Windom Police Department reported 63 calls in the week of of May 17th to May 22nd. Officers had 12 Directed Patrols, 1 Animal Call, 3 Concerns for Welfare,1 Suicide Call, 2-School Bus Stop Arm/Light Violations and 2 Public Assists. Windom Police Officers investigated 1 Suspicious Activity, 1 Suspicious Person, 1 Suspicious Vehicle, 2 Driving Complaints and conducted 18 Traffic Stops. A full listing of all calls in the Windom Police Department’s Weekly Citizens Report is available by clicking the link below.
Windom Police Weekly Citizen Report May 17th-22nd
————————————————–
The MN State Patrol reported a one vehicle accident on the 20th at 10:01pm in the Eastbound Lane of I-90 at Milepost 12 in Luverne Township. According to the report, a 2015 Chevy Cruze was traveling eastbound on interstate 90 when it left the roadway and resulted in colliding with a sign. A 17-year-old female of Worthington was the only person in the vehicle and was wearing a seatbelt. She was transported to Sanford Hospital with what was thought to be non-life threating injuries.
—————————————————-
The Murray County Board of Commissioners will tackle a mix of county operations, public health, and infrastructure topics when they meet this morning, following several significant decisions made during last week’s board meeting. One of the biggest developments from the May 19th meeting was the board’s vote to transition county leadership from a County Administrator model back to a County Coordinator structure. In a pair of split 3-2 votes, commissioners approved abolishing the County Administrator position and reinstating the County Coordinator role. Commissioners also approved a new job description for the position and appointed current Human Resources Director and Deputy Administrator Sharon Giese as County Coordinator.Supporters of the move said the coordinator model better fits Murray County’s board-directed style of government and aligns with many other Minnesota counties. However, the decision was not unanimous, with Commissioners Jackie Meier and Dennis Welgraven voting against portions of the transition and raising concerns about the structure and hiring process. The board later unanimously approved advertising for a new Human Resources Manager position to replace Giese’s former duties. Commissioners also moved forward with plans to finance major drainage improvements for approximately $3 million in bonding tied to improvements for County Ditch 22 and County Ditch 41. Officials delayed the bond sale timeline until July to allow additional time for landowners interested in pre-paying assessments. Murray County infrastructure discussions extended beyond drainage as commissioners approved a more than $125,000 road striping contract with Sir-Lines-A-Lot for annual maintenance on roads in the western half of the county. Another notable item included approval of a land transfer involving the former Chandler Air Base. After a 30-year lease agreement expired, commissioners approved the sale of property housing a transmission tower to Pioneer Public TV for $1, in accordance with an agreement dating back to 1996.
Energy infrastructure also came into focus as officials heard an update on the PowerOn Midwest transmission project, a multi-state effort involving Xcel Energy and other utility partners. The proposed project would include Minnesota’s first 765-kilovolt transmission system designed to improve grid reliability and meet growing energy demands. Public route meetings are expected this summer, with construction projected between 2030 and 2032. Meanwhile, county staffing and employee wellness remained a focus.
————————————————————–
The Windom Planning Commission will hold a special meeting tonight at 7pm in Windom City Council Chambers, after rescheduling its regular May session. One of the main agenda items will be a review of proposed new city code sections dealing with crematories and pet crematories. Commissioners are expected to examine proposed ordinances covering Sections 121.01 through 121.15, which could establish new regulations and standards for those facilities within the city. The commission will also discuss plans for a public hearing on the proposed ordinance changes, which is scheduled for June 9th. Another topic expected to draw attention is a summary from a recent data center seminar. Planning Commission Chairman Jared Baloun is scheduled to give a presentation to commissioners. The discussion comes as Windom leaders continue exploring zoning and development considerations tied to potential data center projects, an issue that has received growing attention in recent city discussions. This special Windom Planning Commission meeting is open to the public.
—————————————————————