Local News Headlines – Tuesday, June 29th

THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING AT 8:30 THIS MORNING.  THE MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER IN SLAYTON.  THIS WILL BE A BUDGET WORK-SESSION.  BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE MEETING WITH COUNTY DEPARTMENT HEADS TO DISCUSS THEIR CURRENT BUDGETS AND BUDGET PROPOSALS FOR NEXT YEAR.  THE BUDGET SESSION WILL RECESS AT 4:00 TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND WILL RE-CONVENE AT 8:30 WEDNESDAY MORNING.   

 

THE MT LAKE CITY COUNCIL HOLDS A SPECIAL MEETING AT 5:30 THIS AFTERNOON AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.   THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERIM CITY ADMINISTRATOR.  CURRENT CITY ADMINISTRATOR MICHAEL SCHULTE HAS SUBMITTED HIS RESIGNATION EFFECTIVE JULY 2ND.  THE MT LAKE CITY COUNCIL IS WORKING WITH THE SOUTH-CENTRAL SERVICE COOPERATIVE ON THE SEARCH FOR A NEW CITY ADMINISTRATOR.  THEY HOPE TO HAVE A NEW ADMINISTRATOR HIRED BY THE FALL.  AN INTERIM CITY ADMINISTRATOR WILL BE APPOINTED TO ASSIST WITH CITY BUSINESS UNTIL THE NEW ADMINISTRATOR IS HIRED.  

 

HERE’S AN UPDATE ON COVID-19 VACCINATIONS IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA.    AS OF LAST SATURDAY, THE STATE-WIDE TOTALS SHOW THAT 61% OF MINNESOTA RESIDENTS 12-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.   LOCALLY, IN COTTONWOOD COUNTY, JUST UNDER 54% OF COUNTY RESIDENTS 12-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.  NOBLES COUNTY HAS THE HIGHEST VACCINATION RATE WITH OVER 55% OF RESIDENTS 12-AND-OLDER BEING FULLY VACCINATED.  THE RATE IN OTHER COUNTIES FOR RESIDENTS 12-AND-OLDER INCLUDES 54% IN WATONWAN COUNTY, 52% IN MARTIN COUNTY, 49% IN REDWOOD COUNTY, 48% IN MURRAY COUNTY AND JUST UNDER 46% OF JACKSON COUNTY RESIDENTS 12-AND-OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED. 

 

THE WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SCHOOL BOARD MET LAST WEEK.  A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL MATTERS WERE HANDLED.  SEVERAL ITEMS WERE DESIGNATED AS SURPLUS PROPERTY TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION.  THE BOARD APPROVED PAYMENT OF MEMBERSHIP FEES TO THE MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE.  THE BOARD VOTED TO RESCIND THE DISTRICT POLICY ON FACE COVERINGS.  THE BOARD APPROVED A PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR; THE BUDGET PROJECTS THE DISTRICT WILL END THE YEAR WITH A SURPLUS.  THE BOARD APPROVED A NEW ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH LOY WOELBER AS SUPERINTENDENT.  HE WILL SHARE HIS TIME WITH THE FULDA AND LAKE BENTON SCHOOL DISTRICTS.   

 

THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING AT 8:30 WEDNESDAY MORNING AT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER IN SLAYTON.  THIS WILL BE A CONTINUANCE OF A BUDGET WORK-SESSION.  BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE MEETING WITH COUNTY DEPARTMENT HEADS TO DISCUSS THEIR CURRENT BUDGETS AND BUDGET PROPOSALS FOR NEXT YEAR.  DEPARTMENTS SCHEDULED FOR REVIEWS INCLUDE THE COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE, SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT AND RECYCLING CENTER, HISTORICAL BUILDINGS AND MUSEUMS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE, THE AUDITOR-TREASURER’S OFFICE AND THE SHETEK AREA WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT.