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.
THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IS HOLDING A BOND REFERENDUM ON FEBRUARY 9TH. THE PROPOSAL INCLUDES THREE BALLOT QUESTIONS, INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SCHOOL BUILDING ESTIMATED AT $41.2-MILLION. THERE ARE SEPARATE QUESTIONS TO APPROVE A WRESTLING ROOM AND GYMNASIUM, AND TO SET ASIDE FUNDS FOR THE POSSIBLE DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING SCHOOL BUILDING. IF ALL THREE QUESTIONS ARE APPROVED, A HOME VALUED AT $75-THOUSAND WOULD SEE A TAX INCREASE OF $90. BUT, RED ROCK CENTRAL HAS ALSO REDUCED ITS OPERATING LEVY, SO THE NET IMPACT WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF $6 A YEAR IN NEW TAXES. A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20TH AT 7:00PM.
THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD MET EARLIER THIS WEEK. THE PRINCIPALS REPORTED ON PLANS FOR A STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY. THE FIRST SEMESTER ENDS ON JANUARY 29TH. THE SUPERINTENDENT DISCUSSED FEDERAL AID FOR COVID RELIEF. THE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO ASSIST STUDENTS WHO MAY HAVE FALLEN BEHIND ON THEIR CLASSES DURING THE PANDEMIC. A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON BUDGET ISSUES. THE DISTRICT IS ANTICIPATING LATER CLASSES NEXT YEAR FOR KINDERGARTEN AND THE 1ST GRADE, SO ADDITIONAL SECTIONS MIGHT NEED TO BE ADDED. AT THIS TIME, WINDOM IS EXPECTING UP TO 116 STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN. ENROLLMENT TRENDS APPEAR TO BE INDICATING MORE GROWTH IN UPCOMING YEARS.
A REGULAR MEETING OF THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WAS HELD LAST WEEK. THE BOARD HANDLED A NUMBER OF ITEMS OF ORGANIZATIONAL BUSINESS. THE BOARD APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF A NEW SNOWPLOW TRUCK, A NEW FLATBED TRUCK, AND A NEW LAWN TRACTOR FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. THE BOARD AGREED TO SPONSOR A STATE GRANT APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF JACKSON. THE BOARD DISCUSSED THE HIRING OF A CONSULTING FIRM TO ASSIST THE COUNTY WITH THE SEARCH PROCESS FOR HIRING A NEW COUNTY COORDINATOR OR ADMINISTRATOR. AN OPENING WAS POSTED FOR A FULL-TIME DEPUTY AUDITOR-TREASURER. THE COUNTY AG INSPECTOR WAS APPOINTED.
COTTONWOOD COUNTY IS TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR NEW COVID-19 ASSISTANCE. THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. ECONOMIC RELIEF GRANTS WILL BE OFFERED TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. GRANT AMOUNTS ARE ESTIMATED AT $1,500 – OR $3,500 IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM PREVIOUS GRANTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY AUDITOR-TREASURER’S OFFICE AT 831-1905 OR GO TO THE COUNTY WEBSITE AT www.co.cottonwood.mn.us. APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY FEBRUARY 10TH. GRANT FUNDS WILL BE AWARDED BY MARCH 15TH.
