THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR THE DES MOINES VALLEY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY WILL HOLD A WORK-SESSION AT 9:30 WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE BOARD WILL MEET IN THE CAFETERIA AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER EAST BUILDING IN JACKSON. BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE REVIEWING THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE AGENCY. AREAS TO BE DISCUSSED INCLUDE VALUES, STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, PRIORITIES AND GOALS. THE BOARD WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR THE AGENCY.
THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT IS HOLDING A PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO VISIT THE NEW WINDOM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE ‘CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION’ CENTER AT THE MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING. TOURS OF BOTH BUILDINGS WILL BE PROVIDED FROM 5:00 TO 7:00 WEDNESDAY EVENING. ICE CREAM WILL BE SERVED. THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING AND THE C-T-E CENTER OPENED LAST YEAR, BUT TOURS COULD NOT BE HELD AT THAT TIME DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS. THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HOLDS ALL STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THE 5TH GRADE. THE C-T-E CENTER INCLUDED AN ADDITION OF 5,000 SQUARE FEED AND A REMODELING OF THE EXISTING SHOP SPACE.
THE HERON LAKE CITY COUNCIL MEETS AT 7:00 THIS EVENING AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS. A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON THE PROPOSED VACATION OF PORTIONS OF PRAIRIE AVENUE AND 7TH STREET. PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED. THE COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF A COUNCIL MEMBER AND FORMALLY DECLARE A VACANCY ON THE COUNCIL. A RESOLUTION WILL BE PRESENTED TO SET A PRELIMINARY 2022 PROPERTY TAX LEVY AND A PRELIMINARY CITY BUDGET. THE COUNCIL WILL HEAR A REPORT ON SOME PRIVATE PROPERTY AND BUSINESS PROPERTIES. THE SUMMER RECREATION DEPARTMENT WILL PRESENT A FINANCIAL REPORT. THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE UPDATES ON SOME REPAIRS AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
A GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY IS BEING HELD FOR A NEW BUSINESS IN JACKSON. ACCORDING TO THE JACKSON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 9:00 THURSDAY MORNING FOR THE NEW LA CANNE FAMILY FUNERAL HOME FACILITY IN JACKSON. THE FUNERAL HOME WILL BE LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF INDUSTRIAL PARKWAY AND PROSPECT LANE IN NORTH JACKSON. IT IS PLANNED AS A 9,000 SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING. CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN THIS YEAR AND THE FUNERAL HOME PLANS TO OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN THE SPRING OF 2022. THE LA CANNE FAMILY FUNERAL SERVICE HAS OPERATED IN WINDOM SINCE 2004. OWNER JOEL LA CANNE HAS WORKED IN THE FUNERAL BUSINESS SINCE 1998.
THE WINDOM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MET LAST WEEK. E-D-A DIRECTOR DREW HAGE DISCUSSED THE CITY’S SIDE-YARD SET-BACK REQUIREMENTS FOR PROPERTY IN A SHORELAND DISTRICT. HAGE REQUESTED THAT THE COMMISSION CONSIDER REDUCING THE REQUIRED SETBACK FROM 20-FEET TO 10% OF THE WIDTH OF THE LOT. THIS WOULD IMPACT ANY NEW HOUSING AT COTTONWOOD LAKE. THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEARD AN UPDATE FROM THE FIRM OF BOLTON AND MENK, WHICH IS WORKING ON A REVIEW OF THE CITY’S LAND-USE CODES AND REGULATIONS. SEVERAL CHANGES AND AMENDMENTS ARE BEING RECOMMENDED. THE REVIEW PROCESS WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR.
THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PREPARING FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR. THE SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAM INCLUDING BREAKFAST AND LUNCH, WILL AGAIN BE OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE FOR ALL STUDENTS UNDER A FEDERAL PROGRAM. WHILE THE MEALS ARE FREE, SOME CHILDREN MAY QUALIFY FOR ADDITIONAL BENEFITS BASED ON INCOME, AND THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY QUALIFY FOR EDUCATIONAL FUNDS AND DISCOUNTS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF LOW-INCOME STUDENTS. ALL FAMILIES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO FILL OUT THE “APPLICATION FOR EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS” AND RETURN IT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICE. IF ELIGIBLE FAMILIES DO NOT RETURN THE FORMS, THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT COULD LOSE FUNDING THAT IS USED TO SUPPORT SMALLER CLASS SIZES.