By Lori EhdeThe Rock County Board of Commissioners set the preliminary county levy during their regular board meeting Tuesday.The county levy for taxes payable in 2004 is set at $3,485,876, which represents a decrease of roughly $11,000 from the amount levied in 2003.But the net levy (the amount collected in property taxes), to make up for projected cuts in state aids will be roughly $125,000 over last year’s levy.By law, governmental units are required to set preliminary levies in September, but the official levies will be certified in December.Between now and December, as department budgets are finalized, the levy amount may be lowered, but it cannot be raised."I would recommend that you levy the maximum," said Rock County Auditor Gloria Rolfs. "You can always decrease it, but this way we have a cushion."Commissioner Richard Bakken agreed."We need to keep our house in order and make arrangements now, rather than put it off and make big reductions later," Bakken said. "It’s easier to go down one rung at a time."In addition, taxpayers will also see the first payment on the courthouse heating and cooling project on their tax statements payable next year.Half of the $600,000 project is being funded through a lease agreement, and the other half is covered through a capital improvement bond.The bond will be paid off in increments of $60,000 per year over the next five years.Commissioners thanked Administrator Kyle Oldre and Budget Committee members Ron Boyenga and Bob Jarchow for their work on the budget process.With state funding cuts, all departments were called on to reduce their budgets, and Oldre said the process went smoothly. "The work was really done by the department heads," Oldre said.Commissioner Jane Wildung cautioned the board to be vigilant in upcoming budget seasons, based on national economic trends."We have to be prepared to balance the budget beyond 2004," she said. "We could see a complete elimination of that $400,000 in state aid, plus, you need to keep in mind rising health insurance costs."Road upgrade for new hospital campusCommissioners approved a resolution Tuesday officially designating Mound Township Road 58 as a County State Aid Highway.The half-mile, east-west stretch of gravel road between Highway 75 and Blue Mound Avenue will border the new Sioux Valley hospital and clinic campus on its north side.Tuesday’s resolution starts the $1.2 million process that includes building it up to a 9-ton urban paved road with curbs and gutters, plus sidewalks on the south side. The county’s work will also include cutting the hill down on Highway 75 at the intersection and putting in turn lanes on both Highway 75 and the new road.Highway 75 will need to be closed and detoured for that part of the project.Sehr said he’s in the early design stage of the project now, and bid letting will start next spring.In other road business, Sehr told the board:oThe aggregate base is being placed on County Road 4 (Old 16) west of Luverne to County 11 (the Steen blacktop). Paving will begin soon.oBituminous overlay is complete on County Road 8 northwest of Luverne between County Road 9 (landfill road) and County Road 3 (the Kenneth blacktop). Shouldering material has not yet been placed.oBituminous overlay is complete on County Road 3 from the Iowa line north to County Road 15. Shouldering material has not yet been placed.oBituminous overlay is currently being placed on County Road 17 near Manley from the Iowa line to I-90.In other board business Tuesday, the board …oMet two new deputies hired by the Rock County Sheriff’s Department. Glen Reisdorfer, Luverne, and John McCarty, moving here from Lake Benton, both started this week.oHeard an update on the local JOBZ legislation application in Luverne. The current local application identifies an industrial site north of I-90 and west of Highway 75.However, residents requested local officials to include their properties east of Highway 75 in the application.The legislation allows approved locations to abate taxes on new industrial businesses built within approved zones.The application process is still underway and will be brought to the next County Board meeting for further action.
