The National Weather Service has released the monthly weather observations for December in Windom. Our high temperature was 58 degrees on December 16th. The low for the month was -5 reported on December 29th and 30th. Windom received 11.3 inches of snow with 10 and a half inches being on December 11th along with one and eighty-one hundredths of an inch of additional precipitation.
For the year, Windom reported 27 and 88 hundredths of an inch of moisture and 30.7 inches of snowfall. The high temperature for the year was 98 degrees on June 6th and June 11th and the low for the year was -19 on February 15th.
——————————————————–
The Cottonwood County Board of Commissioners met on January 4th.
- The Board approved to authorize the County Attorney, County Sheriff and Board Chair to sign the 2022/2023 IV-D Child Support Cooperative Arrangement for Child Support Services in Cottonwood County.
- Future Meetings and times were set for the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month to begin at 9am, with the exception of December 7th and 12 additional work sessions can be scheduled with no per diems.
- A motion carried to set meal rates for 2022 at $10 for Breakfast, $15 for Lunch and $19 for evening meals these amounts include a 20% gratuity.
- Seasonal wages were also set as $13.25 for 1st year, $13.75 for 2nd year, $14.25 for 3rd year and $14.75 for 4th year of employment.
- A motion was carried to authorize the County Auditor/Treasurer and deputies to make electronic transfers.
- Minimum Salaries for full-time elected officials in 2023 will be as follows: County Attorney- $50,000; County Auditor/Treasurer- $50,000; County Sheriff- $50,000 and County Recorder- $38,000.
- The Cottonwood County Crop damage rates were set at $900/acre for corn and $600/acre for soybeans for the 2022 growing season.
- The Board approved the Public Works Department to receive and retain electronic bids effective January 1, 2022.
- The Board also approved a one-time, half-price tipping fee of $31.67/ton plus $6.67/ton surcharge plus $5.38 waste tax billed to the cities in Cottonwood County for the use of a city wide cleanup in 2022 and allow the Solid Waste Department to pick up mattresses at the city wide events at a charge of $2 per piece. The pick-up price does not include the $15 fee for disposal.
—————————————-
A new 5-Plex movie theater is in the making in Worthington. Construction on the theater started in 2019 with hopes of being complete and running by the Summer of 2020. Then CoVid hit. Theater Operator Todd Frager stated that they have had to overcome so many obstacles with issues from parts to shipping to installations. The new Grand Theater will hold Five theaters- two with 100 seats and three with 50 seat capacity. 2022 could be the year that what’s on screen around the country will be available in our own neck of the woods.
———————————————————
According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, The eastbound and westbound Interstate 90 Clear Lake and Des Moines Rest Areas near Jackson as of today January 5th are now open to the public.
The rest areas near Jackson have been under reconstruction since June 2020 with limited facilities to travelers including parking and portable bathrooms.
The original building sites were constructed back in 1974 and 1975. The improvements at the rest areas include:
- New energy efficient, ADA compliant buildings, picnic shelters and storage buildings
- New site amenities, including accessible walking trails, children’s play area, fenced pet areas, landscaping and walkway lighting
- Improved pedestrian and parking lot lighting
- Additional truck parking to support increased freight movements
- Smoother pavement
Paving of the westbound Des Moines rest area located west of Jackson is scheduled for 2022.
—————————————————————
On a Personal Note-
KDOM has had the privilege to deliver Meals on Wheels this week. Connecting with our older or shut-in residents each day does the mind and heart so much good. If you are looking for a great way to give back and create a smile in your heart, you really should consider volunteering!!! Nine times out of ten… YOU will get more out of it than the organization that you are volunteering for!!!