Local News Headlines

THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR WINDOM AREA HEALTH MET THIS WEEK.   THE MAY FINANCIAL REPORT SHOWED AN INCREASE IN NET ASSETS OF JUST OVER $62-THOUSAND.  MAY IS THE FIRST MONTH OF THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.  THE AUDIT REPORT FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD IN JULY.  THE BOARD VOTED TO PROCEED WITH PLANNING FOR A REMODELING PROJECT FOR THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.  THE PROJECT HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1.3-MILLION.  THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER OPTIONS FOR RE-FINANCING A 2014 BOND ISSUE TO SAVE MONEY THROUGH LOWER INTEREST RATES.  IT WAS NOTED THAT UNDER ADVICE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, VISITORS TO THE FACILITY ARE STILL BEING SCREENED AND MUST WEAR FACE COVERINGS. 

 

THE BUTTERFIELD “SUMMER SIZZLER” AND BIG-RIG ROUNDUP IS BEING HELD THIS WEEK.    MOST EVENTS WILL TAKE PLACE AT VOSS PARK IN BUTTERFIELD.  ON FRIDAY, TRUCK REGISTRATION WILL BEGIN.  THE BUTTERFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE A STEAK FRY.  THERE WILL BE AN ADULT PEDAL PULL, AND LIVE MUSIC WITH THE CHAD EDWARDS BAND.  A FULL DAY OF EVENTS WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, INCLUDING THE TRUCK PARADE, BLIND-MAN GOLF-CART COMPETITION, PIE AND ICE CREAM, COW-PIE BINGO, KID’S FISHING CONTEST, THE TRUCK AND TRACTOR PULL, AND FIREWORKS.  THE SUMMER SIZZLER WRAPS UP SUNDAY WITH AN OUTDOOR CHURCH SERVICE AND A PANCAKE BREAKFAST.   

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE MT LAKE SCHOOL BOARD WAS HELD LAST WEEK.  A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL ITEMS WERE HANDLED.  THE BOARD REVIEWED A PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR.  THE BUDGET MAY BE AMENDED BASED ON ACTION BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE.   THE PROPOSED FOOD SERVICE BUDGET WAS REVIEWED.  THE BOARD REVIEWED INFORMATION ON THE DISTRICT PROPERTY TAX LEVY.  MEMBERSHIP WAS RENEWED INTHE MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE.  THE BOARD REVIEWED THE PROPOSED ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HANDBOOKS FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.  A COVID PREPAREDNESS PLAN WAS REVIEWED.   

 

THE MT LAKE CITY COUNCIL HAS APPOINTED AN INTERIM CITY ADMINISTRATOR.  AT A SPECIAL MEETING THIS WEEK, THE COUNCIL VOTED TO HIRE JOE McCABE AS THE INTERIM CITY ADMINISTRATOR.  CURRENT CITY ADMINISTRATOR MICHAEL SCHULTE IS RESIGNING; HIS LAST DAY ON THE JOB WILL BE THIS FRIDAY.  JOE McCABE IS THE FORMER CITY MANAGER OF ST. JAMES.  LAST YEAR, HE SERVED AS THE INTERIM E-D-A DIRECTOR FOR ST. JAMES.  McCABE WILL WORK WITH THE MT LAKE CITY STAFF AND COUNCIL ON A PART-TIME BASIS UNTIL A NEW CITY ADMINISTRATOR CAN BE HIRED.  THE CITY IS WORKING WITH A CONSULTANT ON THE SEARCH PROCESS.  THEY HOPE TO HAVE A NEW ADMINISTRATOR HIRED BY LATE SEPTEMBER OR EARLY OCTOBER. 

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A WORK-SESSION THIS WEEK.  THE DISTRICT LITERACY PLAN WAS PRESENTED AND APPROVED.  THE BOARD APPROVED AN AGREEMENT WITH WINDOM AREA HEALTH TO ALLOW THE USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES IN THE EVENT OF A MAJOR EMERGENCY.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON STATE FUNDING.  A BILL IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE WILL PROVIDE INCREASES IN PER-PUPIL AID OF 2.45% IN THE FIRST YEAR AND 2% IN THE 2ND YEAR.   THE BOARD DISCUSSED THE CURRENT OPERATING LEVY.  THE LEVY IS UP FOR RENEWAL THIS YEAR.  OPTIONS INCLUDING RENEWING THE LEVY AT THE CURRENT RATE OR ASKING VOTED TO APPROVE AN INCREASE.  ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO PROPOSE A CAPITAL TECHNOLOGY LEVY.