Local News Headlines – Monday, January 18th

TODAY IS A HOLIDAY – OBSERVING THE BIRTHDAY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JUNIOR.  KING’S ACTUAL BIRTHDAY WAS JANUARY 15TH – THE HOLIDAY IS OBSERVED ON THE 3RD MONDAY OF JANUARY.  DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING Junior WAS A MINISTER AND CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER.  HE WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN 1964.  IN APRIL OF 1968, KING WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.   A BILL CREATING A FEDERAL HOLIDAY IN HIS HONOR WAS SIGNED INTO LAW IN 1983, WITH THE FIRST OFFICIAL OBSERVANCE IN 1986.   A NUMBER OF STATES ALSO ADOPTED THE HOLIDAY, WITH ALL 50 STATES MAKING IT AN OFFICIAL STATE HOLIDAY BY 2000.  LOCALLY, ALL CITY, COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED.  
 
THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HELD A SPECIAL MEETING LAST WEEK.   THE BOARD APPROVED THE HIRING OF CASEY SCHOFIELD-MORK AS THE NEW ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY, PENDING COMPLETION OF ALL HIRING REQUIREMENTS.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE HIRING OF DOLF SVOBODA AS A PART-TIME JAILER-DISPATCHER.  THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD REVIEWED APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE MINNESOTA “CARES” BUSINESS RELIEF GRANT FUND.  APPLICATIONS WERE APPROVED AND GRANTS WILL BE AWARDED TO SELECTED BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. 
 
THE WINDOM CITY PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MET LAST WEEK.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ROOF AT THE CITY ARENA.  THE CITY COUNCIL MAY APPROVE A BID IN MID-FEBRUARY.  CONSTRUCTION WOULD BEGIN IN EARLY APRIL AND BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE END OF MAY.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON IDEAS FOR DEVELOPING A NEW CAMPGROUND AREA IN WINDOM, INCLUDING POSSIBLE LOCATIONS AND FUNDING SOURCES.  THE COMMISSION REVIEWED PLANS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ISLAND PARK SHELTER HOUSE AND NEW BATHROOMS.  THEY DISCUSSED POSSIBLE LOCATIONS FOR THE PROJECT.      
 
THE RED ROCK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IS HOLDING A BOND REFERENDUM ON FEBRUARY 9TH.    PORTIONS OF THE CURRENT BUILDING DATE BACK TO 1915.  ACCORDING TO DISTRICT OFFICIALS, A NEW BUILDING WOULD ELIMINATE THE NEED TO HAVE INSTRUCTION TAKING PLACE IN PORTABLES, HALLWAYS AND THE CAFETERIA.  IT WOULD INCREASE TEACHING SPACE AND COMMUNITY ACCESS TO GYMNASIUM FACILITIES.  A NEW BUILDING WOULD HAVE NEW ENERGY-EFFICIENT MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS.  THE BUILDING WOULD HAVE A NEW 500-SEAT AUDITORIUM, A NEW PLAYGROUND, AND NEW ENERGY-EFFICIENT MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.   A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 7:00 WEDNESDAY EVENING. 
 
THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETS AT 9:00 TUESDAY MORNING AT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER IN WINDOM.   THE 2019 COUNTY AUDIT REPORT WILL BE PRESENTED.   WINDOM E-D-A DIRECTOR DREW HAGE WILL DISCUSS POSSIBLE ONE-TIME CHANGES IN THE HOUSING TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM FOR TWO UPCOMING PROJECTS IN WINDOM.   THE 2020 JAIL INSPECTION REPORT WILL BE PRESENTED.  THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER APPROVING AN APPLICATION TO THE STATE ‘LOCAL ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM,’ SEEKING FUNDING FOR PROJECTS IN JEFFERS AND WESTBROOK.  A CONTRACT MAY BE APPROVED FOR DESIGN WORK FOR A PROJECT ON COUNTY HIGHWAY 7.   
 
A MEETING OF THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD WILL TAKE PLACE AT 9:00 TUESDAY MORNING.   THE BOARD WILL CONDUCT A HEARING ON AN EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE.  APPOINTMENTS WILL BE MADE TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS FOR THE HERON LAKE WATERSHED DISTRICT.  THE BOARD MAY APPROVE THE COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE WATONWAN RIVER WATERSHED.  THE COUNTY COORDINATOR WILL REVIEW A MEMO OF AGREEMENT WITH A LOCAL EMPLOYEES’ UNION RELATED TO HOLIDAY PAY.  THE BOARD WILL SPEND A PORTION OF THE MEETING IN CLOSED SESSION TO CONDUCT EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS.   
 
THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET AT 8:30 TUESDAY MORNING AT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT BUILDING IN SLAYTON.  THE BOARD WILL APPROVE A PAYMENT TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.  THE BOARD MAY APPROVE THE HIRING OF A FULL-TIME ASSESSOR-TECHNICIAN.  A RESIGNATION WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM A FULL-TIME JAILER-DISPATCHER.  THE BOARD WILL REVIEW A NEW JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.  APPOINTMENTS WILL BE MADE TO A NUMBER OF COUNTY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.  THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS A NEW ROUND OF COVID-19 RELIEF GRANTS.  A CLOSED SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR LABOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.