By Sara QuamAfter the city of Luverne and Rock County finalized their law enforcement contract, other cities wondered where that left them. The city of Luverne is paying $604,000 after the county requested it pay $669,000 for contract law. Smaller cities in the county worried they might have to make up the difference. To explain the process and outline a future contract proposal, the Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday met with representatives from all other cities in the county. County Administrator Kyle Oldre said, "We renegotiated the contract with Luverne and absorbed the reduction, but we’re not looking to pass that on to anyone else we contract with." Commissioner Richard Bakken said, "Through all of this wrangling, we’ve appreciated the fact that the small cities have stayed with us." The county and cities are in a three-year contract with prices set through 2006. The county proposed to the cities that the 2006 rates remain the same through 2009. In 2010, there would be a rate increase of 5 percent. Oldre said, "The city of Luverne negotiated down, so in fairness to the other cities we thought we could hold your rates steady."Smaller Rock County cities pay a per capita rate. That is $33 per capita in 2005 and $34.50 in 2006. Beaver Creek Mayor Al Blank said, "Holding the rates, I like this; I think you’ll get a positive reaction in Beaver Creek." City representatives will take the proposal back to their councils for approval.
