Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Office reported 25 calls in the week of February 15th to February 21st. Deputies conducted 4 Civil Processes, had 1 Animal at Large, Handled 1 Citizen Complaint, 1 Civil Dispute, 1 Driving Complaint, Responded to 1 Domestic Assault, 1 Terroristic Threat, 1 Verbal Only Dispute, and served 2 Warrants. A full listing of all calls in the Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Office Weekly Citizens Report is available by clicking the link below.
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Windom Police reported on the 22nd at approximately 1:50am an officer on patrol on Highway 60 noted a vehicle traveling between 18 and 21 miles per hour in a 30 mph zone and driving erratically. After initiating a traffic stop and investigation, a 36-year-old male from Windom was arrested for Misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated. The male was released when he became sober.
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Meetings Today include:
- The Murray County Board of Commissioners will meet this morning at 8:30 a.m. at the Murray County Government Center. If you would like to listen in by calling or view the meeting via zoom you can find the information on the Murray County Homepage.
- The Windom Planning Commission will hold a special meeting Tonight at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers.
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The Windom City Council approved two key fire department items at its February 17 meeting ratifying department leadership elections and renewing its five-year fire service contract with the Windom Area Fire Protection District. Fire Chief Ben Derickson presented the results of the department’s February 5th elections to the council. The department voted to retain Derickson as Fire Chief. He has served on the department for more than 17 years and is certified Firefighter I and II. Derickson reported 100% attendance for fire calls, drills, and miscellaneous department events in the past year. Jordan Bussa was elected First Assistant Chief. Bussa has more than 20 years of service and is also Firefighter I and II certified. He attended 100%percent of fire drills, 97% of calls, and 62% of miscellaneous events. Brent Reisendorfer was elected Second Assistant Chief and Training Officer. He has served more than five years and is Firefighter I and II certified. His attendance included 83% of drills, 54% of calls, and 5% of miscellaneous events. Kristen Porath was elected Third Assistant Chief. With more than 15 years on the department, she is Firefighter I and II certified and recorded 96% drill attendance, 72% of fire calls, and 55% of miscellaneous events. Addressing the council, Derickson emphasized the dedication of the department’s members.
Sound Bite: Fire Chief Ben Derickson-
Councilman Scott Benson thanked the department for its service and dedication and pointed out that Chief Derickson’s 100% rating on all levels proves his devotion. Other members mirrored those comments and showed their appreciation. The council unanimously approved ratification of the election results. The council also approved a new five-year fire service contract between the City of Windom and the Windom Area Fire Protection District. The agreement takes effect April 1, 2026. City Administrator Steve Nasby explained the background of the agreement, noting that the City contracts with surrounding communities for fire protection services.
Sound Bite: City Administrator Steve Nasby-
Nasby said that in 2020 the participating entities formed a single fire district rather than maintaining separate contracts, which streamlined negotiations. Which according to Nasby was a positive change for now when negotiations take place for fire contracts and other issues, there is only one entity. According to Nasby, the original five-year agreement expires in April. Nasby said negotiations for renewal went smoothly and added that discussions centered on the annual fee increase. The City proposed a three percent cost-of-living adjustment, while the District proposed two percent. The parties ultimately agreed on a 2.5 percent annual increase. The new contract runs through March 31, 2031. It outlines fire and emergency services provided by the City, including structural firefighting, rescue operations, hazardous materials response, water rescue, and disaster response. The agreement passed unanimously. With both actions approved, Windom’s fire protection leadership and service agreements remain firmly in place for the coming years backed by what city officials described as a highly dedicated department serving the community and surrounding areas.
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Federated Rural will be a guest speaker on KDOM’s Kaleidoscope on Wednesday February 25th at approximately 10:05am. Tune into 1580AM/103.1FM to hear from Scott Remier of Federated.