Local News Headlines – Thursday, November 12th

November 12, 2020 kdomadmin Local News 0

THE HERON LAKE CITY COUNCIL HOLDS A SPECIAL MEETING AT 8:30 THURSDAY MORNING AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.     COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL CANVASS THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION.  THE COUNCIL WILL ALSO REVIEW APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS USING FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH THE ‘CARES’ ACT.  THE COUNCIL MAY VOTE TO APPROVE NEW ALLOCATIONS OF FUNDING.  A DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD ON CLEANING SERVICES.  THE HERON LAKE COUNCIL MAY ALSO HANDLE SOME FINANCIAL BUSINESS.  
 
THE DES MOINES VALLEY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY WILL HOLD A BOARD MEETING AT 9:00 THURSDAY MORNING IN THE CAFETERIA AT THE JACKSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER “EAST” BUILDING.  THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE A COVID-19 UPDATE.   THE BOARD WLIL CONSIDER APPROVING A CONTRACT WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ASSIST WITH REGIONAL CONTACT TRACING, AND CONSIDER HIRING TEMPORARY OR PART-TIME POSITIONS FOR A COVID CASE INVESTIGATOR OR CONTACT TRACER.  A PORTION OF THE MEETING WILL BE HELD IN CLOSED SESSION TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE EVALUATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. 
 
A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE MT LAKE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELD AT NOON THURSDAY AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.    THE COUNCIL WILL BE MEETING TO OFFICIALLY CANVASS THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION.  THE ELECTION INCLUDED VOTING FOR MAYOR AND TWO SEATS ON THE CITY COUNCIL. 
  
 THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING AT 3:45 THURSDAY AFTERNOON AT THE WINDOM CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.  THE COUNCIL WILL CANVASS THE OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE ELECTION FOR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL SEATS.   UNDER OLD BUSINESS, THE COUNCIL MAY CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION INVOLVING AN APPLICATION FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING. 
 
THIS IS WINTER HAZARD AWARENESS WEEK IN MINNESOTA.   TODAY’S TOPIC COVERS INDOOR WINTER SAFETY.  THERE IS A GREATER RISK DURING THE WINTER FOR CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.  ALL HOMES SHOULD HAVE CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS.  HAVE YOUR HOME TESTED FOR RADON – A GAS THAT CAN ACCUMULATE IN BASEMENTS.  IF HIGH LEVELS ARE DETECTED, STEPS CAN BE TAKEN TO MITIGATE THE PROGRAM.  SEVERAL FACTORS CAN LEAD TO MOLD DEVELOPING DURING THE WINTER.  MOLD GROWTH CAN LEAD TO HEALTH PROBLEMS, DAMAGE TO FURNISHINGS AND STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS.     
 
THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK.  THE BOARD DISCUSSED FUNDS THAT WERE DONATED FOR A SCHOOL FOUNDATION, BUT THE FOUNDATION WAS NEVER DEVELOPED.  THE BOARD IS CONSIDERING A PROPOSAL TO TRANSFER THOSE FUNDS INTO THE WINDOM AREA FOUNDATION.  THE FOOD SERVICE STAFF WAS RECOGNIZED FOR RECEIVING A FOOD SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARD AND A CLEAN HEALTH INSPECTION REPORT.  THE BOARD DISCUSSED ISSUES WITH THE NEW FEES THAT THE MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE IS REQUESTING.  THERE IS A MOVE TO CHANGE THE FEE STRUCTURE TO REDUCE THE IMPACT ON SMALLER SCHOOLS.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON THE DISTRICT’S CURRENT LEARNING MODEL.   
 
THE WINDOM E-D-A MET THIS WEEK.  THE E-D-A VOTED TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING ON PROPERTY OWNED BY THE E-D-A SOUTH OF THE INDUSTRIAL PARK.  THE MATTER WILL GO TO THE WINDOM PLANNING COMMISSION FOR REVIEW.  THE E-D-A SCHEDULED A PUBLIC HEARING FOR NOVEMBER 30TH ON THE POSSIBLE SALE OF THE ‘SPEC’ BUILDING PROPERTY.  THE E-D-A HAS RECEIVED AN OFFER FROM A DEVELOPER WHO IS INTERESTED IN A POSSIBLE HOUSING PROJECT.   A PUBLIC HEARING WAS ALSO SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 30TH ON A PROPOSAL TO SELL SOME PROPERTY NEXT TO THE FORMER SHOPKO BUILDING. 
 
THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK.  THE BOARD APPROVED WINTER SNOW MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS WITH THE CITIES OF JEFFERS, WESTBROOK AND MT LAKE, AND AN AGREEMENT WITH LAKESIDE TOWNSHIP.  THEY APPROVED A REQUEST TO PURCHASE NEW FURNITURE FOR THE COUNTY JAIL, USING FEDERAL FUNDING.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON FEES THAT ARE CHARGED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A FAILED SEPTIC SYSTEM.  THE CITY OF WINDOM DISCUSSED A SITUATION THAT LED TO A LATE PAYMENT OF SOME PROPERTY TAXES.   THE BOARD SPENT A PORTION OF THE MEETING IN CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS A POSSIBLE OFFER FOR THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY.