Local News Headlines – Thursday, March 4th

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE MT LAKE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD THIS WEEK.   THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF NEW EQUIPMENT FOR THE STREET DEPARTMENT.  FURTHER DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON PLANNING FOR A POSSIBLE NEW FIRE AND AMBULANCE HALL.  THE COUNCIL ACCEPTED A QUOTE FROM A COMPANY THAT PROVIDES SOIL BORING AND SOIL TESTING SERVICES.  THE CONTRACT WILL BE FINALIZED WHEN THE CITY DECIDES HOW MANY POTENTIAL SITES WILL BE TESTED.  THE COUNCIL REVIEWED A PLAN TO REMODEL THE OFFICE SPACE AT THE CITY HALL BUILDING.   MEETINGS ARE BEING HELD WITH AN ARCHITECT.  THE COUNCIL RENEWED THE CITY’S COVERAGE FOR WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE.   

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK.  THE COUNCIL VOTED TO EXTEND THE LICENSING PERIODS FOR RENTAL HOUSING INSPECTIONS.  INSPECTIONS FOR ZONE 3 WILL BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR.  ZONE 1 WILL BE INSPECTED IN 2022 AND ZONE 2 IN 2023.  THREE APPLICATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL HOUSING TAX ABATEMENTS WERE REVIEWED.  PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 16TH.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED GUIDELINES FOR A NEW HOUSING TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM FOR REMODELING OF EXISTING BUILDINGS.  A PUBLIC HEARING WAS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 16TH ON AN APPLICATION FOR AN ABATEMENT FOR THE GUARDIAN INN PROJECT.  SEVERAL DONATIONS WERE ACCEPTED INCLUDING DONATIONS TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. 

 

A MEETING OF THE FULDA CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD THIS WEEK.   THE ANNUAL PAY EQUITY REPORT WAS REVIEWED AND APPROVED.   THE COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE NEW RATES FOR FIRE PROTECTION.  THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED AN INCREASE FOR THE LOCAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT FROM $192 TO $205 PER SECTION.  THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES IN THE RATES FOR AMBULANCE SERVICE.  A BRIDGE INSPECTION REPORT WAS REVIEWED FOR THE LAFAYETTE STREET BRIDGE.  LIQUOR LICENSES WERE RENEWED FOR FOUR LOCAL ESTABLISHMENTS AND THE GOLF COURSE.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON THE POLICY FOR HANDLING BUILDING PERMIT VIOLATIONS.  TWO BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS WERE APPROVED.  ONE APPLICATION WAS TABLED PENDING MORE INFORMATION. 

 

THE WESTBROOK CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED A NEW THREE-YEAR LAND-LEASE AGREEMENT.  REPORTS WERE PRESENTED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE STREET DEPARTMENT.  THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT WAS PRESENTED.  REGULAR BILLS WERE APPROVED FOR PAYMENT.   

 

THE JEFFERS CITY COUNCIL HELD A REGULAR MEETING LAST WEEK.   A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON WATER BILLS.  THE CITY CLERK WAS AUTHORIZED TO ORDER SOME EQUIPMENT FOR USE BY THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER.  A DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD WITH THE CITY OF DARFUR ABOUT ITS FIRE HALL.  THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL BUSINESS WAS HANDLED.  REGULAR BILLS WERE APPROVED FOR PAYMENT.   

 

MINN-DOT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT SPRING LOAD-WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS WILL GO INTO EFFECT THIS WEEK ON STATE HIGHWAYS IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.   THE NEW RESTRICTIONS BEGAN THURSDAY IN THE SOUTH FROST ZONE AND WINTER LOAD INCREASES WERE ENDED.  TRUCKS AND LARGER VEHICLES ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE WITH HEAVIER WEIGHTS DURING THE WINTER WHEN THE GROUND IS FROZEN.  IN THE SPRING, WHEN THE GROUND BEGINS TO THAW, WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS GO INTO EFFECT ON STATE HIGHWAYS TO HELP PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE ROAD SURFACE.  THIS YEAR, HEAVIER LOADS WERE ALLOWED FROM FEBRUARY 1ST TO MARCH 4TH.