Local News Headlines – Tuesday, March 2nd

March 1, 2021 kdomadmin Local News 0

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET AT 9:00 THIS MORNING AT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER IN WINDOM.   THE BOARD WILL REVIEW APPLICATIONS FOR HOUSING TAX ABATEMENTS FOR THREE NEW SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.  PUBLIC HEARINGS MAY BE SCHEDULED.  THE BOARD WILL REVIEW AN APPLICATION FOR A HOUSING TAX ABATEMENT FOR A COMMERCIAL REMODELING PROJECT.  UPDATED GUIDELINES WILL BE REVIEWED FOR THE TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM.  A DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD ON THE PROPOSED MINNESOTA “CLEAN CARE” RULE.  THE BOARD MAY CONSIDER A RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO THE NEW RULE. 
 
A REGULAR MEETING OF THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD WILL TAKE PLACE AT 9:00 THIS MORNING.  THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER AN AGREEMENT TO HIRE A FIRM TO PROVIDE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES.  THE BOARD MAY APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.  THE BOARD WILL REVIEW BIDS FOR AN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE.  THEY WILL CONSIDER AN AGREEMENT TO HIRE A FIRM TO PROVIDE CONSULTING SERVICES.  THE VETERANS’ SERVICE OFFICE WILL PRESENT A REPORT.  THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD WILL SPEND A PORTION OF THE MEETING IN CLOSED SESSION TO CONDUCT EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS. 
 
THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETS AT 8:30 THIS MORNING AT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER IN SLAYTON.  THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER APPROVING THE RENEWAL OF 3.2 LIQUOR LICENSES AND A SUNDAY LIQUOR LICENSE.  THE MURRAY COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER WILL PRESENT A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING A HEALTH AWARENESS PROGRAM IN MARCH.  THE BOARD WILL APPROVE THE HIRING OF A PART-TIME CLERK FOR THE COUNTY LICENSE CENTER.  THE BOARD WILL OPEN BIDS FOR THE SALE OF THE MURRAY COUNTY CLINIC BUILDING IN FULDA.  THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE ON PLANNING FOR A NEW HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT BUILDING. 
 
THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL HOLDS A REGULAR MEETING AT 6:30 THIS EVENING AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.   THREE APPLICATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL HOUSING TAX ABATEMENTS WILL BE REVIEWED.  THE COUNCIL MAY APPROVE GUIDELINES FOR A NEW HOUSING TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM.  A PUBLIC HEARING MAY BE SCHEDULED ON AN APPLICATION FOR A TAX ABATEMENT FOR THE REMODELING OF THE GUARDIAN INN PROPERTY.  AN AMENDMENT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY’S AGREEMENT WITH MINN-DOT FOR THE HIGHWAY 60 CORRIDOR STUDY.  THE COUNCIL MAY EXTEND THE LICENSING PERIODS FOR RENTAL HOUSING PROPERTIES.  THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL WILL SPEND A PORTION OF THE MEETING IN CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE ANNUAL EVALUATION FOR THE WINDOM CITY ADMINISTRATOR. 
 
A SUB-REGIONAL SENIOR-HIGH KNOWLEDGE BOWL MEET WAS HELD LAST FRIDAY.   THERE WERE 11 TEAMS FROM SIX AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS.  TEAMS COMPETED IN ONE ROUND OF WRITTEN QUESTIONS AND THREE ROUNDS OF ORAL QUESTIONS.  FIRST PLACE WENT TO A TEAM FROM MURRAY COUNTY CENTRAL.  THE MT LAKE “SILVER” TEAM TITED FOR 2ND PLACE WITH THE WORTHINGTON ‘SENIOR’ TEAM.  WINDOM HAD ONE TEAM IN THE MEET.  THE TEAM OF PARKER ALVSTAD, RYAN FAUGLID AND FAITH FORD FINISHED IN 5TH PLACE WITH 38.5 PIONTS, AND WILL ADVANCE TO THE REGIONAL MEET.  THE MT LAKE “MAROON” TEAM FINISHED IN 6TH PLACE.  THE REGIONAL MEET WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, MARCH 8TH.   
 
THE MONTHLY WEATHER STATISTICS HAVE BEEN RELEASED FOR THE CITY OF WINDOM IN FEBRUARY.   TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH CAME TO 5.1”.  FOR THE CURRENT WINTER SEASON, WINDOM HAS NOW RECEIVED 28.9” OF SNOW –ABOUT 6” LESS THAN THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.  THE HIGH TEMPERATURE WAS 47-DEGREES ON FEBRUARY 24TH & THE 29TH.  THE AVERAGE DAILY HIGH TEMP WAS 18.5-DEGREES.  THE LOW TEMPERATURE WAS 19-BELOW ZERO ON FEBRUARY 15TH.  THE AVERAGE DAILY LOW TEMP WAS 3.6-DEGREES.  WINDOM HAD 15 CONSECUTIVE DAYS WITH TEMPERATURES BELOW ZERO.  THERE WERE FIVE DAYS IN THE MONTH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW ZERO FOR THE ENTIRE DAY. 
 
APPLICATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED FOR A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP LOW-INCOME FAMILIES PURCHASE OR REPAIR A HOME IN A RURAL AREA.  THE “DIRECT HOME LOAN” PROGRAM IS OFFERED THROUGH THE U-S-D-A RURAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.  INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES CONSIDERED TO BE LOW-INCOME OR VERY–LOW INCOME MAY RECEIVE A LOAN OF UP TO $20,000 AT 1% INTEREST FOR 20 YEARS.  GRANTS OF UP TO $7,500 ARE AVAILABLE TO HOMEOWNERS 62-OR-OLDER TO DEAL WITH HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDS.  APPLICANTS MUST MEET INCOME AND CREDIT GUIDELINES AND DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY TO REPAY A LOAN.  FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE U-S-D-A RURAL DEVELOPMENT HOUSING OFFICES IN WORTHINGTON OR MARSHALL.