Local News Headlines – Tuesday, April 20

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD MEETS AT 9:00 THIS MORNING AT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER IN WINDOM.   PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE HELD ON THREE APPLICATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL HOUSING TAX ABATEMENTS FOR NEW HOUSING UNITS AT THE ‘GOVE ACRES’ HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN WINDOM.  THE BOARD WILL HEAR A PRESENTATION ON THE PROPOSED NEW WATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR THE RED ROCK RURAL WATER SYSTEM IN GREAT BEND TOWNSHIP.  IN PERSONNEL BUSINESS, THE BOARD IS SCHEDULED TO ACCEPT A LETTER OF RETIREMENT FROM THE JAIL ADMINISTRATOR, AND DISCUSS HOW TO FILL THAT POSITION.   THERE MAY BE AN UPDATE ON FEDERAL FUNDING UNDER THE NEW COVID-19 RELIEF PLAN.   

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD WILL BE HELD AT 9:00 THIS MORNING.   THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER A RESOLUTION, CALLING FOR THE DUTIES OF THE COUNTY COORDINATOR TO BE TRANSFERRED TO JANICE FRANSEN ON AN INTERIM BASIS, STARTING APRIL 27TH.   THE USE OF A COUNTY CREDIT CARD WILL BE AUTHORIZED FOR JANICE FRANSEN.   DURING THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD WILL RECOGNIZE COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO ARE RETIRING FROM POSITIONS ON COUNTY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.  QUOTES WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THE PURCHASE OF ASPHALT AND AGGREGATE MATERIALS.  A LIQUOR LICENSE WILL BE APPROVED FOR THE EASTSIDE ACRES CAMPGROUND.  

 

THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET AT 8:30 THIS MORNING AT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER IN SLAYTON.  A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED ON AN APPLICATION FOR A NEW OFF-SALE LIQUOR LICENSE.  THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS A PROPOSAL TO OFFER REFUNDS ON 2020 LIQUOR LICENSES DUE TO THE LOSS OF BUSINESS DURING THE PANDEMIC.  THE BOARD WILL SET A DATE TO OPEN BIDS ON A 2021 ROAD-STRIPING PROJECT.  THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER HIRING A NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR.  A NEW UNION CONTRACT WILL BE REVIEWED FOR THE JAIL ADMINISTRATOR.  THE BOARD WILL HAVE A LEGAL TRAINING SESSION ON THE STATE OPEN MEETING LAW.  

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL MEETS AT 6:30 THIS EVENING AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.  PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE HELD ON THREE APPLICATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL HOUSING TAX ABATEMENTS.  SEVERAL PROCLAMATIONS WILL BE ISSUED.  WINDOM AREA HEALTH WILL PRESENT ITS PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.  THE COUNCIL WILL REVIEW A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE RIVER BEND LIQUOR STORE.  THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL RECOMMEND SOME CHANGES IN ITS FIRE SERVICE FEES.  THE WATER DEPARTMENT WILL PRESENT THE ANNUAL REPORT ON DRINKING WATER QUALITY.  A DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD ON THE CITY-WIDE CLEANUP PROGRAM, INCLUDING POSSIBLE DISCOUNTS FOR RECYCLING MATTRESSES OR T-V SETS.  

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE HERON LAKE-OKABENA SCHOOL BOARD WILL BE HELD AT 7:00 THIS EVENING IN THE HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY.   THE BOARD WILL REVIEW OPEN-ENROLLMENT APPLICATIONS.  THE BOARD WILL REVIEW A PROPOSAL FROM THE SOUTHWEST-WEST CENTRAL SERVICE COOPERATIVE FOR INSURANCE COVERAGE.  TWO ASSISTANT TRACK COACHES WILL BE HIRED. A NEW BAND TEACHER WILL BE HIRED FOR NEXT YEAR.  THE BOARD WILL REVIEW A LEASE FOR SOME FARMLAND.  AMONG ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS, THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED ADDITION OF A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.  THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE ON MEMBERSHIP FEES BEING REQUESTED BY THE MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE.   

 

LOCAL CITIES AND TOWNSHIPS WILL BE HOLDING THEIR ANNUAL BOARDS OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION THIS SPRING.   TODAY, BOARDS OF APPEAL WILL BE HELD IN COTTONWOOD COUNTY FOR LAKESIDE TOWNSHIP AND MT LAKE TOWNSHIP.  ON WEDNESDAY, BOARDS OF APPEAL WILL BE HELD FOR CARSON TOWNSHIP, MIDWAY TOWNSHIP AND SELMA TOWNSHIP.  ON THURSDAY, BOARDS OF APPEAL WILL BE HELD FOR DALE TOWNSHIP, DELTON TOWNSHIP, GERMANTOWN TOWNSHIP AND GREAT BEND TOWNSHIP.  AT A BOARD OF APPEAL, PROPERTY OWNERS MAY ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ASSESSED VALUATION OF THEIR PROPERTY, AND MAKE REQUEST THAT THE BOARD APPROVE AN ADJUSTMENT IN THE VALUATION. 

THE PRAIRIE ARTS CONTINUUM IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ITS ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.   SCHOLARSHIPS ARE OFFERED TO STUDENTS WHO PLAN TO PURSUE A COLLEGE DEGREE IN A FIELD RELATED TO THE ARTS.  STUDENTS MUST LIVE IN THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS – WINDOM, HERON LAKE-OKABENA, JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL, MT LAKE AND RED ROCK CENTRAL.  APPLICATIONS FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM ‘PAC’ OR FROM LOCAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS.  APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THIS THURSDAY.  THE PRAIRIE ARTS CONTINUUM IS A NON-PROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION SERVING SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA.  DONATIONS TO THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE.