Local News Headlines – Wednesday, August 25

THE MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE IS REDUCING THE FEES IT CHARGES TO SCHOOLS FOR ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION.  THE HS LEAGUE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECENTLY APPROVED A CREDIT TO MEMBER SCHOOLS FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.  THE CREDITS TOTAL JUST OVER $1-MILLION.  60% OF THE CREDIT WILL BE USED TO REDUCE ACTIVITY REGISTRATION FEES PAID FOR EACH SCHOOL, FROM $225 TO $160 FOR EACH REGISTERED ACTIVITY.  THE REST OF THE CREDIT WILL BE USED TO REDUCE THE ENROLLMENT FEE PAID FOR EACH STUDENT-ATHLETE FROM $6.35 TO $4.60 PER STUDENT.  THE HS LEAGUE VOTED TO PROVIDE THE CREDIT AFTER IT DETERMINED THAT IT ENDED THE LAST YEAR WITH MORE REVENUE THAN EXPECTED.   

 

THE WINDOM FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A GARAGE FIRE MONDAY AFTERNOON.  THE FIRE WAS REPORTED AT 1:52 MONDAY AFTERNOON IN THE DETACHED GARAGE OF A HOUSE ON 15TH STREET NEXT TO THE ALLEY.  THE HOUSE IS A RENTAL PROPERTY.  THE TENANTS REPORTED THE FIRE.  SMOKE WAS COMING THROUGH THE ROOF.  THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED A RELATIVELY SMALL FIRE THAT APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED NEXT TO THE WALK-IN DOOR.  THERE WERE A NUMBER OF ‘HOT SPOTS’ ON THE FLOOR AND ROOF OF THE GARAGE.  SOME SECTIONS OF ROOFING WERE PULLED BACK TO PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS.  AT THIS TIME, THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY DETERMINED, BUT IT IS BELIEVED TO BE SUSPICIOUS IN NATURE.   

 

THE WINDOM E-D-A HELD A SPECIAL MEETING ON MONDAY.  FURTHER DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON THE CEMSTONE REDEVELOPMENT AREA.  THE E-D-A WENT INTO CLOSED SESSION TO CONDUCT LAND NEGOTIATIONS.  AFTER RETURNING TO OPEN SESSION, THE E-D-A ANNOUNCED THAT IT HAS A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT ON A PRICE FOR THE E-D-A TO PURCHASE 34 ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM CEMSTONE, AND ALSO HAS A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT FOR CEMSTONE TO MOVE ITS PLANT TO THE NORTH WINDOM INDUSTRIAL PARK.  THE NEXT STEP WILL BE TO DRAW UP FORMAL PURCHASE AGREEMENTS.  ACTION TO APPROVE THOSE AGREEMENTS COULD TAKE PLACE IN SEPTEMBER.  THE E-D-A WILL GIVE A REPORT AT THE NEXT WINDOM CITY COUNCIL MEETING.   

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK.   THE BOARD APPROVED PAYMENT OF CONTRACTOR’S BILLS FOR WORK ON BUILDING PROJECTS.  THE BOARD REVIEWED AND APPROVED THE DISTRICT’S ‘SAFE LEARNING PLAN’ FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.  THE PLAN INCLUDES GUIDELINES FOR DEALING WITH COVID-19 ISSUES.  FACE COVERINGS AND VACCINATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED BUT NOT REQUIRED.  HOWEVER, FACE COVERINGS MUST BE WORN WHILE RIDING ON A SCHOOL BUS.  THE BOARD REVIEWED INFORMATION ON FEDERAL COVID-19 FUNDING.  WINDOM HAS RECEIVED FEDERAL FUNDS IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.  THE DISTRICT WILL BE USING JUST OVER $1-MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO UPGRADE AIR HANDLING UNITS IN THE MIDDLE-HIGH SCHOOL.  

 

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK.   THE BOARD VOTED AGAINST A PROPOSAL TO OFFER HIGHER WAGES AND MORE OVERTIME FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY RECORDER’S OFFICE.  A LOW BID WAS ACCEPTED FOR A BRIDGE PROJECT ON COUNTY HIGHWAY 11.  NEW SEASONAL CAMPING RATES WERE SET FOR TALCOT LAKE PARK FOR 2022.  SEVERAL PERSONNEL MATTERS WERE HANDLED, INCLUDING NAMING KELLY SMITH AS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS.   THE BOARD VOTED TO RAISE THE RENTAL RATES FOR OFFICE SPACE FOR DES MOINES VALLEY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND THE COTTONWOOD SOIL-AND-WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT OFFICE.  THE BOARD APPROVED A PLAN TO REMODEL THE COUNTY AUDITOR-TREASURER’S OFFICE.   

 

THE JEFFERS CITY COUNCIL MET EARLIER THIS MONTH.    THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON A DANGEROUS DOG INCIDENT.  THE OWNERS OF THE DOG HAVE REPORTEDLY MET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE CITY ORDINANCE.  THE FAMILY HAS AGREED TO PUT IN A FENCE AND KEEP THE DOG MUZZLED.  THE COUNCIL VOTED TO PROVIDE ANOTHER CHANCE IF A DOG TRAINER AGREES WITH THE PLAN.  IN OTHER BUSINESS, THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF A NEW FOUR-WHEELER FOR THE JEFFERS FIRE DEPARTMENT.  AN OLDER UNIT WILL BE TRADED IN.  THE REGULAR BILLS WERE APPROVED FOR PAYMENT.