Local News Headlines – Friday, April 16

THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR WINDOM AREA HEALTH HELD A SPECIAL MEETING THIS WEEK.  THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PRESENTED A BUDGET PROPOSAL, COVERING THE PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.  THE BUDGET PROPOSAL WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL APPROVAL AT THE APRIL 20TH COUNCIL MEETING.  THE GOVERNING BOARD ALSO REVIEWED A PROPOSAL FOR A NEW AGREEMENT BETWEEN WINDOM AREA HEALTH AND THE WINDOM POLICE DEPARTMENT.  THE PLAN CALLS FOR WINDOM AREA HEALTH TO SHARE THE COST OF A POLICE OFFICER WHO WOULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SECURITY AT THE HOSPITAL.   

 

THIS IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN MINNESOTA.  TODAY’S TOPIC COVERS HEAT AND SUN EXPOSURE.  HEAT DISORDERS TAKE PLACE WHEN THE BODY LOSES ITS ABILITY TO SHED HEAT THROUGH CIRCULATION OR SWEATING.  PEOPLE AT HIGHER RISK INCLUDE YOUNG CHILDREN, PEOPLE 65-AND-OLDER, AND PEOPLE WITH A HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE OR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.  TO PROTECT AGAINST HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS, DRINK NON-ALCOHOLIC LIQUIDS; STAY INDOORS IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED PLACE IF POSSIBLE.  WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT, LIGHT COLORED AND LOOSE-FITTING CLOTHING.  NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS IN A PARKED VEHICLE.  THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL ISSUE ADVISORIES WHEN EXCESSIVE HEAT EVENTS ARE EXPECTED. 

 

ENROLLMENT IN THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS.   THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD RECENTLY HEARD A PRESENTATION FROM DEMOGRAPHER HAZEL REINHART.  ACCORDING TO HER STUDY, OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WINDOM’S ENROLLMENT COULD SEE AN INCREASE OF 3% TO 8%, MOSTLY IN THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE-SCHOOL GRADES.  CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY, IMMIGRATION PATTERNS OR LOCAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT COULD IMPACT THE RATE OF INCREASE.  OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, DISTRICT ENROLLMENT IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY ANYWHERE FROM 6% TO NEARLY 15%.  IN TEN YEARS, WINDOM’S ENROLLMENT COULD RANGE FROM 1,175 STUDENTS TO 1,271 STUDENTS.   THIS YEAR, WINDOM HAS JUST OVER 1,100 STUDENTS.   

 

COTTONWOOD COUNTY IS HOLDING A COLLECTION OF HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE.   THE COLLECTION WILL BE HELD AT THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY LANDFILL THIS SATURDAY FROM 8:00AM TO NOON.  IT WILL BE A DRIVE-THROUGH EVENT.  HOUSEHOLD PAINT, CHEMICALS, VARNISH AND SIMILAR MATERIALS MAY BE DROPPED OFF FOR FREE.  CAR SEATS AND CHRISTMAS LIGHTS MAY BE RECYCLED WITH NO CHARGE.  THERE WILL BE A FEE TO RECYCLE OTHER ITEMS, INCLUDING HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES, MATTRESSES AND BOX SPRINGS, T-V SETS AND MONITORS, COMPUTER TOWERS, KEYBOARDS AND PRINTERS, COPIERS, V-C-R‘s AND D-V-D’s, FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS AND BALLASTS.  IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THIS SATURDAY, ITEMS MAY BE TAKEN TO THE LANDFILL DURING REGULAR HOURS. 

 

THE WINDOM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK.   THE COMMISSION DISCUSSED PROPOSALS FROM CONSULTING FIRMS.  7 RESPONSES WERE RECEIVED AND THREE FIRMS WERE CHOSEN TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS.  THE COMMISSION VOTED TO SELECT THE FIRM OF BOLTON AND MENK TO LEAD A REVIEW OF THE CITY’S ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS DEALING WITH LAND-USE ISSUES AND SUB-DIVISIONS.  THE MATTER WILL GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.   THE PROJECT WILL TAKE ROUGHLY 6 TO 7 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.  THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED TO APPROVE THE FINAL PLAT FOR THE KWIK TRIP PROJECT.  THAT WILL ALSO GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL APPROVAL.   

 

THE WINDOM COMMUNITY CENTER COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK.  THE WINDOM LION’S CLUB MADE A PRESENATION ON ITS FUND-RAISING EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A NEW PARK SHELTER AND STAGE AT TEGELS PARK.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE CENTER’S HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS.  TWO UNITS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED.  IT WAS REPORTED THAT A NEW FULL-TIME MAINTENANCE PERSON AND CUSTODIAN HAS BEEN HIRED.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON DEVELOPING NEW RATES FOR HOSTING CONCERTS AT THE FACILITY.  A LIST OF SCHEDULED EVENTS WAS REVIEWED. MOST WEEKENDS ARE BOOKED FOR WEDDING DANCES AND RECEPTIONS.   THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT WAS REVIEWED.