By Sara Quam
The Southwest Regional Development Commission said it will no longer operate the Prairie Expo "in any way, shape or form in the future."
The organization is now asking for $18,000 from Rock County and all the counties that make up the SRDC just to keep its head above water. But the Rock County Board Tuesday said it wasn’t going to give that amount of money to a sinking ship.
It passed a resolution asking for specific questions to be answered before the board would consider giving the RDC an advance against future RDC tax levies. The money is needed just to make next month's payroll. Without the funding, the RDC won't likely survive.
Commissioner Wendell Erickson said, "I hate to see the RDC go under, but we need more information."
The request gave county boards just 15 days to decide whether to invest the $18,000, which the RDC said it would pay back with future levy monies.
Commissioner Jane Wildung said, "The fact that we know nothing and we're supposed to be partners is very disturbing. It is not a private non-profit - it's supposed to be a government partnership."
She said there are major communication problems when the group that is supposed to run the RDC doesn't know what is going on in executive meetings. There has been little evidence that any options for the Prairie Expo building exist.
The city of Worthington is trying to get back 50 acres that it donated for future Expo expansion.
Wildung said that even though local cities and the county didn't give huge amounts to Prairie Expo, their money was used through state taxes, and the public has a right to know what will be done with the building.
Wildung made the motion that no consideration be given for money to the RDC until it explains what will be done with the building, reveals what other debts exist and plans to repay them, and not until it makes efforts for better communication with its members.
The board said it regretted that some talented staff people at the RDC are suffering because of the budget problems.
Energy fees
The board denied a funding request also due to budget overspending.
The Southwest Minnesota Energy Task Force requested that the county prepay $500 of its dues for next year. The advance is for lobbyist fees that went over budget. Lobbyists worked mostly for wind energy support and ran up a $14,000 bill.
Commissioner Ron Boyenga said he thought counties with more vested interest in wind energy should pay more of the lobbying fees on top of their membership dues.
Commissioners Ken Hoime and Erickson voted in favor of the funding that was denied.
Wildung suggested that the task force use the Regional Landfill as a model to use for paying fees and lobbying service charges to members.
Domestic violence
Raevette Loonan, Southwest Crisis Center director, updated the board on some of the programs the agency works on, especially during October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
She talked to the board about engagements at area schools where she tells them that students can do things to keep the peace.
Battered women often come to her for help, but she said children in those families suffer just as greatly.
She said that date rape and dating violence is a problem among teens, and she concentrates on those issues when talking with schools. Statistically 40 Luverne students will be victims of dating violence in the form of destruction of property or verbal abuse, for example.
Loonan said she is thankful for the County Board’s support and likes working with the local judge and attorneys.
She said she gets about two new cases a month and continues with about seven at any given time. "The ones who are angry and ready to leave are the easiest to work with," she said.
In her seven and a half years on the job, language has been a barrier to her services just twice. In both of those cases, an interpreter was available for extra help.
"We continue to work with law enforcement and other agencies so everyone is on the same page," Loonan said.