THE DES MOINES VALLEY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY WILL HOLD A BOARD MEETING AT 9:00 THURSDAY MORNING. ELECTION OF OFFICERS WILL BE HELD. APPOINTMENTS WILL BE MADE TO VARIOUS COMMITTEES AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES. A SCHEDULE OF MEETING DATES WILL BE SET. SOME FINANCIAL AUTHORIZATIONS WILL BE APPROVED. THE BOARD WILL HEAR REPORTS FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND A FISCAL REPORT. A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL POLICIES WILL BE ADOPTED, INCLUDING SEVERAL POLICY REVISIONS. THE AGENCY WILL APPROVE AGREEMENTS FOR FINANCIAL AND LEGAL SERVICES. DONATIONS AND GRANT AWARDS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
THE WINDOM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK. MARILY WAHL WAS RE-ELECTED AS THE CHAIRPERSON WITH BRETT MATTSON RE-ELECTED AS VICE-CHAIR. THE COMMISSION HEARD A PRESENTATION FROM T&M DEVELOPMENT, LLC. THIS INVOLVES A PROPOSED PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AT 1955- 1ST AVENUE – THE GUARDIAN INN PROPERTY. T&M SUBMITTED A FINAL PLAN FOR THE PROJECT. THE PROPOSAL CALLS FOR REMODELING THE CURRENT MOTEL UNITS TO CREATE MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING WITH 37 APARTMENTS. THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE FINAL SITE PLAN FOR THE PROJECT.
THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A REGULAR MEETING THIS WEEK. THE BOARD APPROVED A TRANSFER OF JUST OVER $20-THOUSAND IN DONATED FUNDS TO THE WINDOM AREA FOUNDATION. THE ADMINISTRATION WAS DIRECTED TO CONSIDER POSSIBLE REDUCTIONS IN PROGRAMS OR POSITIONS. SOME ADDITIONAL PEOPLE WERE HIRED THIS YEAR DUE TO COVID-19 ISSUES, AND SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS MIGHT BE ELIMINATED. THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE DISTRICT BUDGET. SOME AREAS INCLUDING FOOD SERVICE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY COVID-19. THE BOARD APPROVED THE HIRING OF A PARA-PROFESSIONAL AND A FULL-TIME CUSTODIAN.
THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK. TOM APPEL WAS ELECTED AS CHAIRPERSON. THE WINDOM E-D-A DIRECTOR DISCUSSED POSSIBLE CHANGES IN THE HOUSING TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICATIONS WERE APPROVED TO EXPAND TWO HOG FEEDLOTS IN CARSON TOWNSHIP AND DELTON TOWNSHIP. THE BOARD DETERMINED THAT AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED FOR THE RED ROCK QUARRY PROJECT. AN OPENING WAS POSTED FOR A CHIEF DEPUTY AUDITOR-TREASURER. THE BOARD APPROVED THE 2021 SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES FOR COUNTY SERVICES.THE BOARD HANDLED A NUMBER OF ITEMS OF ORGANIZATIONAL BUSINESS.
THE WINDOM E-D-A MET EARLIER THIS WEEK. THE E-D-A DISCUSSED AN APPLICATION FOR A STATE REDEVELOPMENT GRANT FOR THE CEMSTONE PROPERTY. GRANT FUNDS COULD BE USED FOR DEMOLITION WORK AND SITE PREPARATION. THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER APPROVING THE GRANT APPLICATION AT ITS NEXT MEETING. THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE SIGN AT THE NORTH WINDOM INDUSTRIAL PARK. THE SIGN WILL BE CHANGED TO REFLECT THE CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP FOR FAST AG SOLUTIONS. THE E-D-A ALSO DISCUSSED THE CREATION OF A NEW ‘FACADE’ IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR WINDOM BUSINESSES. THE PROGRAM WOULD PROVIDE FUNDS FOR COSMETIC IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS AWNINGS, SIGNAGE, PAINTING, LIGHTING AND BRICK WORK.
