Local News Headlines – Friday, November 13th

November 13, 2020 kdomadmin Local News 0

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.   
 
THIS IS WINTER HAZARD AWARENESS WEEK IN MINNESOTA.   TODAY’S TOPIC COVERS WINTER DRIVING SAFETY.  AVOID TRAVELLING DURING WINTER WEATHER IF ROAD CONDITIONS ARE POOR.  KEEP A NUMBER OF ITEMS IN YOUR VEHICLES INCULDING A SHOVEL, BOOSTER CABLES, SAND OR KITTY LITTER, BLANKETS AND SNACKS.  ADJUST YOUR SPEED FOR ROAD CONDITIONS.  FOLLOW SNOWPLOWS AT A SAFE DISTANCE AND NEVER TRY TO PASS A PLOW.  KEEP A CELL PHONE IN YOUR CAR TO REPORT EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.  IF YOU BECOME STANDED, STAY WITH THE VEHICLE.  RUN THE ENGINE FOR HEAT ABOUT ONCE AN HOUR.  THE STATE D-O-T WEBSITE HAS UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON ROAD CLOSURES.   
 
THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL BOARD HELD A SPECIAL MEETING THIS WEEK.  THE BOARD CANVASSED THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION.  VOTERS APPROVED AN OPERATING LEVY REFERENDUM WITH 62% VOTING YES.  THIS WILL CREATE A NEW 10-YEAR OPERATING LEVY AT $700 PER STUDENT.  VOTERS ALSO CONSIDERED A BUILDING REFERENDUM FOR A $42-MILLION PROJECT TO CONSTRUCT A NEW K-12 SCHOOL BUILDING.  THE FINAL TOTALS HAD 52% VOTING YES AND 48% VOTING NO.  BUT, BECAUSE THE PROJECT RECEIVED AN UNFAVORABLE REVIEW FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IT WOULD HAVE NEEDED 60% VOTING YES IN ORDER TO PASS.  THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IS WORKING WITH LEGAL COUNSEL TO CONSIDER ITS OPTIONS.   
 
THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD MET EARLIER THIS WEEK.   THE BOARD HANDLED A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL ITEMS DURING THE CONSENT AGENDA, INCLUDING THE HIRING OF A CAFE HELPER, AN INTERPRETER AND A SPECIAL-EDUCATION PARA-PROFESSIONAL.  ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS WERE PRESENTED.  THE MOVE OF THE 4TH-GRADE CLASS INTO THE HIGHLAND BUILDING HAS BEEN DELAYED ONE WEEK.  THE MOVE WILL NOW TAKE PLACE ON NOVEMBER 23RD.  THE BOARD ACCEPTED DONATIONS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, INCLUDING DONATIONS FROM THE REMICK FOUNDATION OF $3,900 FOR THE CLIMB THEATRE, $5,000 FOR THE ROBOTICS PROGRAM, AND $2,500 FOR THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY. 
 
A REGULAR MEETING OF THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD WAS HELD LAST WEEK.   THE BOARD RECOGNIZED FORMER COUNTY ATTORNEY SHERRY HALEY, WHO HAS ACCEPTED A JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT IN NOBLES COUNTY.  AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GRANT WAS ACCEPTED.  THE BOARD ACCEPTED A BID TO UPGRADE ELECTRICAL SERVICE AT THE SANDY POINT CAMPGROUND.  CONTRACTS WERE AWARDED FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECTS IN PETERSBURG AND MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP.  THE BOARD VOTED TO USE FEDERAL FUNDS TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO THE J-C-C AND HERON LAKE-OKABENA SCHOOL DISTRICTS.  THE BOARD CALLED FOR BIDS ON A PROJECT TO DO SOME REPAIR WORK AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE.