THE CITY OF WINDOM HAS ISSUED A WATER USE ADVISORY. ACCORDING TO THE D-N-R, MUCH OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA INCLUDING COTTONWOOD AND JACKSON COUNTIES, IS LISTED AS “D-2” FOR SEVERE DROUGHT. THE D-N-R IS REQUESTING THAT ALL COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEMS ATTEMPT TO REDUCE THEIR OVERALL WATER USAGE. THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF WATER AT THIS TIME, BUT WINDOM OFFICIALS ARE REQUESTING THAT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AVOID ANY UNNECESSARY USE OF WATER, SUCH AS WATERING LAWNS OR WASHING VEHICLES. THESE MEASURES WILL HELP TO REDUCE THE STRAIN ON THE WATER SYSTEM. WATER RESTRICTIONS ARE POSSIBLE IF THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS CONTINUE.
THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A WORK-SESSION THIS WEEK. ADULT MEAL PRICES WERE SET FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR. THE BOARD REVIEWED QUOTES FROM PROVIDERS OF MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS. THE BID WAS AWARDED TO KEMP’S DAIRY. THE BOARD ADOPTED A RESOLUTION, APPROVING A SPECIAL LAW TO EXTEND THE TIME PERIOD FOR A “TIF” DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF WINDOM. THE BOARD ACCEPTED THE RESIGNATION OF PAULA WOLTER-MATTSON AS THE ASSISTANT MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. JESSICA CARBO WAS HIRED AS THE NEW ASSISTANT MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. THE BOARD HEARD A REPORT ON CASH-FLOW NEEDS. THE DISTRICT WILL NOT HAVE TO BORROW MONEY TO MEET CASH FLOW NEEDS.
THE 2021 JACKSON COUNTY FAIR IS TAKING PLACE THIS WEEK. TODAY IS KID’S DAY AT THE FAIR. JUDGING EVENTS WILL INCLUDE THE 4-H LAMB LEAD, THE 4-H SHEEP SHOW AND THE 4-H MEAT GOAT SHOW. THE PRAIRIE ECOLOGY BUS CENTER WILL BE ON THE GROUNDS WITH KID’S ACTIVITIES FROM 1:00 TO 7:00PM. A MECHANICAL BULL WILL BE FEATURED IN THE BEER GARDEN. THERE WILL BE A BULL-RIDING SHOW IN THE GRANDSTAND AT 7:30 THIS EVENING. A D-J WILL BE PROVIDING MUSIC IN THE BEER GARDEN AT 8:00 TONIGHT. THE COMMERCIAL BUILDING AND THE SENIOR CITIZEN’S BUILDING WILL BE OPEN DURING THE DAY. KID’S INFLATABLES AND RIDES WILL BE OPEN FROM 11:00AM TO 10:00PM.
TRAFFIC IN THE CITY OF JACKSON MAY BE IMPACTED BY A HIGHWAY PROJECT. WORK WAS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN THIS WEEK TO REPLACE A SIGNAL SYSTEM AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS ON HIGHWAY 71 IN JACKSON. THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL IS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF SHERMAN STREET AND HIGHWAY 71. THE SIGNAL WILL BE REPLACED, AND WORK WILL BE DONE TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY WITH CURB RAMPS AND CURB EXTENSIONS. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO INVOLVE SOME MINOR UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL WORK. A SHORT SEGMENT OF SHERMAN STREET WILL BE CLOSED TEMPORARILY. WEATHER PERMITTING, ALL WORK AT THE INTERSECTION SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY EARLY OCTOBER.
THE STORDEN “TOWN DAYS” CELEBRATION IS BEING HELD THIS WEEK. A MEDALLION HUNT WILL BE HELD; CLUES WILL BE POSTED DAILY STARTING TODAY. ON FRIDAY NIGHT, A COMMUNITY SUPPER WILL BE HELD AT THE FIRE HALL FROM 6:00 UNTIL 8:00PM WITH A FREE HOT-DOG MEAL. THERE WILL BE ENTERTAINMENT WITH DEAN FISHEL FROM 4:00 UNTIL 7:00PM. A FULL DAY OF EVENTS WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY. ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE A 3-ON-3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, A VENDOR FAIR, KID’S ACTIVITIES IN THE PARK, A DUNK TANK, A KID’S PEDAL TRACTOR PULL, THE STORDEN MEN’S CLUB WILL HOLD A CLASSIC CAR ROLL-IN AND BURGER FEED, AND THE STORDEN FIREMEN’S DANCE WILL BE HELD SATURDAY NIGHT.
THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK. THE BOARD ACCEPTED A BID FROM LOHRENZ EXCAVATING TO DEMOLISH A BUILDING ON SOME TAX-FORFEITED PROPERTY. THE BOARD APPROVED CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS FOR A SHOP BUILDING IN HIGHWATER TOWNSHIP AND FOR A GRAVEL PIT IN DALE TOWNSHIP. THE BOARD APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF A TIRE-CHANGER UNIT FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. A QUOTE WAS ACCEPTED FOR THE PURCHASE OF 13 NEW PORTABLE RADIOS FOR USE BY THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT AND THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. A NOTICE OF RETIREMENT WAS ACCEPTED FROM THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS, AND THE OPENING WILL BE POSTED.