Local News Headlines – Thursday, September 10th

THE DES MOINES VALLEY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY WILL HOLD A BOARD MEETING AT 9:00 THIS MORNING.   A PUBLIC HEALTH CONSULTANT WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE COVID-19 VIRUS.  THE BOARD WILL HEAR A PRESENTATION ON THE 2019 FINANCIAL AUDIT REPORT FOR THE AGENCY.   THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILL REPORT ON A REQUEST FOR FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH THE ‘CARES’ ACT.  THE BOARD WILL REVIEW A PROPOSED AGENCY BUDGET FOR THE 2021 FISCAL YEAR.  THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET MAY BE APPROVED.   THE BOARD WILL REVIEW BENEFIT PLANS AND RATES FOR 2021 EMPLOYEE HEALTH-INSURANCE COVERAGE.   

 

THE FULDA CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK.   THE COUNCIL APPROVED A LETTER OF CONDITIONS FOR A GRANT.  THE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO PURCHASE A RESCUE TRUCK FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.  THE COUNCIL ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING REGULATIONS FOR THE USE OF THE CITY DUMP AND COMPOST SITE.  PEOPLE LIVING OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS MAY PAY A FEE TO USE THE COMPOST SITE.  THE COUNCIL APPROVED AN APPLICATION TO SUB-DIVIDE A PARCEL OF PROPERTY.  IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FULDA WILL NOT HOLD A CITY-WIDE CLEANUP PROGRAM THIS FALL.  A SPECIAL BUDGET WORK-SESSION WAS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 15TH. 

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE MT LAKE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD THIS WEEK.    MEMBERS OF THE AMBULANCE DEPARTMENT WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR EXTRA TRAINING AND OTHER EXPENSES RELATED TO COVID-19.  APPROVAL WAS GIVEN TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.  THE CITY ENGINEERS REPORTED ON THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PONDS PROJECT; ABOUT HALF OF THE WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED.  THE COUNCIL REVIEWED A PROPOSED 2021 CITY BUDGET AND A PRELIMINARY PROPERTY TAX LEVY.  AT THIS TIME, THE PRELIMINARY LEVY WILL BE SET WITH AN INCREASE OF 8.5%.  THAT AMOUNT MAY BE REDUCED BEFORE THE FINAL LEVY IS CERTIFIED IN DECEMBER.  

 

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HELD A REGULAR MEETING LAST WEEK.   A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON A PROPOSED A-D-A TRANSITION PLAN.  THE PLAN INCLUDES DETAILS ON MAKING CURBS, SIDEWALKS AND BUILDING ENTRANCES HANDICAPPED-ACCESSIBLE.  THE BOARD APPROVED AN AMENDMENT TO AN AGREEMENT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES, FOR THE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ON COUNTY HIGHWAY 7.  THE BOARD POSTED OPENINGS FOR A FULL-TIME ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT AND A PART-TIME LANDFILL OPERATOR.  DAN MYERS WAS MOVED TO PERMANENT FULL-TIME STATUS AS A DEPUTY SHERIFF.   THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF COTTONWOOD COUNTY WAS RECOGNIZED. 

 

THIS YEAR MARKS THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF COTTONWOOD COUNTY.   PLANS TO CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY HAD TO BE CANCELED DUE TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS OUTBREAK.  COTTONWOOD COUNTY WAS ORGANIZED ON JULY 29TH, 1870.  THE COUNTY WAS NAMED FOR THE COTTONWOOD RIVER.  AT THAT TIME, THE GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA APPOINTED THREE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.  THE FIRST COUNTY BOARD MEETING WAS HELD AT A PRIVATE HOME NORTH OF WINDOM ON THE DES MOINES RIVER.  THE FIRST GENERAL ELECTION WAS HELD IN THE FALL OF 1870.   IN 1872, WINDOM WAS DECLARED AS THE COUNTY SEAT ON A VOTE OF THE PUBLIC.