Local News Headlines – Friday, January 22nd

THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL BOARD HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.   THE BOARD VOTED TO GO FORWARD WITH A SPECIAL ELECTION ON FEBRUARY 9TH FOR A BUILDING REFERENDUM.   THE PROJECT HAS RECEIVED AN UNFAVORABLE REVIEW FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, MEANING THAT THE REFERENDUM WOULD NEED TO HAVE 60% VOTING ‘YES’ IN ORDER TO PASS.  THE DISTRICT IS EXPLORING POSSIBLE LEGAL ACTION OVER THE STATE’S RULING.   IN OTHER BUSINESS, THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL BOARD HELD ELECTION OF OFFICIALS.  A NUBMER OF OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS AND DESIGNATIONS WERE APPROVED.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF A NEW SCHOOL BUS FOR NEXT YEAR.  

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.  FURTHER DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON POSSIBLE CHANGES IN THE HOUSING TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM FOR TWO PROJECTS.   THE COUNCIL INDICATED GENERAL SUPPORT FOR ALLOWING A TAX ABATEMENT FOR THE GUARDIAN INN REMODELING PROJECT.   BUT THE COUNCIL WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF A PROPOSAL FOR AN 8-YEAR TAX ABATEMENT FOR THE GOVE ACRES HOUSING PROJECT.   THE COUNTY BOARD AND SCHOOL BOARD WOULD ALSO HAVE TO AGREE ON ANY CHANGES IN THE TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM.  THE COUNCIL ADOPTED A RESOLUTION TO ALLOW A ONE-TIME REDUCTION OF 50% IN LIQUOR LICENSE FEES FOR 2021 FOR LICENSED ESTABLISHMENTS.   

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE HERON LAKE-OKABENA SCHOOL BOARD WAS HELD THIS WEEK.   JOHN VOLK WAS RE-ELECTED AS BOARD CHAIR.  TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE.   SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS WERE APPROVED.  THE BOARD ACCEPTED A DONATION OF $1,000 TO SUPPORT STUDENT TECHNOLOGY DEPOSITS.  THE ANNUAL DISTRICT AUDIT REPORT WAS PRESENTED; THE DISTRICT ENDED THE LAST YEAR WITH A SURPLUS.  SOME STUDENT FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES WERE APPROVED.  THE ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR REPORTED THAT NEW CAMERAS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE GYMNASIUM, ALLOWING SPORTING EVENTS TO BE TELEVISED ON YOUTUBE.   

 

THE MT LAKE CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK.   THE COUNCIL VOTED TO REDUCE THE 2021 LIQUOR LICENSE FEE FOR ‘THE DEN’ FROM $400 TO $200.  A MOTION WAS APPROVED TO OFFER EXTENDED EMERGENCY SICK LEAVE AND FAMILY LEAVE DUE TO COVID-19 ISSUES THROUGH JUNE 30TH.   THE CITY ATTORNEY HAD UPDATES ON SOME PUBLIC NUISANCE VIOLATIONS.  THE COUNCIL REVIEWED A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON FINAL 2020 REVENUES AND EXPENSES.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON UPCOMING EVENTS.  THE MT LAKE CITY COUNCIL CONDUCTED A PERFORMANCE EVALUATION FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR.   THEY ACCEPTED A RESIGNATION FROM A MEMBER OF THE CITY UTILITIES COMMISSION.