Tennis court landscaping can stay with permit

Minnesota Department of Transportation officials won’t require Luverne Public Schools to remove landscaping that encroaches in the Highway 75 right of way.
Instead, the School Board Thursday night approved a resolution for a 10-year limited use permit, which allows the district to keep the landscaping as is.
According to business manager Tyler Reisch, there are no fees associated with the permit.
In May, district officials received a letter stating the school district had 60 days to remove the landscaping and ADA ramp located east of the existing tennis courts.
Under the 10-year limited use permit, the district would maintain the area with the permit reviewed every 10 years.
The flower and shrub landscaping and ADA accessible ramp were constructed in 2008.
In other business at the June 22 meeting, school board members:
•accepted the retirement of elementary teacher Cathy Rust. Rust taught in the district for 44 years.
•increased the adult food service prices by 50 cents. Breakfast will now be $3.50 per meal and lunch is $5.50.
•approved transportation rate-of-pay increases. The regular and out-of-town routes increased $1 and are now $100 per day with half-day routes $50. Activity trips were increased $1 per hour to $18 per hour and the daily overnight rate increased $5 per day to $135 per day.
•increased the rate of pay for housekeepers by $1 to $16 per hour. Two-hour food service workers’ rate of pay is now $15.50 per hour, an increase of 57 cents.