Local News Headlines – Friday, February 19th

THE JEFFERS CITY COUNCIL HELD A REGULAR MEETING LAST WEEK.   THE COUNCIL DISCUSSED RECENT COMPLAINS INVOLVING GO-KARTS AND DIRT BIKES REPORTEDLY DRIVING RECKLESSLY DOWN CITY STREETS AND ALLEYS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.   THE COUNCIL DISCUSSED THE FORMS THAT ARE USED IN APPLYING FOR BUILDING PERMITS.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON A MAINTENANCE PROJECT AT THE WATER PLANT.  IT WAS REPORTED THAT A WATER-MAIN BREAK WAS REPAIRED.  THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER HAS REQUESTED A PARTITION TO USE IN HER VEHICLE WHEN ANIMALS ARE TRANSPORTED.   SHE WILL CHECK ON QUOTES AND REPORT BACK TO THE CITY CLERK.  THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT WAS APPROVED. 

 

WINDOM SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT WAYNE WORMSTADT WILL NOT BE LEAVING FOR A NEW JOB AT THIS TIME.  THE GILBERT, IOWA COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNOUNCED THURSDAY THAT IT HAS EXTENDED A JOB OFFER TO DR. CHRISTINE TRUJILLO TO FILL THE SUPERINTENDENT’S POSITION.  THE GILBERT SCHOOL BOARD IS EXPECTED TO GIVE ITS FORMAL APPROVAL ON MARCH 8TH.  GILBERT HAS BEEN CONDUCTING A SEARCH TO REPLACE ITS CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT WHO IS RETIRING AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.   WAYNE WORMSTADT WAS ONE OF THREE FINALISTS FOR THE POSITION AND WAS INVITED FOR A SECOND INTERVIEW ON WEDNESDAY.   WORMSTADT HAS BEEN THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR 13 YEARS.   

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE MT LAKE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD THIS WEEK.  FURTHER DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON OPTIONS FOR A NEW FIRE AND AMBULANCE HALL.  THE BUILDING COMMITTEE WILL BE LOOKING AT POSSIBLE LOCATIONS FOR A NEW BUILDING.  THE CITY ATTORNEY HAD UPDATES ON SOME RECENT PUBLIC NUISANCE VIOLATIONS.   THE COUNCIL APPROVED AN APPLICATION TO THE FEDERAL ‘RECREATIONAL TRAIL GRANT’ PROGRAM THROUGH THE MINNESOTA D-N-R.  THE CITY IS SEEKING FUNDING TO REPLACE ROUGHLY 420-FEET OF RAISED BOARDWALK ON THE MT LAKE RECREATIONAL TRAIL.   THE CITY HAS SET ASIDE UP TO $64-THOUSAND TO PROVIDE A MATCHING CASH CONTRIBUTION IF THE GRANT IS AWARDED. 

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL MET EARLIER THIS WEEK.    THE WINDOM E-D-A DIRECTOR PRESENTED GUIDELINES FOR A NEW HOUSING TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM, INVOLVING THE REMODELING OF EXISTING BUILDINGS TO CREATE NEW HOUSING UNITS.  THE COUNCIL CHOSE MAY 15TH AS THE TENTATIVE DATE FOR A SPRING CITY-WIDE CLEANUP.  THE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE CITY OF WINDOM WAS PRESENTED.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE HIRING OF TWO ADDITIONAL CLERKS FOR THE RIVER BEND LIQUOR STORE.  MEMBERS WERE RE-APPOINTED TO THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION AND TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER COMMISSION.  THE RIVER BEND LIQUOR STORE PRESENTED A DONATION OF $100 TO THE WINDOM SHARING CENTER FROM THE FALL FOOD DRIVE.   

 

THE HERON LAKE-OKABENA SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK.    THE BOARD ACCEPTED A NOTICE OF RETIREMENT FROM ELEMENTARY TEACHER GARY HILDEBRANDT, EFFECTIVE AT THE END OF THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR.  A 2022 BUDGET WAS APPROVED FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT AND INTEGRATION PROGRAM.  THE BOARD APPROVED A NEW CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH THE SOUTHWEST-WEST CENTRAL SERVICE COOPERATIVE.  A PROPOSED CALENDAR WAS REVIEWED FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR.  COACHING ASSIGNMENTS WERE APPROVED FOR SPRING SPORTS.  APPROVAL WAS GIVEN TO HAVE A PORTABLE DEFIBRILLATOR INSTALLED AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.   A STUDENT FUND-RAISING EVENT WAS APPROVED.  THE BOARD HEARD ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.