THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING AT 8:30 THIS MORNING AT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER IN SLAYTON. THIS WILL BE A CONTINUANCE OF A BUDGET WORK-SESSION. BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE MEETING WITH COUNTY DEPARTMENT HEADS TO DISCUSS THEIR CURRENT BUDGETS AND BUDGET PROPOSALS FOR NEXT YEAR. DEPARTMENTS SCHEDULED FOR REVIEWS INCLUDE THE COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE, SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT AND RECYCLING CENTER, HISTORICAL BUILDINGS AND MUSEUMS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE, THE AUDITOR-TREASURER’S OFFICE AND THE SHETEK AREA WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT.
THE MT LAKE CITY COUNCIL MET LAST WEEK. A WORK-SESSION WAS HELD WITH A CONSULTANT TO DISCUSS THE SEARCH PROCESS FOR HIRING A NEW CITY ADMINISTRATOR. DURING THE REGULAR MEETING, THE COUNCIL VOTED TO ATTACH SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS TO PARCELS OF TAX-FORFEITED PROPERTY THAT HAVE BEEN SOLD. BIDS WERE ACCEPTED FOR THE REMODELING PROJECT AT THE CITY HALL BUILDING. THE COST IS ESTIMATED AT ROUGHLY $86-THOUSAND. THE COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE REVISION, ADOPTING NEW FLOOD-PLAIN MAPS FOR MT LAKE. A DONATION OF $10-THOUSAND WAS ACCEPTED FROM THE FIRE RELIEF ASSOCIATION. THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE HIRING OF A PART-TIME POLICE OFFICE AND A PART-TIME CUSTODIAN.
THE WINDOM CITY TELE-COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK. A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION SUBMITTED THEIR LETTER OF RESIGNATION. THE OPENING WILL BE FILLED BY APPOINTMENT. ANYONE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE COMMISSION SHOULD CONTACT WINDOM CITY HALL. THERE WAS A PERSONNEL UPDATE. INTERVIEWS ARE BEING CONDUCTED TO FILL AN OPENING FOR AN OUTSIDE PLANT TECHNICIAN AND INSTALLER. STAFF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN WORKING TO PROVIDE SERVICE CONNECTIONS TO THE GUARDIAN INN PROJECT AND THE ‘GOVE ACRES’ SUB-DIVISION. NEW CUSTOMERS ARE BEING HOOKED UP ALONG COUNTY ROAD 13 AND COUNTY ROAD 17. SOME ISSUES WERE DISCUSSED WITH K-E-Y-C CHANNEL 12, THE C-B-S STATION FROM MANKATO.
THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A WORK-SESSION THIS WEEK. A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON AN APPLICATION FOR A RESIDENTIAL HOUSING TAX ABATEMENT. THE BOARD VOTED TO APPROVE AN ABATEMENT FOR A NEW HOUSE IN WINDOM. IN PERSONNEL BUSINESS, THE BOARD APPROVED A CONTRACT INCREASE FOR A PART-TIME TEACHER. ANOTHER TEACHER WHO WAS RECENTLY HIRED BY THE DISTRICT HAD REQUESTED TO BE RELEASED FROM HER CONTRACT. THE BOARD VOTED TO DENY THE REQUEST, CITING CONCERNS THAT THE TIMING WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DISTRICT TO FIND A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT. CONTRACT ADJUSTMENTS WERE APPROVED WITH THE DISTRICT CUSTODIANS, FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES, SECRETARIES AND PARA-PROFESSIONALS.
THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR WINDOM AREA HEALTH MET THIS WEEK. THE MAY FINANCIAL REPORT SHOWED AN INCREASE IN NET ASSETS OF JUST OVER $62-THOUSAND. MAY IS THE FIRST MONTH OF THE NEW FISCAL YEAR. THE AUDIT REPORT FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD IN JULY. THE BOARD VOTED TO PROCEED WITH PLANNING FOR A REMODELING PROJECT FOR THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. THE PROJECT HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1.3-MILLION. THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER OPTIONS FOR RE-FINANCING A 2014 BOND ISSUE TO SAVE MONEY THROUGH LOWER INTEREST RATES. IT WAS NOTED THAT UNDER ADVICE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, VISITORS TO THE FACILITY ARE STILL BEING SCREENED AND MUST WEAR FACE COVERINGS.
