Local News Headlines – Wednesday, October 27

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK.  THE U-S FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE REVIEWED A PROPOSAL TO PURCHASE 7.2 ACRES OF LAND IN LAKESIDE TOWNSHIP TO USE FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT.  THE PLAN WAS APPROVED.  THE WINDOM E-D-A DIRECTOR PRESENTED AN APPLICATION FOR A RESIDENTIAL HOUSING TAX ABATEMENT FOR A NEW TWIN HOME IN MT LAKE.  A PUBLIC HEARING WAS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 2ND. WINTER SNOW MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS WERE APPROVED WITH THE CITIES OF JEFFERS, WESTBROOK AND MT LAKE, AND LAKESIDE TOWNSHIP.  A QUOTE WAS ACCEPTED FOR CONCRETE CRUSHING SERVICES FOR THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.   

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A WORK-SESSION THIS WEEK.  INFORMATION WAS PRESENTED ON THE RENEWAL OF PROPERTY AND LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE.  THE BOARD VOTED TO GO WITH A PROPOSAL FROM “E-M-C” WITH A PREMIUM OF JUST OVER $100-THOUSAND.  THE DISTRICT HAS SEPARATE POLICIES FOR DRONE INSURANCE AND FOR NETWORK SECURITY AND PRIVACY LIABILITY.  THE BOARD HELD A DISCUSSION ON SOLAR PANELS.  THERE IS A NEW STATE GRANT PROGRAM OFFERING INCENTIVES FOR SCHOOLS THAT ADD SOLAR PANELS.  THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS MEETING WITH THE WINDOM ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT TO EXPLORE ITS OPTIONS.  THE BOARD APPROVED HIRING AMANDA MILLER AS A PART-TIME HUMAN RESOURCES AND FINANCE ASSISTANT. 

 

WINDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL HELD AN INDUCTION CEREMONY MONDAY FOR NEW MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.  NEW MEMBERS OF THE WINDOM CHAPTER ARE OWEN DAHNA, MacKENZIE DOORENBOS, GREYSON ELDER, CAMRYN ELNESS, HENRY ERICKSON, ELLIOT ESPENSON, FAITH FORD, TAYLER FRANZ, MADILYN HOGAN, KADEN HOLTZ, REBEKAH JOHNSON, MORIAH LOHRENZ, MICHELLE MICARIO, MAKENNA McNAMARA, ISABEL LOPEZ, ALEXA O’DONNELL, MADISON PROKOSCH, KAMERON RUPP AND SAMIR YUSUF.  THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY RECOGNIZES STUDENTS WHO HAVE SHOWN A COMMITTMENT TO SCHOLARSHIP, COMMUNITY SERVICE, LEADERSHIP AND CHARACTER. 

 

THE WINDOM AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOLDS ITS ANNUAL GALA THIS WEEK.     AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED IN FOUR CATEGORIES.  THE COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD HONORS A BUSINESS, PERSON OR CLUB THAT HAS MADE AN IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY.  THE EXECEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECOGNIZES A BUSINESS THAT HAS SHOWN SIGNIFICANT ADVANCEMENT, EXPANSION OR SUCCESS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR.  THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECOGNIZES AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS SPENT 20 YEARS OR MORE IN THE WINDOM AREA WHILE MAKING SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY.  AND THE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD RECOGNIZES A NEW BUSINESS THAT HAS OPENED WITHIN THE LAST 18 MONTHS.   

 

THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HELD A REGULAR MEETING LAST WEEK.  RESOLUTIONS WERE ADOPTED FOR TWO BOND SALES.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE SALE OF JUST OVER $7.3-MILLION IN GENERAL OBLIGATION DRAINAGE BONDS AND APPROVED THE SALE OF JUST OVER $6-MILLION IN REFUNDING DRAINAGE BONDS.  THE BOARD HEARD A PRESENTATION FROM NEXT ERA ENERGY RESOURCES ON A POSSIBLE DRAIN-TILE PROJECT AT THE THREE WATERS WIND FARM.  THE BOARD APPROVED A CHANGE IN THE COUNTY POLICY INVOLVING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS.  A SNOW-REMOVAL AGREEMENT WAS APPROVED FOR THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE.