THIS SATURDAY IS THE STATE FISHING OPENER – THE OPENING DAY OF FISHING FOR WALLEYE, BASS, TROUT AND NORTHERN PIKE. THAT IS THE LATEST POSSIBLE DAY FOR THE FISHING OPENER UNDER STATE LAW. ANYONE 16-OR-OLDER NEEDS TO PURCHASE A STATE FISHING LICENSE. LICENSES MAY BE UPRCHASED ONLINE AT THE D-N-R WEBSITE OR AT A LICENSED VENDOR. A TROUT STAMP IS NEEDED TO FISH IN DESIGNATED TROUT STREAMS AND LAKES. FOR MOST SPECIES, THE DAILY AND POSSESSION LIMITS ARE THE SAME. LARGEMOUTH AND SMALLMOUTH BASS ARE CATCH-AND-RELEASE ONLY THROUGH MAY 28TH. AFTER THAT, THE LIMIT IS 6. OTHER LIMITS INCLUDE 10 CRAPPIES, 20 SUNFISH AND 5 CATFISH.
THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK. A 2021 CONTRACT AGREEMENT WAS APPROVED FOR THE ‘SENTENCE TO SERVE’ PROGRAM. THE BOARD REVIEWED AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE NEW COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. THE POSITION WAS OFFERED TO RYAN KROSCH, THE FORMER COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IN NICOLLET COUNTY. UNDER THE AGREEMENT, THE STARTING SALARY WOULD BE JUST OVER $138-THOUSAND. THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD SPENT A PORTION OF THE MEETING IN CLOSED SESSION, MEETING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. AN OPENING WAS POSTED FOR A SEASONAL POSITION FOR A HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR. A COMPUTER SOFTWARE PACKAGE WILL BE PURCHASED FOR USE IN THE AUDITOR-TREASURER’S OFFICE.
THE FORMER OPERATOR OF A HOME HEALTH-CARE NURSING AGENCY IN WORTHINGTON HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF MEDICAID FRAUD. REMONA LYSA BROWN WAS FOUND GUILTY FOLLOWING A JURY TRIAL IN NOBLES COUNTY DISTRICT COURT. SHE WAS CONVICTED ON 14 FELONY COUNTS OF AIDING AND ABETTING THEFT BY FALSE REPRESENTATION. BROWN RAN THE MINNESOTA BRANCH OF ‘CARING AND COMPASSIONATE HEALTH CARE.’ THROUGH HER ACTIONS, BROWN REPORTEDLY DEFRAUDED THE STATE’S MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF MORE THAN $1.8-MILLION. THE CASE INVOVES INCIDENTS THAT TOOK PLACE FROM 2021 TO 2015, INCLUDING SUBMITTING BILLS FOR SERVICES THAT WERE NOT PROVIDED, OR OVER-BILLING FOR SERVICES THAT WERE PROVIDED. SENTENCING WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON JUNE 24TH.
THE WINDOM E-D-A MET EARLIER THIS WEEK. A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON THE STATE REDEVELOPMENT GRANT THAT WAS AWARDED TO WINDOM FOR THE CEMSTONE PROJECT. THE GRANT AGREEMENT WAS REVIEWED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. WINDOM WOULD HAVE UNTIL THE SUMMER OF 2024 TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. UPDATES WERE PROVIDED ON TWO PROJECTS INVOLVING MINN-DOT. MINN-DOT AND THE CITY OF WINDOM HAVE AGREED ON A ‘3-LANE’ CONCEPT FOR A SECTION OF HIGHWAY 60 IN SOUTH WINDOM. AS PART OF THE PROJECT, THE 3RD AVENUE ACCESS TO SUBWAY AND GODFATHERS WILL BE CHANGED TO A RIGHT-TURN-IN, RIGHT-TURN-OUT ONLY FOR TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 60. THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON PLANS FOR A NEW CITY STREET OFF EAST HIGHWAY 60 BETWEEN DOLLAR GENERAL AND THE NEW CAR WASH.
THE WINDOM COMMUNITY CENTER COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK. THE COMMISSION REVIEWED RENTAL SURVEYS THAT WERE FILLED OUT FOLLOWING TWO RECENT EVENTS. ALL COMMENTS WERE POSITIVE. THE CENTER DIRECTOR PRESENTED QUOTES FOR A BUILDING REPAIR PROJECT TO REPLACE TWO HEATING AND VENTILATION UNITS. THE STAFF IS COMPARING THE QUOTES AND WILL BRING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSION AT A FUTURE MEETING. THE COMMISSION APPROVED A NEW RENTAL RATE FOR GROUPS WISHING TO HOLD CONCERTS AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS AT THE FACILITY. A LIST OF SCHEDULED EVENTS WAS REVIEWED. THERE ARE EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR ALMOST EVENT WEEKEND UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER.
CONSTRUCTION WORK IS UNDERWAY ON TWO SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS IN THE JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE MAIN PROJECT INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW MIDDLE-SCHOOL BUILDING IN LAKEFIELD. THE BUILDING WILL COVER 84-THOUSAND SQUARE FEET. IT WILL INCLUDE NEW CLASSROOMS, ROOM FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND SCIENCE LABS. THE BUILDING WILL ALSO HAVE A NEW GYMNASIUM, NEW AREAS FOR BAND AND CHOIR PRACTICE, A NEW KITCHEN AND A COMMONS AREA. IN A RELATED PROJECT, IMPROVEMENTS ARE BEING MADE TO THE EXISTING PLEASANTVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN LAKEFIELD. THE PROJECT WILL IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND PROMOTE HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBILITY.