Local News Headlines – Tuesday, April 27

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD WILL BE HELD AT 8:30 THIS MORNING AT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER IN SLAYTON.    THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO PARTICIPATE INTHE 2021 STATE ‘PERFORMANCE MEASURES’ PROGRAM.  THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE ON DRAINAGE BONDS.  THE SOIL-AND-WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT WILL REQUEST SOME FUNDING.  A DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD ON THE RENTAL RATES FOR THE 4-H BUILDING.  THE BOARD WILL HEAR A REPORT FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.  THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE HIRING OF A SEASONAL PARKS MAINTENANCE WORKER.  THERE WILL BE A REPORT FROM THE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE.   

 

THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING AT 1:00 THIS AFTERNOON.  BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE HOLDING INTERVIEWS WITH THE FINAL CANDIDATES FOR THE NEW POSITION OF JACKSON COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.  FIVE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INVITED TO INTERVIEW FOR THE OPENING.   THE CANDIDATES INCLUDE STEVE NASBY, THE CURRENT WINDOM CITY ADMINISTRATOR. NASBY HAS WORKED FOR THE CITY OF WINDOM FOR 15 YEARS.  OTHER CANDIDATES INCLUDE THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR IN HECTOR, MN; A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, AND THE FORMER COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS FROM NICOLLET COUNTY AND MILLE LACS COUNTY.   

 

THE “DINNER TABLE” WILL BE OFFERING A MEAL IN WINDOM TODAY.   A FREE DRIVE-THROUGH MEAL WILL BE PROVIDED FROM 5:30 TO 6:30 THIS EVENING AT THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN WINDOM AT 336-11TH STREET.  PLEASE DRIVE THROUGH THE ALLEY TO RECEIVE A FREE MEAL.  THIS MONTH’S MEAL FROM THE DINNER TABLE IS BEING SPONSORED BY WINDOM HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS DELANEY SMITH AND JADYN WORMSTADT AS PART OF THEIR EAGLE ACHIEVEMENT PROJECT.  SINCE THE START OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE DINNER TABLE HAS BEEN PROVIDED TAKE OUT MEALS. THEY HOPE TO RETURN TO INDOOR DINING WHEN COVID RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED.   

 

ONE LOCAL STUDENT WAS A PLACE-WINNER IN THE CLASS ‘A’ STATE SPEECH CONTEST.   THE STATE CONTEST WAS HELD SATURDYA ON A VIRTUAL BASIS.  JADEN SCHOLL OF WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE/RED ROCK CENTRAL FINISHED IN 2ND PLACE IN POETRY.  AMONG OTHER AREA STUDENTS, BREALYN DAMM OF MURRAY COUNTY CENTRAL FINISHED IN 3RD PLACE IN STORYTELLING.  OTHER LOCAL PARTICIPANTS IN THE STATE SPEECH CONTEST INCLUDED, FROM WINDOM, ALLISON LETCHER, McKENNA McNAMARA, PARKER ALVSTAD AND DORA LARSON; FROM WWG-RRC, ELIZABETH WIGGINS; AND FROM FULDA, SIMON SPITTLE. 

                                                              

A FEASIBILITY STUDY HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR THE WINDOM CITY LIQUOR STORE.  THE CURRENT RIVER BEND LIQUOR STORE HAS ROUGHLY 4,500 SQUARE FEET.  ISSUES INCLUDE NARROW AISLES AND A SHORTAGE OF STORAGE SPACE AND DISPLAY SPACE.  THREE OPTIONS WERE EXPLORED:  REMODELING OR ADDING ONTO THE CURRENT BUILDING; CONSTRUCTING A NEW BUILDING AT THE CURRENT LOCATION; OR REMODELING A PORTION OF THE FORMER SHOPKO BUILDING AS A SITE FOR A NEW LIQUOR STORE.  THE SHOPKO OPTION HAS THE LOWEST PROJECTED COST AT JUST OVER $1-MILLION.  THE OTHER OPTIONS WOULD RANGE IN COST FROM ROUGHLY $2.1-MILLION TO $2.6-MILLION.  THE INFORMATION WILL BE USED AS THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES THE FUTURE OF THE LIQUOR STORE.  

                                                                    

THE CITY OF MT LAKE WILL HOLD A CITY-WIDE CLEANUP PROGRAM THIS SATURDAY.   ITEMS TO BE PICKED UP MUST BE PLACED AT THE CURB BY 6:00 SATURDAY MORNING.  THIS IS FOR HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, INCLUDING FURNITURE, THAT ARE TOO LARGE TO BE PLACED IN A REGULAR GARBAGE BAG OR CONTAINER.  MATTRESSES AND BOX SPRINGS MAY BE RECYCLED AS PART OF THE CLEANUP.  THERE WILL BE A FEE OF $13 FOR EACH PIECE. RESIDENTS NEED TO GO TO THE MT LAKE CITY HALL TO PAY THE FEE AND HAVE THEIR NAMES PUT ON THE OFFICIAL LIST FOR PICKUP.  MATTRESSES AND BOX SPRINGS WILL BE PICKED UP ON FRIDAY AND SHOULD BE AT THE CURB BY 8:00 FRIDAY MORNING.  CHILDREN’S CAR SEATS MAY BE TAKEN TO CITY HALL FOR RECYCLING.