORE THAN 6 YEARS.  THE BUSINESS IS LOCATED ON 24TH STREET, JUST OFF EAST HIGHWAY 60. 

 

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HELD A REGULAR MEETING LAST WEEK.  THE 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY WAS CERTIFIED WITH AN INCREASE OF 3%.  THE FINAL 2021 COUNTY BUDGET WAS ADOPTED.  THE BOARD VOTED TO DENY A PETITION THAT WAS SEEKING AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR A PROPOSED GRAVEL QUARRY IN AMBOY TOWNSHIP.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE SALE OF JUST OVER $1.3-MILLION IN BONDS FOR THE RED ROCK RURAL WATER SYSTEM.  A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL ITEMS WERE HANDLED.  A RESIGNATION WAS ACCEPTED FROM THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY.  2021 SALARIES WERE SET FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS.