Local News Headlines – Thursday, July 22

THE BUSINESS, ARTS AND RECREATION CENTER IS HOLDING A SILENT AUCTION FUND-RAISER.   THE AUCTION WILL FEATURE OVER 100 ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN DONATED BY LOCAL BUSINESSES AND SUPPORTERS OF THE ‘BARC’ CENTER.  BIDDING WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE ‘BARC’ LIBRARY.  HOURS ARE NOON TO 5:30PM WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY; 9:00AM TO NOON ON SATURDAY; AND NEXT MONDAY FROM 9:00AM UNTIL THE END OF THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING.  WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY PHONE STARTING ON TUESDAY, JULY 27TH.  SOME OF THE FEATURED ITEMS WILL INCLUDE GIFT CARDS, GIFT CERTIFICATES, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, DECORATIONS, TOOLS, CLOTHING AND TICKETS TO SPORTING EVENTS.   

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE MT LAKE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD THIS WEEK.  A CONTRACT WAS APPROVED WITH ANKENY BUILDERS OF BLUE EARTH TO REMODEL THE OFFICE SPACE AT THE CITY HALL BUILDING. THE WORK WILL BEGIN IN EARLY AUGUST.  THE CITY HALL WILL REMAIN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DURING THE PROJECT.   THE COUNCIL APPROVED HIRING HANSON PLUMBING AND NICKELS CONSTRUCTION TO PERFORM EMERGENCY REPAIRS AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY TO FIX A PROBLEM WITH THE SEWER SYSTEM.  THE COST WILL BE ROUGHLY $10-THOUSAND.  THE COUNCIL REVIEWED THE CURRENT YEAR’S BUDGET.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON SOME VANDALISM AT THE CITY PARK BANDSHELL.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON THE 2022 CITY BUDGET. 

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK.   THERE WAS A PRESENTATION FROM THE COALITION OF GREATER MINNESOTA CITIES ON ACTION TAKEN DURING THE LAST SESSION OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.  THE 2020 CITY AUDIT REPORT WAS PRESENTED.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED AN APPLICATION TO SUB-DIVIDE A PARCEL OF PROPERTY INTO 3 LOTS.  THE FIRST READING WAS HELD OF AN ORDINANCE TO UPDATE THE CITY’S FLOOD-PLAIN MAPS.  THE COUNCIL TABLED A PROPOSAL TO ACQUIRE A PARCEL OF PROPERTY TO BE USED AS A FISHING ACCESS TO PERKINS CREEK.  A PROCLAMATION WAS ISSUED IN SUPPORT OF THE ‘NITE TO UNITE’ PROGRAM.  THE COUNCIL VOTED TO CLOSE A SECTION OF 4TH AVENUE DURING THE NITE TO UNITE.   

 

THE WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK.   THE BOARD APPROVED A 10-YEAR PLAN AND BUDGET FOR LONG-TERM FACILITY MAINTENANCE.  A NUMBER OF OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS AND DESIGNATIONS WERE APPROVED INCLUDING THE DISTRICT LEGAL COUNSEL, OFFICIAL BANK AND OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER. THE BOARD APPROVED CONTRACTS WITH PROVIDERS OF MILK AND BREAD PRODUCTS.  A LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT WAS APPROVED FOR THE ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT.  A PART-TIME TEACHER WAS HIRED FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.  THE WESTBROOK-WALNUT GROVE SCHOOL BOARD HEARD ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.  TOPICS INCLUDES SUMMER BUILDING REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS. 

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL BOARD WAS HELD THIS WEEK.   THE BOARD VOTED TO CALL FOR AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER ON A SCHOOL BUILDING REFERENDUM.  THIS IS CONTINGENT ON THE DISTRICT RECEIVING A FAVORABLE ‘REVIEW AND COMMENT’ FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.  IT WOULD BE A MAIL-IN ELECTION.  THE BOARD APPROVED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE M-L-A ARCHITECTURAL FIRM TO WORK ON THE BUILDING PROJECT.  THE BOARD ACCEPTED BIDS FROM PROVIDERS OF MILK AND BREAD PRODUCTS.  ADMISSION FEES WERE SET FOR EVENTS.  THE BOARD APPROVED A 10-YEAR PLAN AND BUDGET FOR LONG-TERM FACILITY MAINTENANCE.  SOME PERSONNEL BUSINESS WAS HANDLED. 

 

THE HERON LAKE-OKABENA SCHOOL BOARD HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK.   A 10-YEAR PLAN AND BUDGET WAS ADOPTED FOR LONG-TERM FACILITY MAINTENANCE.  THE BOARD SET WAGES FOR NON-CERTIFIED STAFF MEMBERS.  A NEW CONTRACT WAS APPROVED WITH THE DISTRICT BUSINESS MANAGER.  A RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED, CALLING FOR THE DISTRICT TO BORROW MONEY TO MEET CASH-FLOW NEEDS.  SOME OTHER FINANCIAL ADJUSTMENTS WERE APPROVED.  A DONATION OF $2,500 WAS ACCEPTED TO PURCHASE UNIFORMS FOR THE VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM.  A RESIGNATION WAS ACCEPTED FROM TRACK AND CROSS-COUNTRY COACH GARY HILDEBRANDT.  DOUG WHITE WAS HIRED AS THE NEW CROSS-COUNTRY COACH.