By Kurt Menk
Editor

The rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sibley County have increased again during the past week.
As of Tuesday, April 27, Sibley County now has 1,340 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. That is an increase of 16 over last week.
Sibley County also has 10 related deaths.

•Nicollet County has 3,133 confirmed cases and 43 related deaths.
•McLeod County has 4,126 confirmed cases and 58 related deaths.
•Renville County has 1,723 confirmed cases and 43 related deaths.

Find the complete story in the May 13, 2021 addition of the Arlington Enterprise

By Kurt Menk
Editor

Unlike some southern Minnesota high schools, Sibley East has paid thousands of dollars in a COVID-19 fee to the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL).

Sibley East has already paid the additional COVID-19 fee of $6,044, according to Business Manager Janna Tessmer. Sibley East, she said, was able to use its ESSER I (part of CARES Act funding) to pay this additional amount.

In addition to the additional COVID-19 fee, Tessmer noted that MSHSL membership dues for Sibley East have increased from $1,810 in 2017 and 2018 to $2,090 in 2019 to $3,674 during 2020.

Since the MSHSL is facing a significant budget shortfall due to the cancellation of revenue-generating state tournaments, it introduced the new installment fees in September 2020. The fees were described as a short-term fix to help weather the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

The fees themselves were split into two payments with the total amount varying based on school size.
These installment payments were in addition to the regular annual membership dues and activity fees schools pay.

Many schools immediately pushed back, according to an article in the Star Tribune.
Some schools, 1 1/2  years later, have opted to simply not pay.

Find the complete story in the May 13, 2021 addition of the Arlington Enterprise

By Kurt Menk
Editor

Should Sibley County change the auditor/treasurer position from being elected to appointed?
The Sibley County Commissioners have decided to hold a special meeting and seek public input on the question.
The County Commissioners, during their regular meeting in Gaylord on Tuesday morning, May 11, unanimously approved a motion to hold  a special meeting in the courthouse basement at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 8.

The County Commissioners, at the meeting, did not take action on the contract for Sibley County Auditor-Treasurer Marilee Peterson. In addition, the County Commissioners did not take action on a resolution for a public notice which is required for the process to move forward.

Find the complete story in the May 13, 2021 addition of the Arlington Enterprise

By John Mueller
McLeod County Chronicle
Editor

An expanded four-lane Highway 212 from eastern McLeod County to the Twin Cities’ western suburbs and Highway 494 is a little closer to reality this week as Carver County formally began expansion on one of the two remaining bottlenecks along the highway’s route.

Carver County is expanding a two-lane section of Highway 212 to four lanes with reduced conflict intersections (J-turns) from Carver through Dahlgren Township to the east side of Cologne. The approximately $34 million project for 4½ miles of reconstructed roadway, including project design and land acquisition, is expected to be completed by late-summer/fall of 2022.

Carver County has also provided funding for the project, including money from its local-option sales tax. A coalition of federal, state and local lawmakers, including Rep. Glen Gruenhagen of rural Glencoe, has been working on securing state and federal funding for several years.

Find the complete story in the May 13, 2021 addition of the Arlington Enterprise