Local News Headlines – Tuesday, July 20th

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET AT 9:00 THIS MORNING AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN WINDOM.   THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER A REQUEST FROM THE CITY OF WINDOM TO APPROVE AN EXTENSION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A “TIF” DISTRICT.  A BID WILL BE OPENED FOR THE DEMOLITION OF SOME TAX-FORFEITED PROPERTY.  THE BOARD WILL REVIEW TWO APPLICATIONS FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS. THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE ON ENFORCEMENT ISSUES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE SEPTIC SYSTEM PROGRAM.  THE COUNTY SHERIFF WILL DISCUSS A PROPOSAL TO PURCHASE NEW PORTABLE RADIOS FOR THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE. 

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD WILL BE HELD AT 10:00 THIS MORNING.  THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE AN UPDATE ON A GRANT APPLICATION.  THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL DISCUSS A PROPOSAL FOR A 3-D MAPPING PROJECT.  STAFF FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WILL MAKE A PRESENTATION ON THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN.  THE BOARD WILL APPROVE A PROCLAMATION IN SUPPORT OF THE ANNUAL STAFF APPRECIATION DAY.  A CONTRACT WILL BE APPROVED WITH A CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FIRM FOR THE ADDITION TO THE GOVERNMENT CENTER WEST BUILDING.   

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL MEETS AT 6:30 THIS EVENING AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.   THERE WILL BE A PRESENTATION FROM THE COALITION OF GREATER MINNESOTA CITIES ON THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.  THE 2020 CITY AUDIT REPORT WILL BE PRESENTED.  THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER AN APPLICATION TO SUB-DIVIDE A PARCEL OF PROPERTY.  THE FIRST READING WILL BE HELD OF AN ORDINANCE TO UPDATE THE CITY’S FLOOD-PLAIN MAPS.  THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE A SPECIAL LAW EXTENDING THE LIFE OF A “TIF” DISTRICT.  THE E-D-A WILL PRESENT A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE GUIDELINES FOR THE SMALL CITIES DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM.   SOME PERSONNEL BUSINESS WILL BE HANDLED. 

 

THE HERON LAKE-OKABENA SCHOOL BOARD MEETS TODAY IN THE HIGH SCHOOL MEDIA CENTER.    AN ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 7:00PM.  SALARIES WILL BE SET FOR BOARD MEMBERS. A NUMBER OF OFFICIAL DESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS WILL BE APPROVED.  FEES WILL BE SET INCLUDING ADMISSION FEES, STUDENT ACTIVITY FEES, CLASS FEES AND CLASS DUES AND SCHOOL LUNCH PRICES WILL BE SET.  IN THE REGULAR MEETING, THE BOARD WILL ADOPT A 10-YEAR PLAN AND BUDGET FOR LONG-TERM FACILITY MAINTENANCE.  WAGES WILL BE SET FOR NON-CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES.  THE BOARD WILL CALL FOR THE DISTRICT TO BORROW MONEY TO MEET CASH-FLOW NEEDS.  PERSONNEL BUSINESS WILL BE HANDLED.   

 

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE TO HELP LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO BUY A HOUSE OR REPAIR THEIR CURRENT HOME.  THE U-S-D-A RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM HAS A ‘DIRECT HOME LOAN’ AVAILABLE.  THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CLASSIFIED AS LOW-INCOME OR VERY LOW INCOME AND CANNOT QUALIFY FOR TRADITIONAL BANK LOANS.  NO DOWN PAYMENT IS REQUIRED AND INTEREST RATES MAY BE AS LOW AS 1%.  APPLICANTS MUST MEET INCOME AND CREDIT GUIDELINES AND DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY TO REPAY A LOAN.  THE MAXIMUM LOAN AMOUNT IS $20-THOUSAND FOR 20 YEARS.  THE MONEY CAN BE USED TO PURCHASE A HOME OR TO MAKE REPAIRS TO AN OLDER HOUSE.  CONTACT A HOUSING SPECIALIST IN WORTHINGTON OR MARSHALL FOR DETAILS. 

 

THE MURRAY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL BE HOLDING A SUMMER CONCERT SERIES.  THE “FRONT PORCH” CONCERTS ARE HELD AT THE HISTORIC DINEHART-HOLT HOUSE IN SLAYTON.  CONCERTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.  REFRESHMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.  EACH CONCERT BEGINS AT 7:00PM.  THIS THURSDAY, THE CONCERT WILL FEATURE “KORDAL KOMBAT,” A BARBERSHOP AND ACAPELLA GROUP.  CONCERTS WILL ALSO BE OFFERED ON THE NEXT TWO THURSDAYS.  FUNDING HAS BEEN PROVIDED THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA ARTS COUNCIL.  THE DINEHART-HOLT HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1891 BY CHRISTOPHER DINEHART.  HIS WIFE FLORA IS BELIEVED TO HAVE OWNED THE FIRST PIANO IN MURRAY COUNTY.