Local News Headlines – Thursday, October 14

THE DES MOINES VALLEY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY WILL HOLD A BOARD MEETING AT 9:00 THURSDAY MORNING.   THE 2020 AUDIT REPORT WILL BE PRESENTED.  THE BOARD WILL HEAR A REPORT FROM SOUTHWEST MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.  AN AGREEMENT WILL BE PRESENTED WITH NOBLES COUNTY FOR THE STATEWIDE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.  THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER APPROVING A CONTRACT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW WEBSITE.  THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE WILL HAVE AN UPDATE ON COVID-19 ISSUES.  THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WILL REPORT ONT HE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE AGENCY.  A SERVICE CONTRACT WILL BE RENEWED WITH THE FAMILY SERVICES NETWORK.  A HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN WILL BE RENEWED. 

 

THE WINDOM E-D-A MET THIS WEEK.  THERE WAS AN UPDATE ON THE CEMSTONE PROJECT.  PURCHASE AGREEMENTS ARE BEING FINALIZED AND REVIEWED BY ATTORNEYS.  A PUBLIC HEARING WAS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 8TH TO CONSIDER THE SALE OF PROPERTY IN THE NORTH WINDOM INDUSTRIAL PARK.  BIDS HAVE GONE OUT FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE CEMSTONE PROPERTY, AND REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS HAVE GONE OUT TO DEVELOPERS INTERESTED IN WORKING ON A NEW HOUSING PROJECT.  A DISCUSSION WAS HELD ON THE E-D-A SPEC BUILDING ON NORTH REDDING AVENUE. HY LIFE FOODS IS LEASING THE BUILDING TO USE AS A WAREHOUSE AND FOR STORAGE SPACE. A NEW DEVELOPER HAS SHOWN INTEREST IN THE CREATION OF A NEW APARTMENT BUILDING AT THE SITE. 

 

THE LOCAL SONS OF NORWAY STAVANGER LODGE WILL HOLD A PUBLIC PROGRAM AT 7:00 THIS EVENING AT THE COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM IN WINDOM.  THE GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE DAN BOGIE OF WORTHINGTON.  HE WILL PRESENT A PROGRAM ON NORWEGIAN FLAT-PLANE CARVING.  BOGIE HAS TRAINED WITH A MASTER WOOD-CARVER.  HE WILL DISPLAY SOME OF HIS WORK INCLUDING SPOON CARVING, GNOMES AND BOWLS.  BOGIE WILL ALSO SHOW TWO VIDEOS WITH A MASTER CARVER DEMONSTRATING DIFFERENT CARVING TECHNIQUES.  THE MEETING IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.  LIGHT REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED.  PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED SHOULD WEAR FACE COVERINGS AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING.  

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD MET EARLIER THIS WEEK.  THE BOARD DISCUSSED THE UPCOMING REFERENDUM ON THE OPERATING LEVY AND A NEW CAPITAL TECHNOLOGY LEVY.  PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS HAVE BEEN POSTED ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE, INCLUDING DETAILS ON HOW PROPERTY TAXES WOULD BE IMPACTED IF BOTH MEASURES ARE APPROVED. THE BOARD APPROVED THE HIRING OF MATTHEW STRUM AS A NEW VOCAL MUSIC TEACHER.  THE BOARD DISCUSSED ISSUES RELATED TO THE RECRUITMENT OF NEW TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS.  THE DISTRICT IS CONSIDERING A PLAN TO RECRUIT TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS FROM PUERTO RICO.  IF THE BOARD APPROVES THE PLAN, THE DISTRICT WILL WORK WITH A LAWYER TO MAKE SURE ANY NEW TEACHERS HAVE A DEGREE AND CAN OBTAIN LICENSING.   

 

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MET LAST WEEK.  THE BOARD APPROVED A CONTRACT FOR HEALTH & SAFETY INSPECTIONS AND LICENSING FOR BARS, RESTAURANTS, MOTELS AND HOTELS.  THERE WAS A PRESENTATION ON THE HIGHWAY 60 CORRIDOR STUDY IN WINDOM.  THE TIMETABLE FOR THE PROJECT HAS BEEN REVISED.  A FINAL PAYMENT WAS APPROVED FOR A BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT IN CARSON TOWNSHIP.  THE BOARD HEARD A PRESENTATION FROM A COMPANY THAT IS WORKING ON A PROJECT TO CAPTURE CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS AND TRANSPORT THEM THROUGH A PIPELINE TO NORTH DAKOTA.  A PORTION OF THE PIPELINE WOULD RUN THROUGH COTTONWOOD COUNTY.