Local News Headlines – Thursday, September 2nd

THE WINDOM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MET LAST WEEK.   E-D-A DIRECTOR DREW HAGE DISCUSSED THE CITY’S SIDE-YARD SET-BACK REQUIREMENTS FOR PROPERTY IN A SHORELAND DISTRICT.  HAGE REQUESTED THAT THE COMMISSION CONSIDER REDUCING THE REQUIRED SETBACK FROM 20-FEET TO 10% OF THE WIDTH OF THE LOT.  THIS WOULD IMPACT ANY NEW HOUSING AT COTTONWOOD LAKE.  THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEARD AN UPDATE FROM THE FIRM OF BOLTON AND MENK, WHICH IS WORKING ON A REVIEW OF THE CITY’S LAND-USE CODES AND REGULATIONS.  SEVERAL CHANGES AND AMENDMENTS ARE BEING RECOMMENDED.  THE REVIEW PROCESS WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR. 

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PREPARING FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR.   THE SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAM INCLUDING BREAKFAST AND LUNCH, WILL AGAIN BE OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE FOR ALL STUDENTS UNDER A FEDERAL PROGRAM.  WHILE THE MEALS ARE FREE, SOME CHILDREN MAY QUALIFY FOR ADDITIONAL BENEFITS BASED ON INCOME, AND THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY QUALIFY FOR EDUCATIONAL FUNDS AND DISCOUNTS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF LOW-INCOME STUDENTS.  ALL FAMILIES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO FILL OUT THE “APPLICATION FOR EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS” AND RETURN IT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICE.  IF ELIGIBLE FAMILIES DO NOT RETURN THE FORMS, THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT COULD LOSE FUNDING THAT IS USED TO SUPPORT SMALLER CLASS SIZES.   

 

WINDOM AREA HEALTH PRESENTED ITS ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT AT A RECENT MEETING OF THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL.  FOR THE FISCAL YEAR THAT ENDED IN APRIL OF 2021, TOTAL ASSETS INCREASED BY $7.4-MILLION.  THE NET POSITION INCREASED BY $2.9-MILLION.  THE FACILITY REPORTED AN OPERATING MARGIN OF 6.9% AND A TOTAL MARGIN OF 12.5%.  BOTH FIGURES COMPARE FAVORABLY WITH OTHER FACILITIES SIMILAR TO WINDOM.  NET PATIENT REVENUE INCREASED BY $1.6-MILLION OR ABOUT 8%.  REVENUE DEDUCTIONS, INCLUDING BAD DEBTS AND PAYMENT REDUCTIONS BY INSURANCE COMPANIES AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, INCREASED BY 22%.  TOTAL PATIENT REVENUE WAS AT $21.9-MILLION.  EXPENSES WERE AT $20.2-MILLION.  

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A SPECIAL MEETING THIS WEEK.   THE BOARD ACCEPTED A RESIGNATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AND GOLF COACH TIM MELLSTROM.  MELLSTROM WAS RECENTLY HIRED AS A PRINCIPAL FOR THE MESABI EAST HIGH SCHOOL IN AURORA, MINNESOTA.  THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD THEN APPROVED THE HIRING OF JACOB OLSON AS A NEW FULL-TIME HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER.  OLSON ATTENDED HERON LAKE-OKABENA HIGH SCHOOL.   THERE WAS NO OTHER BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA.   

 

THE JEFFERS CITY COUNCIL HELD A REGULAR MEETING LAST WEEK.  THE COUNCIL REVIEWED AND APPROVED A BUILDING PERMIT FOR A NEW CEMENT DRIVEWAY, PENDING APPROVAL BY THE MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON STREET-SWEEPING SERVICES.  IT WAS REPORTED THAT A NEW “WELCOME TO JEFFERS” SIGN HAS BEEN ORDERED.  IT WAS REPORTED THAT SOME WORK WILL BE DONE ON THE CITY WATER TOWER IN SEPTEMBER TO SWITCH THE METER-READING SYSTEM ONTO NEW COMPUTER SOFTWARE.  THE JEFFERS CITY COUNCIL REVIEWED THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT.  REGULAR BILLS WERE APPROVED FOR PAYMENT.   

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PREPARING FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR.  THE WINDOM SCHOOL BUS PROGRAM IS RETURNING TO FULL CAPACITY ON BUSES, BUT FACE COVERINGS MUST BE WORN.  ANY FAMILIES WHO ARE NEW TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR HAVE CHANGED THEIR ADDRESS SHOULD CONTACT THE TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH THE NEW INFORMATION.  AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, CHILDREN SHOULD TRY TO BE AT THEIR BUS STOP AHEAD OF TIME.  TIMES MAY RUN A LITTLE BEHIND SCHEDULE TO BEGIN THE YEAR AS DRIVERS GET USED TO THE ROUTES AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS ON THE CORRECT BUS.  THIS YEAR, WINDOM WILL ALSO BE PROVIDING IN-TOWN BUSING FOR 3- AND 4-YEAR-OLDS IN THE BRIDGES PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM.