Local News Headlines – Thursday, May 13th

THE DES MOINES VALLEY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY HOLDS A BOARD MEETING AT 9:00 THURSDAY MORNING.  THE BOARD WILL HEAR THE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE UNIT SUPERVISORS.  THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE WILL HAVE AN UPDATE ON COVID-19 ISSUES.  THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH A LAW FIRM TO ACT AS THE BUSINESS ATTORNEY FOR THE AGENCY.  A CONTRACT FOR CONSULTING SERVICES WILL BE EXTENDED.  THE BOARD WILL REVIEW A JOB DESCRIPTION FOR A NEW POSITION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS SPECIALIST.  THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT WILL BE PRESENTED.  THE BOARD WILL APPROVE SEVERAL REVISED PERSONNEL POLICIES.   

 

HERE’S AN UPDATE ON COVID-19 VACCINATIONS IN MINNESOTA.  THROUGH LAST SATURDAY, 60.3% OF MINNESOTA RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER HAVE RECEIVED A 1ST DOSE OF VACCINE.  49.1% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  ALMOST 88% OF RESIDENTS 65-AND-OLDER HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE.  LOCALLY, IN COTTONWOOD COUNTY, 51% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  IN JACKSON COUNTY, 43% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  IN MURRAY COUNTY, 48% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  IN WATONWAN COUNTY, 48% OF RESIDENTS ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  IN REDWOOD COUNTY, 44% OF RESIDENTS 16-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.   

 

THE WINDOM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT.  THE D-N-R HAS COMPLETED ITS PROJECT TO UPDATE THE FLOOD PLAIN MAPS.  THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL DRAFT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY’S FLOOD PLAIN REGULATIONS TO ADOPT THE NEW MAPS AND MAKE OTHER CHANGES.   THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON PLANS TO UPDATE SECTIONS OF THE CITY CODE DEALING WITH LAND-USE REGULATIONS.  THE FIRM OF BOLTON AND MENK HAS BEEN HIRED AS CONSULTANTS ON THE PROJECT.  THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS DEVELOPING A LIST OF SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT THEY WANT THE CONSULTANT TO FOCUS ON DURING THEIR REVIEW.  IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE FINAL PLAT HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR THE NEW KWIK TRIP STORE. 

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD MET EARLIER THIS WEEK.  A PRELIMINARY DISTRICT BUDGET FOR THE 2022 FISCAL YEAR WAS APPROVED.  THE BUDGET CURRENTLY PROJECTS A DEFICIT AND A REDUCTION IN THE RESERVE ACCOUNT.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON TENTATIVE PLANS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.  WITH RECENT CHANGES IN COVID-19 GUIDELINES, THE DISTRICT IS HOPING TO HOLD A TRADITIONAL INDOOR CEREMONY WITH FAMILY MEMBERS ATTENDING.  A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL ITEMS WERE HANDLED.  THE BOARD APPROVED 10 ADDITIONAL CONTRACT DAYS FOR THE DISTRICT PRINCIPALS AND THE SCHOOL NURSE.  A NUMBER OF DONATIONS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WERE ACCEPTED INCLUDING $1,000 FOR THE NEW PLAYGROUND AT THE HIGHLAND SCHOOL BUILDING AND $495 FOR THE ROBOTICS PROGRAM. 

 

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.