Fillmore County Journal 12.23.13

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2 shopping days until Christmas!

POSTAL PATRON

“Where Fillmore County News Comes First” Weekly Edition

New contract settled with Wykoff

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Monday, December 23, 2013

Sportin’ goose-eggs

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Volume 29 Issue 14

R-P School Board receives clean audit page

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Christmas on Historic Broadway 2013 page

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Canton l Chatfield l Fountain l Harmony l Lanesboro l Mabel l Ostrander l Peterson l Preston l Rushford l Rushford Village l Spring Valley l Whalan l Wykoff

Houston School Board debates levy scenarios By A ngie Rodenburg angie@fillmorecountyjournal.com

Karen Brown has served Fillmore County as county coordinator for more than 20 years. Photo provided by Karen Brown

Looking back, looking forward By K aren R eisner karen@fillmorecountyjournal.com

For more than 20 years Karen Brown has served Fillmore County as its county coordinator. December 31 will be her last day of work with the county. She says she will miss the challenges, the people, and the politics, but feels the county will be in good hands with its new county coordinator, Bobbie Vickerman, who started on December 3. On December 27 there will be a retirement open house for Brown from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the courtroom. Brown and her husband Jim

have two grown daughters and four grandchildren. She and her husband, who is also retired, have plans to spend some time down south, to enjoy more time with their children and grandchildren, and to relax and fish on the river. As a freshman in high school at Peterson, Brown’s interest in politics received a boost when her teacher sent an essay she had written for an assignment to the Rushford paper. She explained she always has had an interest in politics and current events. Prior to being hired as coordinator in April 1993, she had worked for 14 years in north-

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east Iowa on welfare reform. The duties of the coordinator have evolved over the years. When she was hired, there wasn’t an EDA or a separate human resources position. The primary responsibility of the coordinator is to support the county board. None of the board members who hired her serve on today’s board. Brown related that she has worked with a total of 13 commissioners over the years. Although there is always See COUNTY Page 7 

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Tax plan

The Houston School Board held a meeting on December 17. At the meeting Houston High School Principal Todd Lundberg presented information on the school’s new Robotics program that is set to launch in January of 2014. Principal Lundberg told the board that hiring a coach would be imperative to the success of the program and asked the board’s permission to make a posting for the position. The initial $6,000 startup cost of the program will be covered by grants; however, the school was asked to cover the cost of the program’s travel needs, extra equipment that may be needed, and the salary of the coach which, when added together, would roughly cost $2,000. Principal Lundberg said that the program’s cost for future needs will be provided through fundraising and corporate sponsorships. He also suggested the

money for the program be provided by the Gifted & Talented budget. The board decided to discuss supporting the program further in the January meeting; however, due to time constraints the board approved the posting for a Robotics coach. Some of the board members hesitated in allowing the posting to be made before there was official board approval, but were outvoted. In the Houston School Board majority rules. A point of debate in the evening’s meeting was in regard to the levy. Interim Superintendent Rick presented his recommendation that the board choose “scenario 4” of the spreadsheet of scenarios made by Business Manager Gwen Rostad. Scenario 4 levies 50 percent of the Location Equity Revenue and also under levies in three categories. The Finance Committee also recommended scenario 4. Kevin Kelleher disagreed with the recomSee HOUSTON Page 2 

Kingsland School Board performs double duty By Barb Jeffers barb@fillmorecountyjournal.com

The Kingsland School Board met on Monday, December 16, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. in the Kingsland Conference Room for a Truth in Taxation meeting followed by a regular school board meeting at 6:45 p.m. All school board members were present with the exception of Gwen Howard. Superintendent McDonald was also present.

The Truth in Taxation meeting involved discussing the proposed tax levy. The school board approved the proposed tax levy in the amount of 1,912,401.87. Meeting adjourned. The regular meeting was then called to order followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Consent agenda items were approved including Minute Review of the November 18, See KINGSLAND Page 8 

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