Mt Lake Police reported 23 calls from December 29th to January 4th. Officers are investigated a theft of an Amazon Package, a suspicious vehicle, counterfeit $10 bill, and a scam involving a check sent to a resident. Officers assisted the MN State Patrol and towing company with vehicles in ditches, had a dog at large and responded to a domestic in progress involving a juvenile. For a full listing of all calls of the Mountain Lake Police Department click on link below.
Mountain Lake Police Department December 29th to January 4th
——————————————————-
The Cottonwood County Board of Commissioners held its first regular meeting of 2026 on Tuesday, taking care of annual organizational business and approving several resolutions and policies for the year ahead. Commissioner Appel was unanimously elected Board Chair for 2026, with Commissioner Gravley selected as Vice-Chair. Commissioners approved 2026 fees charged by county offices and set petty cash balances for several departments.
A one-time reduced tipping fee was approved for citywide clean-up events this year, along with a mattress pickup option through the Solid Waste Department. The board briefly recessed to convene as the Ditch Authority, setting the 2026 ditch assessment interest rate at four percent before returning to regular session. Among other actions, commissioners approved a wetland conservation determination, accepted grant agreements through the Local Bridge Replacement Program, and renewed liquor licenses for the Mountain Lake Golf Course. Meeting dates for 2026 were set for the first and third Tuesdays of each month, with most meetings beginning at 9 a.m.
The board also established meal reimbursement rates, seasonal wages, crop damage rates, and a per diem for non-commissioner committee members. The Cottonwood County Citizen was selected as the official county newspaper for 2026. Additional actions included adopting resolutions related to alternative bidding methods and the Big Bend Snowriders Club, setting minimum salaries for full-time elected officials beginning in 2027, approving a new Building and Grounds Worker position for posting, and adopting a paid leave policy retroactive to January 1st. The meeting concluded with approval of January warrants totaling just under $250,000.
———————————————————-
A large portion of Tuesday night’s Windom City Council meeting was devoted to a discussion with MnDOT over the future of the traffic signals at Highway 60 and 10th Street. MnDOT officials walked the council through the long and complicated timeline of the project, which dates back to June of 2024. At that time, the city denied municipal consent for a proposed three-lane reconfiguration but agreed to participate in replacing the aging traffic signal and purchasing permanent right-of-way. The city’s share was originally capped at 177-thousand dollars. Since then, the project has been delayed multiple times due to rising construction costs, including a new statewide federal requirement for deeper signal pole foundations. That change pushed early cost estimates as high as 420-thousand dollars for the city’s portion, prompting MnDOT to pause the project and wait for additional bids statewide.
MnDOT returned this winter with a revised estimate, placing Windom’s share at roughly 275-thousand dollars. Agency officials said internal discussions led to a proposal to “split the difference” between the original $177,000 agreement and the current estimate, resulting in a proposed city contribution of about $226,000.
Several council members voiced strong concerns about the rising cost, noting that the majority of traffic at the intersection is highway traffic, not local, and questioning why the city should shoulder nearly half the expense. Others acknowledged the financial strain but expressed concern about safety if the current signal system is removed. MnDOT warned that due to the deteriorating condition of the existing signals, removal could be necessary as early as next summer if a replacement project does not move forward. Officials said alternative options, such as stop signs or temporary signals, would likely increase delays and crash risks and could cost more over time. A motion was made to approve funding up to $226,000 for the signal replacement, but the motion failed on a split vote. With no decision reached, MnDOT will now return to reviewing alternative options and potential cost adjustments, with further discussions expected at a future council meeting.