Local News Headlines – Friday, December 4th

WINDOM-NET HAS ANNOUNCED A CHANGE IN ITS CABLE T-V CHANNEL LINEUP.   STARTING TUESDAY, WINDOM-NET HAS REMOVED ONE OF THE SIOUX FALLS T-V STATIONS FROM THE LINEUP.  IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH NETWORK RESTRICTIONS, WINDOM-NET IS NO LONGER ABLE TO CARRY K-E-L-O T-V.   K-E-L-O – A C-B-S AFFILIATE – IS SEEN ON CHANNEL 10 ON THE BASIC CABLE T-V LINEUP AND CHANNEL 94 ON THE HIGH-DEFINITION CABLE PACKAGE.   WINDOM-NET DOES HAVE OTHER CHANNELS THAT CARRY C-B-S NETWORK PROGRAMS, AND OFFER NEWS AND WEATHER FROM SIOUX FALLS. 

 

THE MT LAKE CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK.  THE TRUTH-IN-TAXATION HEARING WAS HELD.  THE FINAL 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY WAS SET AT JUST OVER $729-THOUSAND, AN INCREASE OF 3.5% OVER THE CURRENT YEAR’S LEVY.  IN OTHER BUSINESS, THE COUNCIL APPROVED A PAY INCREASE FOR ON-CALL AMBULANCE MEMBERS.   A RESIGNATION WAS ACCEPTED FROM A FULL-TIME POLICE OFFICE.  A PART-TIME OFFICER WAS PROMOTED TO FULL-TIME STATUS TO FILL THE VACANCY.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE HIRING OF A NEW LIBRARY DIRECTOR.  THE CITY ATTORNEY AND POLICE CHIEF HAD UPDATES ON SOME PUBLIC NUISANCE VIOLATIONS.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS INVOLVING THE WARMING HOUSE AT THE ICE RINK. 

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.    THE COUNCIL REVIEWED NEW LABOR CONTRACT AGREEMENTS WITH THE UNIONS THAT REPRESENT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT. A NEW PAY PLAN FOR SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES WAS REVIEWED.  THE AGREEMENTS CALL FOR ANNUAL INCREASES OF 2.25% A YEAR FOR THREE YEARS.  THE COUNCIL WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE TOP CANDIDATE TO BE HIRED AS THE NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR AND CONTROLLER HAS WITHDRAWN FROM CONSIDERATION.  THE POSITION WILL BE RE-OPENED FOR NEW APPLICANTS.  A REPORT WAS PRESENTED ON FEDERAL FUNDING RECEIVED UNDER THE ‘CARES’ ACT.  WINDOM HAD ELIGIBLE EXPENSES OF JUST OVER $341-THOUSAND. 

 

A NEW TESTING SITE FOR COVID-19 IS OPENING IN WORTHINGTON.   THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ANNOUNCED THAT SALIVA TESTING WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE WORTHINGTON EVENT CENTER ON PRAIRIE DRIVE FROM NOON TO 7:00PM ON MONDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, AND FROM 10:00 TO 4:00 SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.  APPOINTMENTS ARE RECOMMENDED AND MAY BE MADE THROUGH THE “Vault Health Registration site.”   PEOPLE WILL NEED TO PROVIDE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION.  IF A PERSON DOES NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, THE STATE WILL PROVIDE THE TEST AT NO COST.  TEST RESULTS ARE TYPICALLY AVAILABLE IN 24- TO 48-HOURS.  CLINIC STAFF WILL MONITOR THE PROCESS AND MAKE SURE THERE IS ENOUGH SALIVA TO PROVIDE A VALID TEST.  MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WEBSITE. 

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WAS HELD LAST WEEK.    THE BOARD APPROVED A REQUEST FROM THE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE TO PURCHASE NEW FIREARMS FOR ALL COUNTY DEPUTIES.  DISCUSSION ON THE PURCHASE OF NEW VEHICLES WAS TABLED UNTIL A FUTURE MEETING.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON THE USE OF FUNDS TO UPDATE SOFTWARE FOR THE COUNTY RECORDER’S OFFICE.  THE BOARD ACCEPTED THE RESIGNATION OF A DEPUTY ASSESSOR.  A TEMPORARY INTERN WAS HIRED FOR THE ASSESSOR’S OFFICE.  A FINAL PAYMENT WAS APPROVED FOR WORK ON A BOX CULVERT REPLACEMENT PROJECT ON COUNTY HIGHWAY 17.  THE BOARD SPENT A PORTION OF THE MEETING IN CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS STRATEGY FOR LABOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. 

  

THE JEFFERS CITY COUNCIL HELD A REGULAR MEETING LAST WEEK.    THE COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE A FUND TRANSFER.  AS PART OF ACCOUNTING AND BUDGETING PROCEDURES, $25-THOUSAND WILL BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE CITY WATER FUND.  $5-THOUSAND WILL BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FUND.  THE CITY MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT REPORTED ON A PROJECT TO INSTALL NEW INSULATION AT THE CITY WATER PLANT.  THE CITY’S GRADER UNIT HAS BEEN REPAIRED.  THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT WAS PRESENTED.  REGULAR BILLS WERE APPROVED FOR PAYMENT.