Area News
Lancaster has new mayor, searching for councilor
By Anna Jauhola The Lancaster City Council reorganized for 2025 during the first meeting of the year on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Councilor Kathy Bernstrom resigned her position to accept the mayor position as she was elected during November. Clerk Carol Johnson administered the oaths of office to Bernstrom, and re-elected councilors Teri Halvorson and John…
Read MoreCourthouse fixes are a top priority as the year begins
By Anna Jauhola The Kittson County Commissioners reorganized for the year during the first meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Loren Younggren was re-elected as commission chair and Ryan Swenson was voted in as vice chair. The commission will, over the next month, work on moving needed courthouse updates forward, starting with removal of the old…
Read MoreCounty sets final budget and levy at 5% increase over 2024
By Anna Jauhola In the final meeting of 2024, the Kittson County Commission approved the 2025 budget and tax levy, including an increase in their salaries for the year. When the commission approved the preliminary 2025 budget and levy in September, they shot high with a 10.5% increase over 2024. “I think we’re pretty happy…
Read MoreLancaster School Board approves nearly identical 2025 tax levy to that of 2024
By Anna Jauhola One person appeared at Lancaster School District’s annual Truth in Taxation meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Superintendent Nicole Thompson gave a brief presentation to explain that Truth in Taxation meetings are held due to a law passed in 1989 and after the county’s proposed tax statements are mailed in late November. While…
Read MoreSubstance Abuse Task Force using opioid settlement money positively in the county
By Anna Jauhola There is little data on opioid drug use for Kittson County. This is good news, said Jacey Spaeth, during the annual meeting of Kittson County’s Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force. “We’re in a really unique position to use these funds for preventative measures instead of trying to fix a problem that’s already…
Read MoreHallock Council hires Johnson as deputy clerk
By Anna Jauhola The Hallock City Council held a special meeting last week to hire a deputy clerk, approve the annual airport manager’s contract and the fixed base operator’s contract. Councilor Naomi Larson is on the personnel committee, which interviewed candidates for the deputy clerk position, which was vacated earlier this fall. The first time…
Read MoreKennedy City Council changes meeting date and time for 2025
By Margie Holmgren Kennedy City Council will meet on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. starting in January 2025. The council discussed their regular meeting date and time at their special meeting on Monday, Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. With conflicts on Mondays, the council discussed moving the meetings to Wednesdays and meeting earlier at 5 p.m.…
Read More‘You give a piece of your heart to everyone that comes in here’
Hamre working on outreach as Kittson County VSO By Anna Jauhola A former Kittson County Sheriff’s deputy is back in the courthouse to serve a special sector of the public. John Hamre is the new veterans service officer, or VSO. He was a deputy here for five years in the early 2000s, and recently retired…
Read MoreCounty expects lower levy increase for 2025
By Anna Jauhola Five people from the public attended the Kittson County Truth in Taxation meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The Truth in Taxation meetings are held annually in December by governmental entities to explain tax levies and budgets, not to dispute taxes or valuations. Administrator Aimee Sugden explained the commissioners, administration and department heads…
Read MoreHallock approves 3% COLA for employees
By Anna Jauhola The Hallock City Council approved a 3% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for city employees in 2025. Over the last seven years, the council has approved an average 3.25% COLA, with 2023 being the highest at 6.5% due to the high cost of inflation. “There was a personnel committee recommendation of a…
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