THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK. THE BOARD ACCEPTED A BID FROM LOHRENZ EXCAVATING TO DEMOLISH A BUILDING ON SOME TAX-FORFEITED PROPERTY. THE BOARD APPROVED CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS FOR A SHOP BUILDING IN HIGHWATER TOWNSHIP AND FOR A GRAVEL PIT IN DALE TOWNSHIP. THE BOARD APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF A TIRE-CHANGER UNIT FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. A QUOTE WAS ACCEPTED FOR THE PURCHASE OF 13 NEW PORTABLE RADIOS FOR USE BY THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT AND THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. A NOTICE OF RETIREMENT WAS ACCEPTED FROM THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS, AND THE OPENING WILL BE POSTED.
THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR WINDOM AREA HEALTH MET THIS WEEK. THE REPORT OF PATIENT ACTIVITY FOR JUNE SHOWED THAT MOST AREAS WERE AT OR ABOVE BUDGETED LEVELS. THE JUNE FINANCIAL REPORTS SHOWED A NET INCREASE FOR THE MONTH OF JUST OVER $31-THOUSAND. THROUGH THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THE NEW FISCAL YEAR, WINDOM AREA HEALTH IS NOW SHOWING A NET INCREASE OF JUST OVER $98-THOUSAND. THE BOARD HEARD A ZOOM PRESENTATION ON THE 2021 FINAL AUDIT REPORT. THE REPORT WAS POSITIVE. THE AUDIT REPORT WILL BE PRESENTED AT A FUTURE MEETING OF THE WINDOM CITY COUNCIL. THE BOARD IS REVIEWING THE FACILITY’S MANAGEMENT CONTRACT WITH SANFORD HEALTH; THE CONTRACT IS UP FOR RENEWAL NEXT YEAR.
THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD A WORK-SESSION THIS WEEK. THE BOARD DISCUSSED PROPOSALS FOR AN OPERATING LEVY REFERENDUM. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT THE OPERATING LEVY BE RENEWED AT THE SAME AMOUNT FOR ANOTHER 7 YEARS. THE COMMITTEE ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE DISTRICT PROPOSE A NEW CAPITAL TECHNOLOGY LEVY IN THE AMOUNT OF $300-THOUSAND FOR 7 YEARS. THE BOARD AGREED TO THE PROPOSAL. A FORMAL VOTE TO CALL FOR A REFERENDUM MAY TAKE PLACE AT THE AUGUST 9TH REGULAR MEETING. THE BOARD DISCUSSED A POSSIBLE PROJECT TO REPLACE AND UPGRADE THE AIR-HANDLING UNITS AT THE MIDDLE-HIGH SCHOOL. THE ESTIMATED COST IS PROJECTED AT UP TO $1.7-MILLION.
THE 2021 JACKSON COUNTY FAIR IS TAKING PLACE THIS WEEK. JUDGING EVENTS TODAY WILL INCLUDE THE 4-H SWINE SHOW, THE 4-H HORSE SHOW, 4-H PET SHOW JUDGING, 4-H LIVESTOCK DEMONSTRATIONS AND THE 4-H PET PARADE. ENTERTAINMENT WILL BE PROVIDED BY MAGICIAN JOE BARNETT AT 1:00, 3:00 AND 6:00PM, AND HYPNOTIST FREDDIE JUSTICE AT 2:00, 5:00 AND 7:00PM. RILEY PLACE WILL BE ENTERTAINING IN THE SENIOR CITIZEN’S BUILDING FROM 4:00 TO 6:00PM. THE 4-H PORK CHOP SUPPER WILL BE SERVED FROM 5:00 TO 7:00PM OUTSIDE OF THE FOOD STAND. THE ‘SUSHI ROLL’ BAND WILL BE PERFORMING IN THE BEER GARDEN THIS EVENING.
KDOM RADIO SALUTES ITS ‘GOOD NEWS’ BUSINESS OF THE DAY, G-D-F ENTERPRISES IN WINDOM. GDF ENTERPRISES WAS ESTABLISHED BY GLEN AND DENISE FRANCIS IN 1994 AS A BOBCAT DEALER. IN 2000, THE COMPANY EXPANDED TO INCLUDE TRAILER SALES. IN 2004, G-D-F PARTNERED WITH TORO IN WINDOM TO BECOME A DEALER FOR TORO LAWNMOWERS AND SNOWBLOWERS. G-D-F IS A FULL DEALER FOR TORO SALES, PARTS AND SERVICE. IN 2010, G-D-F ADDED DIAMOND MOWERS’ LINE OF SKID-STEER ATTACHMENTS, AND IN 2020, G-D-F ADDED HiSUN U-T-V’s AND A-T-V’s TO THEIR PRODUCT LINE. THEY OFFER NEW AND PRE-OWNED EQUIPMENT WITH SALES, FINANCING, SERVICE, PARTS AND A RENTAL DEPARTMENT. FINANCING OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE.
THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING AT NOON FRIDAY IN THE MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL CONFERENCE ROOM. THE BOARD WILL MEET IN A BRIEF SESSION TO CONSIDER APPROVING A CONTRACT FOR A NEW VOCAL MUSIC TEACHER FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR. LONG-TIME VOCAL MUSIC TEACHER AND CHOIR DIRECTOR RACHEL AXFORD RESIGNED AT THE END OF THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR. THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR WILL BEGIN AFTER LABOR DAY.
