The Trailblazer Transit Joint Powers Board had a look at the preliminary 2013 budget Thursday morning, but with a caution from Director Gary Ludwig — it could change based on the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MnDOT) own budget.
“Trailblazer will finalize its budget after MnDOT establishes its funding levels,” said Ludwig.
MnDOT provides funding of up to 80 percent for two of Trailblazer’s programs.
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Trailblazer Joint Powers Board considers proposed ’13 budget
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Beck among summer grads
Danielle Beck of Glencoe recently graduated from Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) at the end of summer session. Beck received an associate in applied science for dental assistant.
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Bayerl makes honors list
Mitchell Bayerl of Silver Lake was named to the dean’s honor list at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the fall semester. Bayerl is in the College of Engineering.
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Stewart City Council discusses I&I issues in workshop session
The Stewart City Council is hoping to take advantage of its current street and utility improvement project to address some of its inflow and infiltration (I&I) of storm water into the sanitary sewer system.
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Creekside concept plan runs into roadblocks
The Glencoe Planning and Industrial Commission Monday afternoon received a brief update of the concept proposal to turn the Creekside subdivision near Miller Manufacturing into an affordable housing subdivision.
City Administrator Mark Larson said initial research, however, indicated that the tax increment financing (TIF) request by Hutchinson developer Gus Wurdell may not be available for this project, because Wurdell is not the initial developer of the subdivision.
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Getting to know you on Dairy Day
Noah Brinkmann, 16-month-old son of Tom and Jennifer Brinkmann of Glencoe, tried to get up close to several baby pigs at Thursday’s Glencoe Dairy Day activities at Oak Leaf Park. Local 4-Hers also showed calves as well.
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Schuette receives scholarship
Kayla Schuette, daughter of Doug and Cindy Schuette of Brownton, has been awarded a University Gala Fine Arts Scholarship for the 2013-14 academic year at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. Recipients of this scholarship are recognized for their academic accomplishments and outstanding leadership abilities. Schuette’s planned major field of study is art.
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Son born to Martin family
Mike and Kim Martin of Hutchinson announce the birth of their son, Connor Andrew, on July 12, 2013, at Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia. Conner weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces, and was 19-1/4 inches in length. His siblings are Hailey and Mason. Grandparents are Duane and Gloria Wigern of Biscay and Greg and Jan Martin of Hutchinson.
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County Board approves 10-year solid waste plan
The McLeod County Board of Commissioners gave its approval of a new, 10-year solid waste plan at its July 16 meeting.
Arlene Vee of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) said the original draft of the plan had gone through a review period and had received four comments — from the cities of Glencoe and Lester Prairie, Waste Management and a private citizen.
“We did receive comments, which is rare,” said Vee. The MPCA and McLeod County Solid Waste sent responses to those who commented, Vee added, “we haven’t received any feedback from those four.”
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Trailblazer to meet with other transit systems to discuss cooperation efforts
The Trailblazer Joint Powers Board hopes to meet with some of its contemporaries from surrounding transit systems in late August to discuss ways the systems can collaborate and cooperate.
The Joint Powers Board met Thursday morning and asked Beverly Herfindahl of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to set up the meeting.
Last year, MnDOT announced that it will be encouraging transit systems to find ways to cooperate and perhaps even merge in an effort to streamline public transit in Minnesota.
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Community Strings perform
Members of the Community Strings performed for the Music by the Pond series at Grand Meadows Senior Living Thursday night. Because of the hot and humid weather, the performance was moved indoors to the facility’s dining area. Community String members include, from left, Joel Noennig, Lon Roach, Lisa Harwell, Bekah Lundstrom, Nancy Koperud and Joy Freitag.
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Building a foundation
Despite a delay in getting state permits, the construction work on the Early Childhood Family Education/Early Childhood Special Education and Learning Readiness building addition is under way with hopes of having it completed by the end of the year. The addition will be attached to the Lincoln Jr. High School’s northwest corner and will house the school district’s youngest learners. Above is the view looking south with the Lincoln building in the background. The addition was needed in order to free up space at the Helen Baker Elementary, where the ECFE program has been located for years.
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Okee Dokee Brothers entertain
The Grammy Award-winning Okee Dokee Brothers visited the Glencoe City Center on Wednesday, July 17, to play some traditional bluegrass music. Justin Lansing and Joe Mailander, the Okee Dokee Brothers, played a song from their album “Can You Canoe?” The duo played for about an hour and signed autographs after the show. “It was a huge honor!” Mailander said of winning a Grammy for “Can You Canoe?” “It’s important to spread this kind of music.
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2-year-old seriously hurt in 2-vehicle crash
A 2-year-old was seriously injured in a two-vehicle, broadside crash at 1 p.m., Saturday, on Highway 7 at the County Road 2 intersection in Silver Lake.
Injured was Brynlee M. Wilhelm of North Mankato, who was a passenger in a 2007 Ford Fusion that collided with a 2007 Ford Freestyle. Both were travelling westbound on Highway 7, approaching County Road 2, when the accident occurred, the Minnesota State Patrol reported.
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Area students on UM dean's list
Several area students were named to the spring semester dean’s list at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. They included Brownton: Kaycie Lindeman and Megan Sikkila; Glencoe: Kristine Kirchhoff and Kaylee Kruschke; Lester Prairie: Shane Cory; and Silver Lake: Kelli Garbers.
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Twins born to Hartmann family
Jason and Angie Hartmann of Lafayette announce the birth of twin daughters, Madayln Ruby and Karli Ruby, on July 22, 2013, at Hutchinson Health. Madalyn weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces and Karli weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces. Older brother is Owen. Grandparents are Lorie Gieseke of rural New Ulm, Mike Haas of rural New Ulm and Michael and Diane Hartmann of rural Gibbon. Great-grandparents are Elroy Bargmann of Glencoe and Otto and Mary Hartmann of Gibbon.
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Students on Alexandria Tech dean's list
Several area students were named to the spring semester dean’s list at Alexandria Technical College. They included: Glencoe — Shannon Cline is in the liberal arts and sciences program and Travis Jacques is in the machine tool technology program; New Auburn — Brandon Becker is enrolled in the diesel mechanics program; Norwood Young America — Jordan Voigt is enrolled in the law enforcement program.
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County part of disaster declaration
McLeod County has been included in the list of counties declared eligible for disaster relief following strong storms and flooding in late June.
President Barack Obama declared a major disaster for 18 Minnesota counties, including McLeod and Sibley counties.
Kevin Mathews, McLeod County Emergency Services director, said McLeod County officials did a preliminary damage assessment and it totalled about $166,000. To be eligible, the county needed at least $120,000 in damages to public infrastructure and equipment.
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No referendum planned for fall
Any talk of a November school building bond referendum is over, but discussion of the space needs at Glencoe-Silver Lake is not. The conversation about facility needs will continue, according to GSL Superintendent Chris Sonju.
At Monday night’s second community informational meeting in the high school auditorium, Sonju said deadlines for a November referendum have passed, and no public vote on a school addition building bond will take place this fall.
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Wheelage tax OK’d on 3-2 vote
On a 3-2 vote at its meeting Tuesday, the McLeod County Board voted to impose a wheelage tax on licensed vehicles in McLeod County.
Discussion revolved around looking for other sources of funding and concerns of the money staying in the county.
Commissioners reiterated that the money would stay in the county, and that it was indicated that state and federal funds for roads and highways will not be available.
Commissioner Ron Shimanski asked that the County Board look at trimming costs in other departments instead of imposing a tax, and Commissioner Jon Christensen agreed.
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