Local News Headlines – Monday, August 9

THE WINDOM E-D-A MEETS AT NOON TODAY AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.  THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WILL DISCUSS THE E-D-A ‘SPEC’ BUILDING.  THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE ON THE PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP A NEW APARTMENT BUILDING AT THE SITE OF THE SPEC BUILDING.  A DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD ON THE CEMSTONE REDEVELOPMENT AREA.  THE E-D-A MAY GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS LAND NEGOTIATIONS.  A REPORT WILL BE PRESENTED FROM THE WINDOM INTEGRATION COMMITTEE.  THE GROUP IS PLANNING A SERIES OF EVENTS TO BE HELD IN MID-SEPTEMBER.  THE E-D-A WILL REVIEW THE ANNUAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT FOR ALL “TIF” DISTRICTS IN THE CITY.  THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT WILL BE PRESENTED FOR THE RIVER BLUFF TOWNHOMES. 

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HOLDS A REGULAR MEETING AT 6:30 THIS EVENING AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.    A RESOLUTION WILL BE PRESENTED, CALLING FOR THE DISTRICT TO HOLD A VOTE THIS FALL ON RENEWING THE OPERATING LEVY REFERENDUM AND A SEPARATE VOTE ON APPROVING A NEW CAPITAL TECHNOLOGY LEVY.  THE BOARD WILL REVIEW AN AGREEMENT WITH AN ENGINEERING FIRM TO HANDLE DESIGN WORK FOR A PROJECT TO REPLACE AIR-HANDLING EQUIPMENT AT THE MIDDLE-HIGH SCHOOL.  A SUMMARY OF THE ANNUAL SUPERINTENDENT’S EVALUATION WILL BE PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL.  A NEW MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HANDBOOK WILL BE REVIEWED.  THE BOARD WILL REVIEW A PROPOSED “RETURN TO SCHOOL” PLAN.   

 

A LOCAL INTERSTATE HIGHWAY REST AREA IS BEING CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION.   THE CLEAR LAKE REST AREA – OFF THE EASTBOUND LANES OF I-90 NEAR JACKSON – WILL BE CLOSED STARTING TODAY FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE PARKING LOTS AND RAMPS.  THE REST AREA HOPES TO BE ABLE TO RE-OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN MID-SEPTEMBER WITH LIMITED FACILITIES.  THIS PHASE OF THE PROJECT INVOLVES RECONSTRUCTION OF THE OVERSIZED VEHICLE PARKING LOT AND RAMPS.  IN OCTOBER, WORK WILL BEGIN ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLE PARKING LOT.  THE REST AREA SHOULD BE FULLY OPEN BY MID-NOVEMBER.  THE REST AREAS ARE BEING UPGRADES WITH NEW AMENITIES, BETTER LIGHTING AND MORE SPACE FOR TRUCK PARKING.     

 

THE 2021 COTTONWOOD COUNTY FAIR IS BEING HELD THIS WEEK.   TUESDAY WILL BE AN ENTRY DAY.  EVENTS WILL TAKE PLACE FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.  AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS:  ON WEDNESDAY, A FREE COUNTRY MUSIC SHOW AT THE ARENA WITH ‘PAPPA BEAR NORTON.’  ON THURSDAY, A RANCH WORKING RODEO IN THE ARENA.  LIVE MUSIC NEXT TO THE BEER GARDEN WITH THE BAND “FOUR PLAY.”  ON FRIDAY, MINNESOTA EXTREME BULL RIDING IN THE ARENA.  ON SATURDAY, A TRUCK AND TRACTOR PULL WEST OF THE ARENA, AND A KID’S PEDAL PULL.  OTHER ATTRACTIONS DURING THE FAIR WILL INCLUDE ‘HILLBILLY BOB,’ A CARICATURE ARTIST, AXE THROWING, AND LASER TAG IN THE SOUTH COMMERCIAL BUILDING.   

 

THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY HEARD THE 2020 CITY AUDIT REPORT.  DURING THE LAST YEAR, THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE INCREASED BY ROUGHLY $200-THOUSAND.  ALL MAJOR FUNDS, INCLUDING ELECTRIC, WATER, SEWER, LIQUOR STORE, TELE-COMM AND THE HOSPITAL REPORTED POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY’S OVERALL NET POSITION.  DURING 2020, WINDOM RECEIVED ROUGHLY $342-THOUSAND IN FEDERAL COVID-19 FUNDING.  AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE CITY OF WINDOM HAD TOTAL OUTSTANDING LONG-TERM DEBT OF JUST OVER $46.3-MILLION.  TOTAL DEBT INCREASED DUE TO $4.5-MILLION IN CONSTRUCTION BONDS FOR A MAJOR STREET PROJECT.  $6.3-MILLION IN OLDER BONDS WERE RE-FINANCED TO SAVE MONEY THROUGH LOWER INTEREST RATES.