Mountain Lake Police Department reported 17 calls in the week of September 7th to September 13th. During the week, officers handled several traffic stops and responded to driving and noise complaints. Police also investigated a vehicle-versus-dog accident and a minor dog bite, with the dog placed under quarantine. Officers provided case information to a victim of an online scam and responded to ongoing property disputes that were determined to be civil matters. Police also took a report involving a student altercation at a football game and advised the parent to follow up with school officials. Other calls included a burglary alarm where the building was found secure and nothing suspicious was discovered. A full listing of all calls for the Mountain Lake Police Department is available by clicking on link below.
Mountain Lake Police Department September 7th to September 13th
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The Windom City Council took action on two items involving the Windom Municipal Airport Tuesday night, including the first major update to the airport’s zoning ordinance since 1979. The Council approved the first reading of Ordinance Number 213, Second Series, which would replace the airport zoning ordinance adopted in March of 1979. The update is required to reflect current and future airport plans and meet State of Minnesota airport zoning requirements. Jackie Zervas with SEH explained that airport zoning regulates building and structure heights around the airport and establishes land-use safety zones near runway approaches. The updated ordinance also reflects changes to the airport’s future runway plans. A public hearing was held in June, and the ordinance was submitted to the Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Aeronautics. The city received state approval September 2nd with no additional changes requested. Zervas also noted the ordinance is not retroactive and does not automatically require existing structures, trees or land uses to be removed. The first reading was approved unanimously. In other airport business, the Council approved a $254,420 bid from APX Construction Group for replacement of metal roofing on four airport buildings damaged by hail this spring. The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust determined the roofs sustained hail damage but were not punctured. Insurance will cover 70 percent of the replacement cost, or $178,094, leaving the City’s share at $76,326. Airport officials recommended replacing the approximately 20-year-old roofs now rather than risk additional damage and potentially face the full replacement cost in the future. The City’s portion of the project will require funding from the 2027 Capital Improvement Budget.
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The Minnesota Department of Transportation is reminding motorists to use extra caution on rural roads as harvest season brings more large farm equipment onto Minnesota roadways. MnDOT says there were 392 crashes involving farm equipment in Minnesota from 2023 through 2025. Those crashes resulted in 12 deaths and 167 injuries. Farm equipment is large and heavy and can be difficult to accelerate, slow down or stop. Equipment may also make wide turns, cross over the center line and create large blind spots for operators. Motorists are encouraged to slow down and watch for farm equipment, especially around dusk and dawn on two-lane rural roads. Drivers should use caution when approaching equipment, watch for debris on the roadway, keep headlights on and wait for a safe location before attempting to pass. Farm equipment operators are also reminded to use required lighting and slow-moving vehicle emblems on equipment traveling less than 30 miles per hour. MnDOT says operators should also check the height of loaded equipment. Minnesota’s legal height limit is 13 feet, 6 inches, and vehicles or loads exceeding that height may require a permit. With harvest underway, MnDOT is asking both motorists and farm equipment operators to be alert and share the road safely.