Area News

By Anna Jauhola The highway department building in Hallock will be getting a new roof this year after the Kittson County Commission approved moving forward with a quote from MP Inc. at its Tuesday, May 21 meeting. The quote of $145,000 from the contractor, Mark Przekwas of Lancaster, will reroof the main county highway shop…

By Margie Holmgren The Kennedy City Council received its 2023 audit report during the regular council meeting on Monday, May 13 Marit Martell, of Phillip, Hoffmann and Martell, PLLC, Thief River Falls, presented the council with the report. “The overall net position of the city is $1,473,293,” stated Martell, “which is a 20 percent increase…

By Anna Jauhola The bidding closed Tuesday, May 21 for the Lake Bronson Dam project and the state of Minnesota received two bid packages. Ames Construction of Burnsville, Minn., and Michels Construction Inc. of Brownsville, Wis., each submitted packages. Nearly 70 contractors held plans for the project before bidding ended last week, many of which…

By Anna Jauhola Repair work began last week on the bank below the dam in Hallock. The Hallock City Council held a special meeting on Thursday, May 16 to formally approve Taggart Contracting to rebuild the eroded southeast bank. Originally, the bank was supposed to include toewood to help keep it from eroding during heavy…

By Anna Jauhola The city of Hallock will soon be improving the safety in its office at city hall. During the regular council meeting on Monday, May 6, the council heard the city received a $39,000 rebate from Otter Tail Power Company for the light project along Highway 75 in 2022. That money will more…

By Anna Jauhola A new joint powers agreement among three entities will allow for a new water control structure to be constructed at Skull Lake Wildlife Management Area, east of Lancaster. The Kittson County Commissioners approved the agreement (JPA) during the regular meeting on Tuesday, May 7. Area Wildlife Manager Jason Wollin, with MnDNR, and…

Kittson Soil and Water Conservation District hosted the Northern Area 1 Envirothon on Wednesday, May 1 at Lake Bronson State Park. Eighteen teams from seven area schools participated, totalling 100 students. Kittson Central had two teams at the competition — a team of seniors and a team of juniors. The teams of five are tested…

By Anna Jauhola Kittson County Commissioners held a closed meeting Tuesday, April 30 to discuss the results of a wage study and how best to present those results to the county’s unions. The commission cited Minnesota Statute 13D.03, which allows governmental bodies to close a meeting to consider labor negotiations strategy. Prior to closing, Assistant…

By Margie Holmgren On Wednesday, April 24, Melissa Woinarowicz, Kennedy city clerk, testified before the Minnesota house capital investment committee regarding Kennedy’s water issue. Rep. John Burkel added House File 5304 after being alerted to the situation initially by Commissioner Theresia Gillie. Woinarowicz emailed both Burkel and Sen. Mark Johnson following Gillie’s initial request and…