THE WINDOM SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL HOLD A PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING THIS WEEK. THE MEETING – TO DISCUSS THE UPCOMING REFERENDUM – WILL TAKE PLACE AT 7:00 WEDNESDAY EVENING IN THE COMMONS AT THE WINDOM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND, THERE WILL BE A REFERENDUM WITH TWO QUESTIONS ON THE BALLOT. THE FIRST QUESTION CALLS FOR VOTERS TO APPROVE THE RENEWAL OF THE DISTRICT’S OPERATING LEVY AT THE SAME AMOUNT FOR A 7-YEAR PERIOD. THE SECOND QUESTION CALLS FOR VOTERS TO APPROVE A NEW CAPITAL TECHNOLOGY LEVY IN THE AMOUNT OF $300-THOUSAND A YEAR FOR SEVEN YEARS. IF BOTH MEASURES ARE APPROVED, THE NET PROPERTY TAX INCREASE WOULD BE ROUGHLY $19 A YEAR FOR A HOUSE VALUED AT $125-THOUSAND.
THE WINDOM CITY PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETS AT 5:30 THIS AFTERNOON AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS. A BUDGET DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD. COMMISSION MEMBERS WILL REVIEW BUDGET INFORMATION FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE SWIMMING POOL, THE WINDOM CITY ARENA AND THE SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAM. THE FINAL 2022 CITY BUDGET IS BEING DEVELOPED. THE RECREATION DIRECTOR WILL HAVE A REPORT ON THE HORSE SHOWS THAT WERE HELD THIS YEAR AT THE ARENA, INCLUDING FINANCIAL DETAILS. THERE WILL BE A REPORT ON SOME REPAIRS AT THE ARENA. THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE ON PARK MAINTENANCE.
THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD MET THIS WEEK. THE BOARD APPROVED THE ADDITION OF A FULL-TIME TEACHING POSITION AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. THERE ARE 107 STUDENTS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM IN GRADES K THROUGH 4. THE BOARD DISCUSSED CHANGES IN OFFICE DUTIES. THE COORDINATOR OF THE STUDENT RECORD SYSTEM WILL BE MOVING FROM 40- TO 30-HOURS A WEEK. TO HELP COVER OTHER DUTIRES, THE BOARD AGREED TO CREATE A PART-TIME POSITION FOR HUMAN RESOURCES AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANT. THE BOARD APPROVED A POLICY FOR THE NEW ‘THERAPY DOG’ AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. FUNDRAISING EVENTS WERE APPROVED INCLUDING THE BAKER’S SQUARE PIE SALE.
THE WINDOM VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT IS STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR NEW MEMBERS. THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS HAS BEEN EXTENDED. APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY MONDAY, OCTOBER 18TH AT 4:30PM AT THE WINDOM CITY HALL. APPLICANTS MUST BE AT LEAST 18-YEARS-OLD; BE ABLE TO LIFT UP TO 50 POUNDS; AND BE IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION. APPLICANTS MUST HAVE A VALID MINNESOTA DRIVERS’ LICENSE AND BE ABLE TO PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK. MEMBERS MUST LIVE IN OR NEAR WINDOM AND BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO A CALL WITHIN 8 MINUTES. TESTING OF CANDIDATES AND INTERVIEWS WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23RD AT 8:00AM AT THE WINDOM FIRE HALL.
THE MURRAY COUNTY HISTORCIAL SOCIETY IS HOLDING A NEW LECTURE SERIES. THE MONTHLY LECTURES WILL BE HELD IN PERSON AT THE 4-H BUILDING ON THE MURRAY COUNTY FAIR GROUNDS IN SLAYTON. THERE IS A $3 ADMISSION FEE FOR THE PUBLIC, BUT THE PROGRAM IS FREE FOR MURRAY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBERS. PEOPLE MAY BRING THEIR OWN LUNCH. THIS WEEK’S PROGRAM WILL BE HELD AT NOON THURSDAY. THE GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE AUTHOR PATRICIA LUBECK. SHE WILL DISCUSS HER BOOK “VICTIMS OF FOUR PLAY.” THE BOOK RELATES THE TRUE STORY OF CLARENCE LARSON, A FARMER FROM THE RURAL BALATON AREA WHO WAS SUSPECTED OF POSSIBLY MURDERING TWO WOMEN. LARSON’S FIRST WIFE DIED IN A FARM ACCIDENT THAT WAS CONSIDERED SUSPICIOUS. HIS SECOND WIFE DISAPPEARED UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.
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.
