Local News Headlines – Tuesday, December 8th

AN ON-LINE SURVEY IS BEING TAKEN TO GAUGE SUPPORT FOR A TRAIL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN WINDOM.  WINDOM IS CONSIDERING AN APPLICATION FOR A GRANT THROUGH THE STATE “TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM” OR ‘TAP’ FOR SHORT.   THE ‘TAP’ PROGRAM PROVIDES GRANTS TO DEVELOP WALKING AND BIKING TRAILS.  A 20% LOCAL MATCH IS REQUIRED.  WINDOM IS LOOKING AT A PROJECT THAT WOULD FILL IN GAPS BETWEEN EXISTING TRAILS AND EXTEND SIDEWALKS FROM THE WINDOM RECREATIONAL AREA TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER, TEGELS PARK AND COTTONWOOD LAKE PARK.  A LINK TO THE SURVEY MAY BE FOUND ON THE WINDOM CITY WEBSITE. 

 

THE WINDOM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETS AT 7:00 TONIGHT AT THE WINDOM CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.    A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON A ZONING APPLICATION.  “SOUTHWEST DESIGN BUILD, INCORPORATED” IS SEEKING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A PROPOSED PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT WITH MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HOUSING IN THE 19-HUNDRED BLOCK OF 1ST AVENUE.  FOLLOWING THE HEARING, THE COMMISSION WILL CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL.   IN OTHER BUSINESS, THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL CONSIDER ADDING A NEW GOAL TO ITS LIST OF GOALS FOR 2021.   

 

THE WINDOM COMMUNITY CENTER COMMISSION MEETS AT 5:30 THIS AFTERNOON AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.  THE COMMISSION WILL REVIEW RENTAL SURVEYS FROM RECENT EVENTS.  A DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD ON A PLAQUE TO RECOGNIZE PEOPLE WHO DONATED TOWARD THE OUTDOOR SEATING AREA.   A DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD ON REDUCED RATES FOR WINTER RENTALS.  UPDATES WILL BE PROVIDED ON POTENTIAL BUILDING PROJECTS INCLUDING ROOF REPAIRS AND WORK ON THE PARKING LOT.  A DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2021.  FURTHER DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD ON ROOM RENTAL RATES.   

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL HELD A “TRUTH-IN-TAXATION” HEARING LAST WEEK.   AFTER SOME ADJUSTMENTS, THE 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY IS NOW PROPOSED AT JUST OVER $2.1-MILLION – AN INCREASE OF 3.5%.  LAST YEAR, WINDOM HAD A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE OF JUST UNDER 4%.  DEBT SERVICE IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE.   LOOKING AT THE 2021 CITY BUDGET, TOTAL REVENUES ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY JUST OVER 2%.  THE CITY’S GENERAL FUND RESERVES ARE PROJECTED AT JUST OVER $2.3-MILLION.  WINDOM IS PROJECTED TO RECEIVE A 3% INCREASE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID FROM THE STATE, BUT THAT COULD BE ADJUSTED BASED ON THE STATE’S NEW BUDGET.   

 

THE PRAIRIE ARTS CONTINUUM HAS RECEIVED A GRANT TO HELP SUPPORT AN UPCOMING PRODUCTION.   THE SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA ARTS COUNCIL ANNOUNCED THAT ‘PAC’ WILL RECEIVE A GRANT OF $7-THOUSAND TO SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF “SHREK, THE MUSICAL.”  THE PRAIRIE ARTS CONTINUUM IS A LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS TO PROMOTE THE ARTS IN THE AREA.   “SHREK, THE MUSICAL” IS BASED ON THE POPULAR ANIMATED MOVIES ABOUT A GIANT GREEN OGRE AND HIS FRIENDS.  THE SHOW WAS ORIGINALLY GOING TO BE PRESENTED IN MARCH, BUT IT WAS POSTPONED DUE TO THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK.  THE SHOW IS NOW TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO BE PERFORMED IN APRIL OF 2021 AT THE ‘BARC’ AUDITORIUM.