Local News Headlines – Thurs, May 6

THE FULDA CITY COUNCIL HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.    THE COUNCIL ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE, PROVIDING AN EXEMPTION FROM SET-BACK REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW WHEELCHAIR RAMPS.  A TEMPORARY LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION WAS APPROVED FOR THE FULDA FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND A FIREWORKS PERMIT WAS APPROVED FOR THE FULDA AREA COMMUNITY CLUB.  BOTH PERMITS INVOLVE EVENTS DURING THE WOOD DUCK FESTIVAL IN LATE JUNE.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED A CONTRACT FOR ASSESSING SERVICES.  A QUOTE WAS ACCEPTED FOR LAWN-CARE SERVICE FOR THE CITY HALL BUILDING.  FIVE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS WERE APPROVED.  QUOTES WILL BE SOUGHT FOR ROOF REPAIRS AT CITY HALL AND THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. 

 

THE WESTBROOK CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK.  THE ANNUAL BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION WAS HELD.  ALL ASSESSMENTS WERE APPROVED AS PRESENTED AND NO CHANGES WERE MADE.  DURING THE REGULAR COUNTY MEETING, THE 2020 CITY AUDIT REPORT WAS PRESENTED AND APPROVED.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED A 50-CENT AN HOUR WAGE INCREASE FOR LIFEGUARDS AT THE SWIMMING POOL.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED A TEMPORARY LIQUOR LICENSE FOR THE WESTBROOK AREA VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE AT EVENTS DURING THE FUN DAYS CELEBRATION IN JUNE.  TWO BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS WERE APPROVED.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF NEW PAGERS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.  

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK.  THE COUNCIL ACCEPTED THE RESIGNATION OF COUNCIL MEMBER JACQUIE SCHMIDT, EFFECTIVE MAY 31ST.  THE OPENING WILL BE FILLED BY APPOINTMENT, WITH THAT PERSON SERVING UNTIL THE 2022 GENERAL ELECTION.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED APPLICATIONS FOR A NUMBER OF LICENSES INCLUDING TEMPORARY LIQUOR LICENSES, DANCE PERMITS AND PERMITS FOR OUTDOOR EVENTS INCLUDING RIVERFEST CONCERTS.  A DISCUSSION ON THE ‘PIRATE SHIP’ AT ISLAND PARK WAS TABLED UNTIL THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.  THE COUNCIL REQUESTED THAT THE BASEBALL ASSOCATION MEET WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE PARK AND REC COMMISSION TO RESOLVE SOME OUTSTANDING ISSUES. 

 

A WINDOM MAN WHO WAS FACING MURDER CHARGES HAS REPORTEDLY REACHED A PLEA DEAL.  25-YEAR-OLD ZACHARIAH BAKER WAS DUE TO GO ON TRIAL ON CHARGES OF 2ND DEGREE UNINTENTIONAL MURDER AND ASSAULT IN THE 3RD DEGREE.  BAKER WAS ARRESTED AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS INFANT CHILD IN THE SUMMER OF 2019.  AN AUTOPSY DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS RELATED TO A HEAD INJURY.  ON TUESDAY, BAKER REPORTEDLY AGREED TO PLEAD GUILTY TO A CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER IN THE 2ND DEGREE.  UNDER SENTENCING RECOMMENDATIONS, BAKER WOULD RECEIVE A PRISON SENTENCE OF 74 TO 86 MONTHS.  HE WILL RECEIVE CREDIT FOR 31 MONTHS SPENT IN JAIL WHILE AWAITING TRIAL.   

 

THE WINDOM CITY TELE-COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK.   THERE WAS A PERSONNEL UPDATE.  AN OUTSIDE PLANT TECHNICIAN HAS RESIGNED.  THE OPENING WILL BE POSTED FOR TWO WEEKS FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS.  IF ONE OF THE CURRENT EMPLOYEES APPLIES FOR THE POSITION, AN OPENING WOULD BE POSTED FOR A NEW CABLE TECH.  WORK CONTINUES TO HOOK UP NEW CUSTOMERS ALONG COUNTY ROAD 13 AND 17.  NEW SERVICE IS BEING INSTALLED FOR THE GUARDIAN INN APARTMENT RENOVATION PROJECT.  SERVICE WAS ALSO EXTENDED TO A HOUSE ON NORTH HIGHWAY 71.  DETAILS ARE BEING FINALIZED FOR A NEW STREAMING VIDEO SERVICE.  THERE WILL BE THREE TIERS OF SERVICE PLUS PREMIUM CHANNELS.   

 

HERE IS AN UPDATE ON COVID-19 VACCINATIONS IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA.  STATE-WIDE, JUST UNDER 59% OF MINNESOTA RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER HAVE RECEIVED ONE DOSE OF VACCINE, AND 45% ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  LOCALLY, IN COTTONWOOD COUNTY, AS OF LAST SATURDAY, 54% OF COUNTY RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER HAVE RECEIVED ONE DOSE AND 48% ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  IN JACKSON COUNTY, 42% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  IN WATONWAN COUNTY, 46% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.   IN REDWOOD COUNTY, 42% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  AND IN NOBLES COUNTY, 51% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.