NEWS
--On Tuesday the Morrison County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution 2020-037 Requesting the Auditor/Treasurer to abate the majority of penalty on late payment of property taxes payable in May 2020. The due date for first half property taxes remains set on May 15th, 2020. The County Board does not have the authority to change the due date but does have the authority to address the penalty if taxes are paid late. On a unanimous 5-0 vote, the County Board acted to abate the majority of penalties associated with late payment of property taxes through July of 2020. This effort was undertaken after consultation with taxing authorities throughout the County. The County Board recognized that as a result of unemployment, lost or reduced wages and the loss of business income, prompt payment of property taxes may be a major economic pressure for many County residents and businesses come this May. Board Chair Mike Lemieur stated, “Those that can pay real estate taxes should do so on time, local taxing jurisdictions count on those dollars to operate and provide public services. However, imposing the full penalty for late payment of property taxes this May would simply be unjust and unreasonable at this time. While a uniform statewide plan to change the due date to help our property taxpayers would have been ideal, we simply couldn’t wait any longer. If the State Legislators decide to do something, we will re-evaluate and adjust our local program accordingly”. This action is an attempt to balance helping those residents and businesses seeking property tax payment relief with the critical cash flow needs of local schools, cities and taxing districts dependent upon property tax revenues. Morrison County acted to reduce penalties for late payment on all applicable property classifications as follows: For taxes paid between May 16th, 2020 and June 30th, 2020: a penalty of 1% of the unpaid tax otherwise due and owning. For taxes paid between July 1st, 2020 and July 31st, 2020: a penalty of 2% of the unpaid tax otherwise due and owning.
--The state’s public K-12 schools will stay closed for the rest of the academic year under an order from Governor Tim Walz. The order, issued Thursday, assures that students and teachers will finish out the school year through distance learning plans, which have been underway for weeks. Little Falls Community Schools Superintendent Stephen Jones will be a guest via phone at 7:30am on KLTF.
--Due to the ongoing considerations related to the COVID-19 virus pandemic, Morrison County Public Works is advising that Residents of the Cities and Townships of the County monitor available information regarding the City and Township Clean-Up Day events for 2020. In previous years, most of these events occur within the April – June time frame. Currently however, most of these events have been postponed and a number of the primary services provided such as electronics, appliance and tire recycling have been suspended by some of the service providers. While a few of the City and Township events may move forward in the near future, the City and Township Clean-Up Days that are postponed to date are: the Cities of Bowlus, Buckman, Flensburg, Pierz, Randall and Sobieski, and, Townships/Township Groups are Elmdale Township Group, Green Prairie, Little Falls and Ripley Townships. Any questions or concerns, please contact your City and Township officials for updated information. As a reminder, the Morrison County Solid Waste Management Facility will continue to accept these Special Waste items at the Landfill for a fee.
--Sgt. Neil Dickenson of the Minnesota State Patrol spoke on KLTF Thursday and said that his office remains busy even though there has been a 43% (accoding to Neil), decrease in motor vehicle traffic on state highways since the Stay at Home Order first went into effect. Accidents, DWI's, stolen vehicle and other cases continue to be handled at this time. He said that the State Patrol is using compliance when asking stay at home order questions as those still have essential jobs, groceries, gas and other items to take care of. He did state that there is a extension for expired drivers licenses right now until the Department of Motor Vehicles reopen and get back on track but that could still be weeks away. However, there is no extension for tabs and registrations which can be handled online or over the phone to the motor vehicle departments. An easy way is to go to the drivemn.com website and apply online for those items as Dickenson said they will stop you if you have expired tabs and cite you for expried registration and insurance information. He knows that traffic flow will pickup next month if the stay at home order is not extended with Opening Fishing, Mother's Day and Memorial Day weekends on the horizon. The State Patrol, like many others are following the guidelines for safety and precaution like others in the state.
--According to the lastest data released by the Minnesota Department of Health there have been 2,942 total positive cases of COVID-19 and 200 deaths linked to the virus. That is an increase of 21 deaths. There have been 712 total cases requiring hospitalization, including 268 currently hospitalized with 104 in ICU. There were 7 new cases in Stearns up to 25, 2 new cases in Sherburne up to 15, one new case in Cass up to 5. Staying steady at the number of current cases was Morrison County 1, Benton 4, Crow Wing 20, Aitken 1, with Wadena and Kanabec among 9 counties without a confirmed case.
--Items this weekend that were cancelled due to the restrictions of COVID-19 include some area proms (some postponed others cancelled), Pierz area garage sales and cleanup day postponed, Share Sunday at Mary of Lourdes Middle School the event is cancelled but the cash drawing for the fundraiser will be done and names announced on KLTF Party Line Monday. All library events this weekend and the spring book sale that would have been this week have been cancelled, many May events are cancelled also at the public libraries until restrictions are lifted. Next weekend the 2 Cylander Club's Field Days cancelled, potlock and gathering in Lastrup next Sunday cancelled though raffle drawing will be done privately with named announced on May 4th on KLTF. Get the full list of cancellations for the are at fallsradio.com.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Zach and Brittany Kummet of Pierz, a girl born on April 22nd
WEATHER
TODAY= scattered showers & storms in afternoon, high 63.
TONIGHT= scattered storms early, clearing late, low near 40.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, PM stray shower, high 63, low 36.
SUNDAY= sunny and mild, high 65, low around 40.
MONDAY= storms develop, partly sunny, high near 70, low 48.
SPORTS
TWINS= another Twins classic game from the 1987 World Series will be Sunday at noon on Q92 WYRQ and fallsradio.com.
MSHSL= all spring activities for high school teams is cancelled.