Local News Headlines – Thursday, February 11th

THE DES MOINES VALLEY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY WILL HOLD A BOARD MEETING AT 9:00 THIS MORNING IN THE CAFETERIA AT THE JACKSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER EAST BUILDING.  THERE WILL BE A PROGRAMMING REPORT AND EMPLOYEE INTRODUCTIONS.  THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY WILL HAVE AN UPDATE ON COVID-19 INCLUDING VACCINATIONS.  THE FISCAL DEPARTMENT WILL PRESENT AN AMENDED BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR 2021.  THE BOARD WILL APPROVE A NEW CONTRACT FOR CLEANING AND CUSTODIAL SERVICES.  THE 2021 PAY EQUITY REPORT WILL BE APPROVED.  TWO SOCIAL WORKERS WILL BE MOVED TO REGULAR STATUS FOLLOWING THEIR EVALUATIONS.   

 

TWO AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS HELD ELECTIONS TUESDAY ON BUILDING BOND ISSUES.  IN THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, THERE WERE THREE QUESTIONS ON THE BALLOT AND ALL THREE WERE DEFEATED.  THE MAIN QUESTION, CALLING FOR A NEW $41-MILLION SCHOOL BUILDING, RECEIVED JUST OVER 50% OF THE VOTE – BUT IT NEEDED 60% VOTING IN FAVOR FOR THE MEASURE TO PASS.  SCHOOL OFFICIALS HAVE ALREADY STATED THAT THEY PLAN TO PURSUE ANOTHER REFERENDUM IN THE FUTURE.   IN THE SPRINGFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT, VOTERS NARRROWLY APPROVED A REMODELING PROJECT WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $19.7-MILLION.   

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.   THE BOARD APPROVED A FINAL LEASE WITH THE SOUTHWEST-WEST CENTRAL SERVICE COOPERATIVE FOR THE USE OF THE WINFAIR SCHOOL BUILDING BY THE AREA LEARNING CENTER.  THIS IS A THREE-YEAR LEASE.  THE ANNUAL RENT FOR THE 1ST YEAR IS $116-THOUSAND.  AN OVERLOAD ASSIGNMENT WAS APPROVED FOR 5TH-GRADE TEACHER KIMBERLY ARCHIBALD.  THE BOARD DISCUSSED OPTIONS FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL CALENDAR.  LABOR DAY FALLS ON SEPTEMBER 6TH.  MIDDLE AND HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL BEGIN CLASS ON SEPTEMBER 7TH.  ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WILL HAVE TWO DAYS OF CONFERENCES AND BEGIN CLASS ON SEPTEMBER 9TH.   

 

THE WINDOM E-D-A MET THIS WEEK.  ELECTION OF OFFICERS WAS TABLED.  THERE IS A VACANCY FOR AN AT-LARGE MEMBER THAT NEED TO BE FILLED.  THE E-D-A APPROVED AN EXTENSION OF THE FARM LEASE FOR PROPERTY IN THE ‘PHASE II’ AREA OF THE NORTH WINDOM INDUSTRIAL PARK.  IT WAS REPORTED THAT A BUSINESS HAS SHOWN INTEREST IN A PROJECT AT THE INDUSTRIAL PARK.  THE E-D-A DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF PUTTING UP A SMALL ‘SPEC’ BUILDING THAT COULD BE LEASED TO THE BUSINESS.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON PROPERTY OWNED BY THE E-D-A ON 1ST AVENUE.   A DEVELOPER IS INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THE LOT AS PART OF THE REMODELING PROJECT AT THE GUARDIAN INN SITE.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE HOUSING TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM. 

  

A MEETING OF THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WAS HELD LAST WEEK.   THE JACKSON FOOD SHELF MADE A PRESENTATION AND PRESENTED A REQUEST FOR FUNDING.  THE BOARD APPROVED AN EXTENSION OF THE COUNTY’S COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN.  THE BOARD POSTED AN OPENING FOR A PART-TIME DEPUTY AUDITOR-TREASURER TO WORK ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS.  THIS PERSON WOULD HELD WITH END-OF-THE YEAR REPORTING, TAX PREPARATION AND AUDIT PREPARATION.  RESTITUTION WAS APPROVED FOR WINTER RESCUE SERVICES.  THE BOARD WENT INTO CLOSED SESSION TO CONDUCT EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS.