Local News Headlines – Thursday, September 17th

THE WINDOM E-D-A MET THIS WEEK.  THE THE E-D-A DISCUSSED A LOT AT THE NORTH WINDOM INDUSTRIAL PARK.  THEY CONSIDERED A PROPOSAL TO DIVIDE THE LOT INTO TWO PARCELS.  A CLOSED SESSION WAS HELD TO DISCUSS LOT SIZE AND PRICING.  THE E-D-A DIRECTOR WAS AUTHORIZED TO WORK WITH TWO BUSINESSES ON THE PROJECT.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON THE GUARDIAN INN PROPERTY.  A NEW PURCHASE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY A PROSPECTIVE BUYER FOR THE PROPERTY.  AS PART OF THAT PROCESS, THE E-D-A IS EXPLORING AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP A SITE LOCATED BETWEEN THE GUARDIAN INN AND THE SHOPKO BUILDING.  THE SITE COULD BE SPLIT INTO TWO SMALLER LOTS. 

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK.  FOUR NEW MEMBERS WERE APPROVED FOR THE WINDOM VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.  A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON A PROPOSED BOND SALE.  THE CITY IS CONVERTING THE EMERGENCY SERVICES FACILITY FROM A LEASE-TO-PURCHASE AGREEMENT INTO A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOND.  THIS IS PART OF A MOVE TO RE-FINANCE OLDER DEBT TO SAVE MONEY THROUGH LOWER INTEREST RATES.  A PROCLAMATION WAS ISSUED FOR THE “NIGHT TO UNITE” PROGRAM ON OCTOBER 5TH.  A NEW LEASE AGREEMENT WAS APPROVED FOR THE WINDOM POLICE DEPARTMENT AT THE COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER.   

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.  AN UPDATED MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL HANDBOOK WAS APPROVED.  SOME CHANGES WERE MADE DUE TO COVID-19.   THE BOARD REVIEWED A PROPOSED 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY.  THOSE FIGURES WILL CHANGE TO REFLECT UPDATED STUDENT ENROLLMENT AND NEW INFORMATION FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.  A PRELIMINARY LEVY WILL BE SET AT THE NEXT MEETING.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE RENEWAL OF INSURANCE COVERAGE.   THE COST OF PROPERTY AND LIABILITY INSURANCE WILL BE INCREASING BECAUSE OF AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUE WITH THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 

 

THE MT LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IS REPORTING AN INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT TO BEGIN THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.   CLASSES BEGAN ON TUESDAY.  ON THE FIRST DAY, THE DISTRICT REPORTED 511 STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THE 12TH GRADE.  THIS IS 11 MORE STUDENTS THAN THE DISTRICT HAD AT THE END OF THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR, AND IT IS 14 STUDENTS MORE THAN MT LAKE WAS ANTICIPATING TO START THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.  ENROLLMENT NUMBERS ARE LIKELY TO CHANGE IN THE COMING WEEKS.   SCHOOL OFFICIALS REPORT THAT LAST-MINUTE BUILDING PROJECTS ARE BEING COMPLETED, ALONG WITH CLEANING AND ORGANIZING PROJECTS. 

 

THE WINDOM E-D-A MET THIS WEEK.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE ‘SPEC’ BUILDING.  THE DEVELOPER WHO WAS ORIGINALLY WORKING ON THE PROJECT HAS INDICATED IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AT THIS TIME.  AS A RESULT, THE SITE IS BEING LISTED FOR SALE AGAIN AND OTHER DEVELOPERS ARE BEING CONTACTED.  THE PLAN CALLS FOR THE SPEC BUILDING TO BE CONVERTED INTO A 21-UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING WHICH WOULD BE LEASED BY HY LIFE FOODS FOR ITS EMPLOYEES.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE GRANT PROGRAM FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.  AS OF MONDAY, COTTONWOOD COUNTY HAD RECEIVED APPLICATIONS FROM 53 BUSINESSES AND 23 NON-PROFIT GROUPS.