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Here’s a look at the top headlines from around west central Minnesota for Sept. 15, 2022.
WILLMAR — Property taxes for Willmar Public Schools are expected to increase 3.3% next year.
The Willmar School Board adopted an $8.35 million preliminary property tax levy to be paid in 2023 at its meeting Monday.
The board voted to levy the maximum allowed by the state. The final levy will be adopted in December.
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Business and Finance Director Kathryn Haase said the state might make adjustments before December, and if the board set a specific dollar amount, it wouldn’t be able to make adjustments in December.
The preliminary levy, about $267,000 more than the levy on this year’s tax bills, makes up about 10% of the district’s total operating revenue.
Appleton starts new chapter with construction of new library
APPLETON — Officials in Appleton say they are starting a new chapter in the city as they held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new library on Monday.
They view the $1.49 million project as a turning point for the city, which has been coping with economic challenges ever since the closing of the Prairie Correctional Facility in 2010.
Head Librarian Cindy Hendrickx emphasized that the new facility will offer a range of programming for people of all ages. There will be both meeting and “maker” spaces, she said, along with the traditional collection of books and access to the internet.
Parents complain about pride flags in Willmar elementary school; school says there are no pride flags
WILLMAR — A group of parents attended the Willmar School Board meeting to talk about their concern about LGBTQ pride flags displayed in school buildings.
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Abdiweli Yusuf, a parent, spoke for a group of about a dozen Somali-American parents who were at the meeting late Monday afternoon.
Yusuf told the board they were concerned about banners in elementary schools that appear to be pride flags.
School officials said Tuesday there are no pride flags in those schools.
