Local News Headlines – Wednesday, February 10th

A WINDOM BUSINESS HAS RECEIVED A STATE JOB CREATION GRANT.  ODDSON UNDERGROUND WILL RECEIVE $100-THOUSAND TO ASSIST WITH ITS EXPANSION PROJECT.   THE GRANT WAS PROVIDED BY THE “JOB CREATION FUND” THROUGH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.  ODDSON UNDERGROUND HAS EXPANDED ITS SERVICE TO INCLUDE WORK WITH FIBER OPTICS AND TELE-COMMUNICATIONS.  AS PART OF THE EXPANSION, ODDSON IS CONSTRUCTING A NEW OFFICE BUILDING.  THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT WILL BE ROUGHLY $400-THOUSAND AND CREATE FIVE NEW JOBS.  BUSINESSES QUALIFY FOR THE GRANT PROGRAM BY MEETING CERTAIN GUIDELINES FOR JOB CREATION AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT. 

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.   THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON DISTRICT ENROLLMENT.  WINDOM STARTED THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH 1,098 STUDENTS.  AS OF FEBRUARY 1ST, THE DISTRICT NOW HAS 1,124 STUDENTS.  THERE COULD BE AS MANY AS 124 STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN NEXT FALL, WHICH MIGHT REQUIRE SEVEN SECTIONS OF KINDERGARTEN.  NEXT YEAR’S 1ST-GRADE CLASS COULD HAVE 108 STUDENTS.   THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORTED ON LAST FRIDAY’S COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINIC.  120 DISTRICT EMPLOYEES WERE VACCINATED.  OUT OF 288 TOTAL EMPLOYEES, AT LEAST 161 EMPLOYEES HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FIRST DOSE OF VACCINE.   

 

THE WINDOM CITY PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETS AT 5:30 THIS AFTERNOON AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.   THE COMMISSION WILL MEET WITH A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RIVERFEST COMMITTEE.  THE WINDOM LION’S CLUB WILL DISCUSS ITS PLANS FOR A NEW SHELTER HOUSE, STAGE AND BATHROOMS AT TEGELS PARK.  FUND-RAISING FOR THE PROJECT IS UNDERWAY.  THE CITY ARENA MANAGER WILL HAVE AN UPDATE ON OPTIONS FOR LIVE-STREAMING HOCKEY GAMES AT THE ARENA.  THE WINDOM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DIRECTOR WILL HAVE INFORMATION ON A POSSIBLE SNOWSHOE EVENT TO BE HELD AT DYNAMITE PARK.  THE PARKS DIRECTOR WILL HAVE AN UPDATE ON PLANNING FOR A NEW ISLAND PARK SHELTER HOUSE AND RESTROOMS. 

 

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK.    THE BOARD APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF WETLAND CREDITS AS PART OF THE UPCOMING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ON COUNTY HIGHWAY 7.  THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT WAS PRESENTED FOR THE COUNTY FEEDLOT PROGRAM.  THE PROGRAM HAD SOME SURPLUS FUNDS LEFT OVER FROM LAST YEAR’S BUDGET.  THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR PRESENTED A 2021 BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.  2021 LICENSES WERE APPROVED FOR SOLID WASTE HAULERS.  THE BOARD AGREED TO PROVIDE A REFUND FOR A COUNTY RESIDENT DUE TO A MISTAKE MADE ON HIS PROPERTY TAX STATEMENT.   

 

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.  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.