THE CITY OF WINDOM HAS AN UPDATE ON PLANS FOR HALLOWEEN. OFFICIAL TRICK-OR-TREAT HOURS FOR WINDOM HAVE BEEN SET FROM 4:00 TO 8:00PM ON SATURDAY. PEOPLE SHOULD TURN ON THEIR PORCH LIGHTS IF THEY WANT TRICK-OR-TREATERS TO STOP AT THEIR HOUSE. IF YOU HAVE RECENTLY TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 OR BEEN EXPOSED TO SOMEONE WITH COVID, DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES. PARENTS SHOULD CHECK ALL TREATS BEFORE ALLOWING CHILDREN TO EAT THEM. MAKE SURE COSTUMES DO NOT RESTRICT A CHILD’S VISION OR MOVEMENT. ONLY WALK ON SIDEWALKS AND CROSS THE STREET AT CROSS-WALKS. CARRY GLOW STICKS OR USE REFLECTIVE TAPE ON COSTUMES. YOUNGER CHILDREN SHOULD BE SUPERVISED.
THE WINDOM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL DENY AN APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING AT THE NORTH WINDOM INDUSTRIAL PARK. THE WINDOM E-D-A AND HY LIFE FOODS WERE APPLYING FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT THAT WOULD ALLOW TEMPORARY MODULAR HOUSING UNITS TO BE PLACED ON A LOT AT THE INDUSTRIAL PARK. THE COMMISSION VOTED 5-2 TO RECOMMEND THAT THE APPLICATION BE DENIED. THE COMMISSION STATED THAT THE PROPOSAL DID NOT MEET THE CRITERIA UNDER THE LAND-USE CODE FOR GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, AND THE USE OF AN INDUSTRIAL SITE FOR HOUSING DID NOT CONFORM TO THE CITY’S COMPREHENSIVE LAND-USE PLAN.
THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK. THE BOARD APPROVED PAYMENT OF CONTRACTORS’ BILLS FOR WORK ON THE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER AND THE REMODELING AT THE HIGHLAND SCHOOL BUILDING. TAMRA ANDERSON WAS RE-ASSIGNED TO HELP PROVIDE NURSING SERVICES. SHE HAS BEEN WORKING AS A PARA-PROFESSIONAL. GUIDELINES WERE APPROVED FOR AN EARLY-RESIGNATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM. TEACHERS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL INCENTIVES IF THEY GIVE NOTICE OF RESIGNATION BY JANUARY 15TH. FULL-TIME 12-MONTH EMPLOYEES WILL RECEIVE INCENTIVE PAYMENTS IF THEY GIVE NOTICE AT LEAST 3 MONTHS BEFORE THEIR PLANNED DATE OF RESIGNATION.
THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK. KARLA AMBROSE WAS APPOINTED TO ANOTHER TERM AS THE COUNTY ASSESSOR. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE WAS AUTHORIZED TO HIRE UP TO FOUR PART-TIME DISPATCHERS. THOMAS PROCHAZKA WAS APPOINTED AS THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. THE BOARD REVIEWED A LIST OF POTENTIAL GRANTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, USING FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH THE ‘CARES’ ACT. THE BOARD REVIEWED A PROPOSAL FOR THE 2021 BUILDING LEASE WITH THE DES MOINES VALLEY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY. THEY VOTED TO ALLOW THE AUDITOR-TREASURER’S OFFICE TO CLOSE ITS PASSPORT SERVICES FROM NOVEMBER 2ND THROUGH THE 6TH DUE TO ELECTION DUTIES.
THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM IN WINDOM IS HOLDING AN OPENING RECEPTION THIS WEEKEND FOR A NEW EXHIBIT. THE REMICK GALLERY WILL BE FEATURING “A CENTURY OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT- LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, MINNESOTA.” THE RECEPTION WILL BE FROM 2:00 TO 4:00 SUNDAY AFTERNOON. ADMISSION IS FREE; LIGHT REFRESHMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. IN CELEBRATION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT, WHICH GAVE WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS CREATED THE TRAVELLING EXHIBIT. IT INCLUDES 12 PANELS DISPLAYING THE HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.
