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CogniLocal

Waverly / Howard Lake

Your Community, More Completely.
Friday, October 30, 2026 · Permanent link to this edition
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Lakers football vs. Dassel-Cokato Saturday, October 31, 2 p.m.Wright County elections office open Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1No school at HLWW Monday, November 2Election Day Tuesday, November 3
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Today in Waverly / Howard Lake

The HLWW first quarter ends today, Friday, October 30; Monday, November 2, is a teacher workshop day with no students.
The Wright County elections office in Buffalo is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1, ahead of the Tuesday, November 3, election.
HLWW varsity football plays Dassel-Cokato Saturday, October 31, at 2 p.m., according to the district calendar.
The WCCA food shelf in Waverly is closed Fridays and next opens Monday, November 2, at 8:30 a.m.
Howard Lake expects initial police officer interviews the first week of November; applications stay open until the positions are filled.
Waverly is taking city attorney proposals through Thursday, November 12, at 3:30 p.m.

NEW: newly reported developments or upcoming opportunities. UPDATE: later substantive information on a covered story. ONGOING: continuing useful information. RESOLVED: the reported issue has ended. BACKGROUND: dated historical context, not a new development or confirmation of current availability. UNCONFIRMED: a story, continuing story or detail that could not be confirmed against its cited source on the edition date; the note under the headline says what is not confirmed. Today and countdown lines carry "(unconfirmed)" for the same reason. All local times are Central Daylight Time.

Public Safety & Courts

ONGOINGHoward Lake

City seeks multiple full-time police officers

Howard Lake is accepting applications for multiple full-time police officer positions to meet current staffing needs and prepare for a possible expansion of the department's service area. Applicants must hold, or be eligible for, Minnesota POST licensure. The posted pay range is $39.48 to $53.70.

The city's first review of applications was October 15, but applications remain open until the positions are filled. The city says initial interviews are anticipated during the first week of November. Questions go to Chief David Thompson at 320-543-3670.

ONGOINGWaverly / Howard Lake

Treichler and Mossman are on the November 3 ballot for Wright County sheriff

Wright County voters, including residents of Waverly and Howard Lake, will choose a new sheriff in the general election Tuesday, November 3. Chief Deputy Matt Treichler and Deputy Rob Mossman are running, and both took part in a candidate forum at Delano City Hall hosted by the Delano Area Chamber of Commerce, the Delano Herald Journal reported October 21.

Sheriff Sean Deringer made his final appearance as sheriff before the Delano Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, October 15, and introduced Treichler, who has his strong support in the election, the Enterprise Dispatch reported. Waverly contracts with the Sheriff's Office for law enforcement; Howard Lake has its own police department, according to Wright County.

Schools & Youth

ONGOINGHoward Lake / Waverly / WinstedUNCONFIRMED

HLWW first quarter ends today; no school Monday

Not confirmed against the source as of October 30, 2026: that classes resume Tuesday, November 3 (the district calendar lists no entry for that day). Check the source before relying on it.

The first quarter ends today, Friday, October 30, at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted schools, according to the district calendar.

Monday, November 2, is a teacher workshop day with no students. Classes resume Tuesday, November 3.

ONGOINGHoward Lake / Waverly / Winsted

HLWW posts information on school fund amendment on the November ballot

Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Public Schools posted information October 19 about a constitutional amendment on the November ballot. The district says the amendment directly impacts public education funding in Minnesota.

The amendment would change how money from the state's Permanent School Fund is distributed to schools, increasing annual payouts, the Delano Herald Journal reported. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

ONGOINGHoward Lake / Waverly / Winsted

HLWW board's October 26 agenda listed facility audit, contracts and insurance renewal

The Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted School Board's October 26 work session agenda listed a facility audit discussion, with representatives from InBylt and Ehlers expected to attend, and the superintendent's goals for 2026-27.

The agenda also listed recommended approvals of Laker Care and Early Education (ECFE) Coordinator contracts, a para memorandum of understanding on monthly meetings, and a property and casualty insurance renewal with Hanover, with cyber liability coverage through Beazley. Minutes have not been posted, so the outcomes are not yet public.

The board's next regular meeting is Monday, November 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the high school media center.

Business & Commercial Development

ONGOINGWaverly / Howard Lake

Nuvera lists both fiber construction areas in Waverly and Howard Lake as ready

Nuvera's construction updates list area 02 in both Waverly and Howard Lake as ready for fiber, most recently in updates dated October 6. Area 04 in each community was listed as ready in earlier updates, so both construction areas on each city's page now carry that status.

Nuvera says new customers who signed up for fiber will be contacted for installation in the upcoming weeks, and current customers will be contacted to migrate to fiber.

Community & Culture

ONGOINGHoward Lake

Fall Storytime runs Tuesday mornings at Howard Lake Library

Howard Lake Library's Fall Storytime continues Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., with the next session Tuesday, November 3, and sessions listed through Tuesday, November 24. The program offers stories, songs and activities for children ages 6 and under.

Great River Regional Library lists the program as sponsored by Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Early Childhood Family Education.

The library, at 817 8th Avenue, is open today, Friday, October 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m., and Saturday, October 31, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is closed Sundays. The phone number is 320-543-2020.

Arts, Culture & Events

ONGOINGHoward Lake

Applications are listed for HLWW’s November 21 arts and crafts expo

HLWW Community Education lists its Creative Arts & Crafts Expo for Saturday, November 21, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Middle School and Activity Center, 8700 County Road 6 SW, south of Howard Lake.

Exhibitors must be involved in making what they sell. Applications are processed in the order received, subject to available space; a standard 12-by-12-foot booth is listed at $69. The district's registration page provides exhibitor requirements, options and contact information.

AI in Your Community

CogniLocal tracks where artificial intelligence and related automated systems are already entering the institutions that serve this community, who is deploying them, what they are being used for and what changes next.

BACKGROUNDWaverly

Wright County Sheriff wearables bring AI-powered law-enforcement technology to Waverly

Waverly contracts with the Wright County Sheriff's Office for police services. Oracle said in October 2025 that the office was deploying its AI-powered Public Safety Wearable Computer System, making the technology directly relevant to the agency that provides Waverly's policing.

Oracle said the officer-worn devices automatically record interactions and were planned to add live video streaming to the command center. At the October 2025 announcement, Oracle said 70% of Wright County's 176 sworn personnel were already using the system, with full deployment expected within two weeks.

The October 2025 announcement does not establish completion of later dispatch and records phases or identify which AI features are currently enabled. It also does not establish use by Howard Lake Police.

BACKGROUNDWright County

AI-generated fake citations reached a Wright County court filing

The Minnesota Tax Court found that a Wright County brief contained five nonexistent case citations generated by artificial intelligence. The court concluded that including the false citations violated Rule 11.02(b) of the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure.

The court declined to order sanctions but referred the matter involving the assistant Wright County attorney who signed and filed the brief to the Minnesota Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board.

BACKGROUNDHoward Lake / Waverly / Winsted

HLWW’s summer 2024 catalog listed an adult AI class

Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Community Education listed a practical ChatGPT class for adults, titled “AI (AI) Made So Practical and Easy!”, in its summer 2024 catalog. The catalog documents a past offering; it does not establish a current class or registration opportunity.

The class description focused on practical uses of ChatGPT, such as looking up information, answering questions and drafting everyday writing like invitations and letters.

BACKGROUNDWaverly

Wright County Sheriff's Office uses license plate reader cameras around the county

The Wright County Sheriff's Office, which provides contract law enforcement in Waverly, says it uses Flock Safety technology, and its Automated License Plate Reader program consists of fixed and mobile cameras placed throughout the county.

The Sheriff's Office says the program lets it be alerted to stolen or wanted vehicles, stolen license plates and missing persons, and is also used to search for vehicles involved in criminal activity after the fact. The county's page points residents to a Flock transparency portal with the office's policies and usage data. Howard Lake has its own police department.

Sports

ONGOING

Lakers football plays Dassel-Cokato Saturday afternoon

Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted varsity football plays Dassel-Cokato Saturday, October 31, at 2 p.m., according to the district calendar.

Community & Services

ONGOINGWaverly

Wright County Food Shelf in Waverly is open Monday through Thursday

The WCCA Wright County Food Shelf & Thrift Shop at 411 Elm Avenue in Waverly is closed Fridays and next opens Monday, November 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. WCCA lists the same hours on Thursdays and 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

WCCA says the client-choice food shelf serves all neighbors, regardless of the community they call home, and that it is looking for volunteers to help expand its programs for Wright County families.

ONGOINGWright County

Wright County elections office open this weekend before the November 3 election

The Wright County elections office at the Government Center, 3650 Braddock Avenue NE in Buffalo, will be open Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the county announced.

The added weekend hours come ahead of the Tuesday, November 3, general election. Waverly and Howard Lake are both Wright County cities.

City, Roads & Planning

ONGOINGWaverly

Waverly sets preliminary 2027 levy 16.17% higher

The Waverly City Council unanimously certified a preliminary 2027 property tax levy of $1,691,748 at a special session September 23, the Herald Journal reported. That is about $235,437, or 16.17%, more than the 2026 levy.

The Herald Journal reported that the truth-in-taxation hearing will be held with the council's regular meeting Tuesday, December 8, at 6 p.m. at Waverly City Hall, after which the 2027 levy will be finalized.

ONGOINGWaverly

Waverly council's October 13 agenda listed a decision on a water treatment facility with Montrose

The Waverly City Council's agenda for its October 13 regular meeting listed a council decision on a water treatment facility with Montrose, under the city engineer's report. The agenda also listed Elm Avenue design approval, a liquor license for Bubba Chop's Roadhouse and election judges for the November 3 general election.

Minutes of the October 13 meeting have not been posted on the city's BoardBook meeting portal, so the outcome of those items is not yet public. The same agenda lists the general election canvassing meeting for 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, November 10.

ONGOINGWaverly

Waverly seeks proposals for city attorney services; deadline November 12

The City of Waverly is requesting proposals and qualifications from law firms and individual attorneys with municipal law experience to serve as city attorney, according to a city notice posted by the Herald Journal. The City Council will choose the attorney.

Proposals are due Thursday, November 12, at 3:30 p.m. The notice says the full request for proposals is on the city website; questions go to City Administrator Carrie Krienke at 763-658-4217, ext. 4.

Still Developing

The latest confirmed movement, the open question and the next checkpoint.

OPENUNCONFIRMED

Waverly Public Works superintendent search

Not confirmed against the source as of October 30, 2026: all details. Check the source before relying on it.

The city's job bulletin for the Public Works superintendent position, advertised at $43.98 to $48.55 per hour, listed a closing date of October 11. A hire has not been announced.

Still unresolved: The hiring outcome.

Next checkpoint: A hiring announcement or council appointment.

Application period closed October 11.

Source: Current job bulletin
AWAITING RECORDSUNCONFIRMED

Howard Lake September 21 City Council actions

Not confirmed against the source as of October 30, 2026: the draft September 21 minutes and the actions they record (Veterans Memorial donation, preliminary budget and levy, December 7 hearing, October 20 meeting date); only the September 21 adoption of Ordinance 26-02 is confirmed. Check the source before relying on it.

Draft minutes of the September 21 meeting, included in the October 20 council packet for approval, show the council unanimously adopted Ordinance 26-02, accepted the Howard Lake American Legion's donation of the Veterans Memorial with a maintenance agreement, approved the preliminary 2027 general fund budget and levy, set the truth-in-taxation hearing for Monday, December 7, at 6 p.m. and moved the October meeting to Tuesday, October 20.

Still unresolved: Council approval of the September 21 minutes, which were listed on the October 20 consent agenda.

Next checkpoint: Approved minutes after the October 20 meeting.

Draft September 21 minutes posted in the October 20 council packet.

Sources: Herald Journal, Ordinance 26-02 summary; City of Howard Lake, October 20 council agenda packet
AWAITING RECORDS

HLWW school-board work session

Draft minutes of the September 28 work session were posted with the board's October 12 agenda. They show approval of Tech Assistant and Specialist contracts, three overnight student trips and an employment action.

Still unresolved: Formal approval of the minutes, and the record of the October 12 regular meeting.

Next checkpoint: Approved minutes or the October 12 meeting record.

Sources: September 28 work session minutes (draft); October 12 board agenda
OPENUNCONFIRMED

Waverly water

Not confirmed against the source as of October 30, 2026: all details. Check the source before relying on it.

The city continues to post its lead-exceedance notice and the letter sent to residents on August 28. The next substantive checkpoint is an official follow-up explaining sampling results and corrective work.

Still unresolved: Subsequent sampling, corrective action and confirmation of whether the exceedance has been resolved.

Next checkpoint: An official water-quality or corrective-action update.

Source: Waverly water notice and resident letter
OPEN

Howard Lake residency-restriction ordinance

Ordinance 26-02 creates a residency-restriction section in the city code. The city held its separate community-notification briefing September 10.

Still unresolved: Full codified text and implementation details.

Next checkpoint: The updated city code or an implementation notice.

Ordinance summary published September 25.

Sources: Herald Journal ordinance notice; Howard Lake city news
OPENUNCONFIRMED

Howard Lake refuse and recycling transition

Not confirmed against the source as of October 30, 2026: all details. Check the source before relying on it.

A September 9 agenda packet contemplated assigning existing refuse and recycling agreements to Waste Management of Minnesota. The transaction was then expected around September 14, with existing terms continuing through the contract period. The claims list in the October 20 council packet includes $12,421 to Waste Management for garbage and recycling services for September 2026.

Still unresolved: Confirmation of the completed transition and any resident-facing rate or service changes.

Next checkpoint: Approved minutes, a contract notice or resident-service information.

October 20 claims list includes a Waste Management payment for September service.

Sources: September contract summary; City of Howard Lake, October 20 council agenda packet
OPENUNCONFIRMED

Waverly EDA Revolving Loan Fund application

Not confirmed against the source as of October 30, 2026: all details. Check the source before relying on it.

The EDA discussed adding the Business Subsidy Policy, clarifying collateral language and making the application fillable online. The existing application appeared to date from 2018.

Still unresolved: Final adoption of the application and policy changes. The subject is not confirmed on the September 28 agenda.

Next checkpoint: A revised application or recorded EDA action.

Revisions remained unfinished April 27.

Source: April 27 meeting account
AWAITING RECORDSUNCONFIRMED

September 28 Waverly EDA meeting

Not confirmed against the source as of October 30, 2026: all details. Check the source before relying on it.

The city calendar lists the next EDA meeting for Monday, October 26, at 6 p.m.

Still unresolved: Whether the September 28 meeting was held, canceled or moved, and what action was taken.

Next checkpoint: Minutes, a revised calendar notice or the October 26 EDA meeting.

The scheduled EDA meeting time passed; no meeting record was posted by September 29.

Source: Waverly calendar

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