Park board recommends amenity shuffling

This week the Fairmont Park Board talked about a plan to move the pickleball courts from Veterans Park to where the Skate Park is on Winnebago Avenue and move the Skate Park to be near the Aquatic Park. This plan will address ongoing concerns at both parks. It will also bump up recreational activities for youth near the Aquatic Park as mini golf, ball fields and bike rentals are already there, too. It was a great recommendation by the Park Board. Now we’ll see what City Council says when it goes there for approval next.

County talks jail share possibility

The Martin County Board of Commissioners spent a portion of their meeting on Tuesday discussing whether they should conduct a feasibility study in order to pursue “external county jail services.” Some commissioners, along with the county attorney, were confused about the purpose and concerned about the lack of parameters in the study. Ultimately, a motion to move forward with it failed 3-2. The new board has known since killing the new jail project in March that it would need to address capacity issues, aging infrastructure and more in the existing jail. Now almost six months later they’re talking about it, but can’t seem to agree on where to start. Documented issues and concerns with the jail have been ongoing for two decades and all that’s clear right now is that they’re not going to go away or fix themselves. Now we wait to see what solution is proposed next.

County to pursue courthouse mural repairs.

The Martin County Commissioners did take action this week when they agreed unanimously to move forward with getting the historic murals -and the walls they’re attached to- repaired in the courthouse. While it will likely be an expensive fix, the board seems prepared to spend the money to ensure they’re fixed to the full extent. It’s a noble move and interesting to see everyone in agreement that something needs to be done and actually move forward to do it.

Fairmont resident recounts Beatles’ Met concert on 60th anniversary

August 21 marked the 60th anniversary of the Beatles’ one Minnesota concert and a Fairmont woman was there for it. What a fun story! Hearing DeAnne Helfritz reflect back on her experience can remind us all that what we’re living in the day to day- the mundane and the extraordinary- all of those moments will become a memory that make up the story of our lives. With that in mind it’s best to live in the moment, soak it up and make the best of every situation so there’s plenty of good stuff to look back and reminisce on.