The Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce feels the need to inform the community of a proposed change at Blue Mounds State Park due to the budget cuts proposed within the DNR. First, we realize that cuts need to be made in order to bring the state budget back into some form of order. What we don’t understand or can rationalize is why the DNR is cutting the naturalist position at Blue Mounds State Park. For years, Blue Mounds State Park has been classified as one of the "jewels" in the state park system. We have struggled for years to keep a naturalist at the park and now, when we finally have someone who is from the area, is interested in the park, and will stay in the area, the position is terminated. In addition, the park just went through an extensive renovation at the interpretive center and now it probably won’t be opened because there will be no one there to manage it or the programs held at the center. This proposed cut, along with others, was developed by the DNR. In a memo from Commissioner Gene Merriam, he stated the he, the deputy commissioner, the assistant commissioner, and senior managers developed the budget which contained the cuts. (In case anyone is counting, that is already four levels of management). I am sure that no one making the decisions cut their positions. It is easy to make decisions to do away with positions when you can pass the buck, but eventually, the buck stops, and in this case it stopped at Blue Mounds State Park. These cuts are made that affect the users of the parks and recreation areas. I am sure we will miss our naturalist much more than we would miss several middle or upper management personnel. We need to continue to provide the quality of services our parks have been known for and we can continue to do that by not cutting the local services and look internally at the upper levels of management. In addition to the loss of our naturalist there is also a proposed increase in fees for state parks. The increase originally was sold as a means to save some of the position cuts, but now the proposed increase in fees are being targeted for "regional" parks, primarily in the Twin Cities, who currently do not charge fees for their usage. We would like to see the fee increases stay with the state parks who generate the revenue, or be used to restore the park naturalist position. With the loss of the park naturalist we also see a loss in revenue to the park and the community from visitors that enjoy the park and the programs available. We feel the loss to the community is much greater than any savings realized by the DNR. We are asking for support to contact our local legislators or write a letter directly to Commissioner Gene Merriam, Commission of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4001. Dave SmithExecutive DirectorLuverne
