News

The Martin County Commissioners held the annual Truth-in-Taxation hearing after the regular meeting. The proposed county budget for 2019 is $27.3 million, down from this year’s budget of $28.3 million. The property tax levy is expected to rise from $15.8 million to $16.3 million, or 2.94 percent. Explaining the levy hike, officials say the county will hire two full-time positions in 2019, set aside additional funds for capital improvements, pay about 5 percent more for health insurance costs and pay to update an outdated compensation study. During the regular meeting the board approved extending the lease for the Veterans [...]

Martin County commissioners will hold a public hearing Jan. 8 on a request for a property tax break by Great Plains Transportation of Fairmont. The hearing will take place at 10 a.m. in the commissioners meeting room at the courthouse. Great Plains Transportation Services, 923 N. State St., is asking not to pay new property taxes resulting from a proposed expansion of the business. It is a 10-year request, with the abatement from the county estimated at $164,000. Great Plains also is asking for tax relief from the city of Fairmont and Fairmont Area Schools. The total value of [...]

Questions about a proposed $24.7 million community center in Fairmont were abundant during an informational “town hall” meeting Wednesday at the Fairmont Opera House. The biggest issues presented during the question-and-answer session involved  plans for  the community center, such as the fitness area and the banquet area, competing with existing local businesses; and how to cover the cost of construction and ongoing operations, estimated to be $530,000 annually. Negotiations with the YMCA are underway to have that organization manage the center. If an agreement is reached, the “Y” will coordinate with city staff to determine what programs would be [...]

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton authorized $3.7 million in state disaster assistance Monday in eight Minnesota counties and one tribal nation for storms that occurred Sept. 18-20. Martin County will receive $289,332, while neighboring Faribault County will get $21,836. Sever thunderstorms produced heavy rains, damaging winds and tornadoes locally on Sept. 20. The state funds will reimburse public infrastructure repairs and cleanup costs associated with the storms. Under Minnesota law, the state will reimburse 75 percent of eligible costs for public infrastructure repairs and cleanup, with local governments responsible for covering the remaining 25 percent. Both Ceylon and Granada were [...]

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Fairmont Tue. 12/4/2018: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Holiday Inn, 1201 Torgerson Drive Wed. 12/5/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Holiday Inn, 1201 Torgerson Drive Thur. 12/6/2018: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Holiday Inn, 1201 Torgerson Drive Fri. 12/7/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Mayo Clinic Health System , 800 Medical Center Drive

DUE TO THE ANTICIPATED WINTER STORM EXPECTED TO HIT SOUTHERN MINNESOTA / NORTHERN IOWA FRIDAY NIGHT INTO THIS WEEKEND, THE COMMUNITY KAMP FOR KIDS RED BAG PICK UP WITH THE SALVATION ARMY THIS SATURDAY, HAS BEEN POSTPONED. THE NEW RED BAG PICK-UP DATE IS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15TH. PLEASE HOLD ON TO YOUR RED BAGS AND DONATIONS OF NON-PERISHABLE FOOD, TOILETRY ITEMS AND TOYS. WE WILL BE COLLECTING YOUR DONATIONS ON THE RESCHEDULED RED BAG PICK UP DATE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 BEGINNING AT 9 AM. IF YOU STILL NEED RED BAGS, PICK THEM UP AT OUR LAKES FM-KSUM STUDIOS ON [...]

TWO FAIRMONT MEN FACE CHARGES AFTER SEPARATE HIGH SPEED CHASES IN MARTIN COUNTY 30 YEAR-OLD LEVI SCOTT THATE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH A FELONY FOR FLEEING A POLICE OFFICER IN A MOTOR VEHICLE AFTER A VEHICLE PURSUIT IN MARTIN  COUNTY. THE CHARGE CARRIES A MAX PENALTY OF 3 YEARS AND A DAY IN PRISON AND $5,000 FINE IF CONVICTED ACCORDING TO THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT. JUST AFTER 5 PM ON MONDAY OF  THIS WEEK FAIRMONT POLICE WERE DISPATCHED TO A BUSINESS ON  FAIRMONT'S NORTH  SIDE WHERE A PERSON WITH FELONY WARRANTS WAS LOCATED. WHILE OFFICERS RESPONDED THE  30 YEAR OLD [...]

A MAN IS FACING SEVERAL CHARGES AFTER A VEHICLE PUSUIT IN MARTIN COUNTY ENDS. JUST AFTER 5 PM ON MONDAY OF THIS WEEK FAIRMONT POLICE WERE DISPATCHED TO A BUSINESS ON FAIRMONT'S NORTH SIDE WHERE A PERSON WITH FELONY WARRANTS WAS LOCATED. WHILE OFFICERS RESPONDED THE 30 YEAR OLD MALE SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY STOLE A VEHICLE BELONGING TO A FEMALE PARTY AND FLED THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED BY AN OFFICER WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHICH THEN FLED WITH OTHER OFFICERS IN PURSUIT. THE PURSUIT LEFT THE CITY LIMITS AND AND TRAVELED EAST ON I-90 AND NORTH ON [...]

RED BAG PICK-UP IS POSTPONED UNTIL DECEMBER 15TH THE SALVATION ARMY'S RED BAG PICK UP WILL BE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 IN MARTIN COUNTY AS PART OF THIS WEEK'S COMMUNITY KAMP FOR KIDS EVENT. ANYONE WISHING TO CONTRIBUTE MAY PLACE NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS, TOILETRIES, ETC. IN THESE BAGS. THE LIST OF WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE AND WHAT IS NOT IS ON THE BAG ITSELF. THE BAGS WILL BE PICKED UP IN FAIRMONT ON SATURDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 15, STARTING AT 9 AM. DO NOT PUT BAGS OUT ON THE STEPS OR HANG THEM ON THE DOOR HANDLE BEFORE SATURDAY SO ITEMS DON'T [...]

The Fairmont Area School Board approved allocation of Partners in Education and Hunt Fund grants for the 2018-19 school year at last night's meeting and set a tax abatement public hearing on Dec. 11. That hearing will be held about 6:20 pm, immediately following the districts tax levy hearing. The Fairmont School Board on Tuesday heard from Kari Duehlmeyer, a teacher on special assignment this year who is working on STEM and science improvements at the elementary school. The new science curriculum is called “Mystery Science” and is all online. Each lesson comes with hands-on activities. All grade levels [...]