News Headlines for Tuesday, January 26th

THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET AT 8:30 THIS MORNING AT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT BUILDING IN SLAYTON.    THE BOARD WILL HEAR A REPORT FROM THE BUFFALO RIDGE DRUG TASK FORCE.  THE COUNTY MUSEUM DIRECTOR WILL PRESENT HER ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020, INCLUDING AN UPDATE ON GRANT FUNDS THAT WERE RECEIVED AND ALLOCATED.  THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE FROM THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE.  AN EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION PROGRAM WILL BE HELD.  THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS COVID-19 COUNTY RELIEF GRANTS.   THEY WILL CONSIDER AN APPLICATION FOR THE SEPTIC SYSTEM LOAN PROGRAM. 

 

THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING AT 10:30 THIS MORNING.  BOARD MEMBERS WILL MEET WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM A HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTING FIRM.  THEY WILL DISCUSS THE COUNTY’S ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, INCLUDING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HAVING A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR A COUNTY COORDINATOR.    THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD MAY CONSIDER TAKING ACTION TO HIRE THE CONSULTING FIRM TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY ON THE PROCESS.   

 

JIM VICKERMAN OF RURAL TRACY- A LONG-TIME MEMBER OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE – PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK AT THE AGE OF 89.   JIM VICKERMAN WAS A FARMER WHO WENT ON TO SERVE 24 YEARS IN THE STATE SENATE.  HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WHEN HE WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE STATE SENATE IN 1986.  DURING HIS TIME IN THE SENATE, VICKERMAN CHAIRED COMMITTEES DEALING WITH AGRICULTURE, VETERANS ISSUES AND FINANCE.  VICKERMAN WORKED TO PROMOTE THE ETHANOL AND BIO-DIESEL INDUSTRY IN MINNESOTA.  HE ALSO WORKED TO OBTAIN FUNDING FOR THE 4-LANE EXPANSION OF HIGHWAY 60.  A PRIVATE FAMILY FUNERAL SERVICE WAS HELD SATURDAY IN TRACY. 

 

THE DINNER TABLE  – A MONTHLY COMMUNITY MEAL – WILL BE OFFERED TODAY IN WINDOM.  PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE A MEAL MAY PICK UP A DRIVE-THROUGH MEAL FROM HY VEE.   MEALS WILL BE PROVIDED FROM 5:30 TO 6:30 THIS EVENING IN THE ALLEY BEHIND THE 1ST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN WINDOM AT 336 – 11TH STREET.  TONIGHT’S MEAL WILL FEATURE BARBEQUE MEATBALLS FROM HY VEE.THE MEAL IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO PARTICIPATE.  THE DINNER TABLE IS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM SPONSORED BY LOCAL CHURCH AND CIVIC GROUPS. 

 

THE JEFFERS CITY COUNCIL HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS MONTH.    NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE.  THE COUNCIL ADOPTED A SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES FOR CITY SERVICES.  THE WATER USAGE FEE WAS CHANGED TO $3.25 PER THOUSAND GALLONS.  A RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED, CALLING FOR THE CITY TO SEEK GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE STATE “LOCAL ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.”  COTTONWOOD COUNTY WILL SUBMIT THE GRANT APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.   CIGARETTE, LIQUOR AND POOL TABLE LICENSES WERE APPROVED FOR RYKERS AND THE SLIPPER INN.  A COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE WAS APPROVED FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.  COUNCIL SALARIES WERE SET.   

 

THE WINDOM HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS TEAM RECENTLY TOOK PART IN A TOURNAMENT IN KIMBALL.  THIS WAS THE FIRST IN-PERSON TOURNAMENT ATTENDED BY THE WINDOM TEAM.  UNDER COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, TEAMS COMPETED IN SMALLER GROUPS.  AFTER THE INITIAL ROUND, TWO TEAMS FROM WINDOM ADVANCED TO THE MEDAL ROUND.  THE WINDOM TEAMS FORMED AN ALLIANCE AND WOUND UP FINISHING IN 2ND PLACE.   THERE WAS ALSO A SKILLS CHALLENGE.  THE WINDOM “A” TEAM TOOK 1ST PLACE AND THE “C” TEAM WAS 2ND.  THE WINDOM ROBOTICS PROGRAM WILL BE HOSTING A HOME MEET AT WINDOM HIGH SCHOOL THIS SATURDAY.