By Sara Strong
The much-anticipated multi-purpose path from Luverne to Blue Mounds State Park is on its way.
Low bid on the project came from Rupp Construction at $365,369, which the Rock County Board of Commissioners accepted Tuesday.
County Engineer Mark Sehr estimated that, at the least, all the dirt work for the trail will be completed by fall.
County Board Chair Jane Wildung said, "I'm sure the community will appreciate the efforts the highway department has put into this project."
Sehr said, "I think it'll get used a lot."
The trail has been planned for a few years and will receive 80 percent federal funding, 10 percent from the state and 10 percent from the county.
It will be paved from the city of Luverne along Blue Mound Avenue and County Road 8 to the lot near the quarry where rock climbers usually park. From there, the trail will be gravel to what is known as the lower lake.
The trail will cross County Road 8, which will be marked with signs and a crosswalk for biking and walking safety.
No Section 8 vouchers
The Rock County Board voted to not allow Section 8 vouchers in the county.
The board had previously tabled action, which was requested by members of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Worthington. HRA had asked Rock County to grant it the authority to administer a Section 8 voucher program in Rock County.
The voucher system would have been slightly different from the current low-income housing.
Now, income-based housing is site specific, such as the Blue Mound Towers and Rock Manor apartments.
Section 8 in the proposed capacity would allow qualifying renters to use vouchers and choose their location, provided landlords were participants.
The board - with the exception of Ken Hoime, who favored the change - voted against the voucher system because of the already low vacancy rates in low-income housing units in the county.
Commissioner Bob Jarchow said the board should reconsider the decision if the income-based housing sees lower vacancy rates or has difficulty finding a place for qualifying residents.
In other business
the board:
Closed the meeting to the public to discuss litigation relating to the community daycare that was planned in the City Center Apartments, owned by Donald Dunham.
Dunham sued the county, city of Luverne and Luverne schools for not honoring a tax abatement agreement. The county, city and school maintain that they don't have to honor the tax abatement because Dunham didn't provide space for a daycare, as agreed upon in the terms of the abatement.
The two parties disagree on what was required of Dunham in order to receive the tax abatement. If the daycare would have started as planned, Dunham would be in the third year of receiving tax abatement.
Received a Canine Unit update from Deputy Ken Baker. He introduced the board to Tarzan, a German shepherd that is trained in tracking and apprehension. Tarzan will complete drug training in the fall.
Baker said Tarzan has already made a difference in the department, being involved in 10 to 15 arrests since June 2. The board formally thanked Baker for taking on the responsibility of raising a dog that the county will always have on call.
Toured Family U, the after-school and summer educational program for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Karmen Vis will step up as coordinator this year after the resignation of Sonja Reu.