Apparently, the Luverne City Council and the Rock County Board are at an impassé. I would like to suggest that it may be time for some mediation or arbitration, instead of wasting more time and resources on continued meetings and bickering. Contract disputes have developed into personality conflicts that do not seem manageable at this point and it is reflecting poorly on our community. Their disputes are not serving the citizens of this community who have elected these people to act responsibly and in our best interest. It has gotten to the point that good people are considering leaving their jobs and that will be a great loss to all of us. We are a small community where mutual respect should allow for discussing how each entity can serve one another, not how one can gain the most from the other, but how we can exchange services in a fair and equitable manner. Former county board and city council members worked very hard to put these agreements into place; do we really want that progress destroyed? Historically, problems have been resolved amicably; what has changed?As a city resident and a county resident, I must say that I am one who has been very pleased with the services we have received over the years. I want the city and county to continue to share costs in law enforcement, in pool costs and maintenance, and in crossing guard services. I want the good people who have maintained our city and county roads and parks to continue to do so. I want our town to continue to attract new businesses and new people to help it prosper into the future. I want people who seem to simply want controversy to stop and remember who they serve. I want to continue to be proud of our community because it has been a wonderful place to grow up and to raise a family.I am both a resident of the city and the county and I expect our representatives to resolve this issue. I don’t care which pocket, city or county, my taxes come out of — as long as we maintain services. I urge community members to attend our local government meetings in the days ahead, to call their city council and county board members, and to write letters to the editor, if they so choose. It is time to let them know what you expect from them. Carol SerieLuverne
