Local News Headlines – Wednesday, March 24th

THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL BOARD HOLDS A REGULAR MEETING AT 4:30 THIS AFTERNOON AT THE SCHOOL BUILDING IN LAMBERTON.  IN PERSONNEL BUSINESS, THE BOARD WILL ACCEPT A RESIGNATION.  THEY MAY APPROVE THE HIRING OF A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER.  THE BOARD WILL REVIEW AND APPROVE A DISTRICT CALENDAR FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR.  ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE BOARD COMMITTEES, THE ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT.  THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL BUSINESS WILL BE HANDLED.  THE BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO DISCUSS FACILITY NEEDS. 

 

THE MT LAKE SCHOOL BOARD HOLDS A SPECIAL MEETING AT 5:30 THIS AFTERNOON IN THE CHOIR ROOM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL IN MT LAKE.   THE BOARD WILL REVIEW A LIST OF PROPOSED BUILDING REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE THIS SUMMER.  THE MT LAKE SCHOOL BOARD WILL ALSO BE REVIEWING ITS INSURANCE PLAN. 

 

HERE’S AN UPDATE ON LOCAL COVID-19 VACCINATIONS IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA.    AS OF SATURDAY, MARCH 20TH – IN COTTONWOOD COUNTY, 31.8% OF COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED ONE DOSE OF VACCINE.  IN JACKSON COUNTY, 27.2% OF COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FIRST DOSE.  IN MURRAY COUNTY, 30% OF RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FIRST DOSE.   IN REDWOOD COUNTY, 27.5% OF COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED A 1ST DOSE OF VACCINE.  IN NOBLES COUNTY, 30.9% OF RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FIRST DOSE.  AND IN WATONWAN COUNTY, 29% OF COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED A 1ST DOSE OF VACCINE.   STATE-WIDE, 25.7% OF MINNESOTA RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED ONE DOSE OF VACCINE. 

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A WORK-SESSION THIS WEEK.    PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE HELD ON FOUR APPLICATIONS FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING TAX ABATEMENTS, AND ONE APPLICATION FOR A REMODELING TAX ABATEMENT.  THE BOARD VOTED TO APPROVE ALL APPLICATIONS FOR TAX ABATEMENTS.  BILLS WERE PRESENTED FOR WORK ON THE VARIOUS BULDING PROJECTS.  A BUILDING CHANGE ORDER WAS APPROVED TO ADJUST SECURITY CAMERAS AND ADD ACCESS CONTROLS TO SOME DOORS.  THE BOARD APPROVED A MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE DISTRICT TEACHERS’ UNION.  TEACHERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO ACCEPT A CASH PAYMENT FOR UNUSED PERSONAL LEAVE DAYS.   

                                                          

THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK.   THE BOARD AGREED TO SPONSOR TWO APPLICATIONS FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION GRANTS.  A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WAS APPROVED WITH THE HERON LAKE WATERSHED DISTRICT.  THE BOARD ADOPTED A POLICY INVOLVING THE USE OF PAID LEAVE DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.  BIDS WERE APPROVED FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECTS IN WEIMER TOWNSHIP AND ALBA TOWNSHIP.  STEP INCREASES WERE APPROVED FOR A DEPUTY AUDITOR-TREASURER AND AN APPRAISER.  A GRANT WAS ACCEPTED ON BEHALF OF THE JACKSON COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM.