State budget cuts affect area parks, Blue Mounds not affected
A $13 million budget cut will mean a shortened camping season for some area state parks.
Kilen Woods near Lakefield and Split Rock Creek State Park at Jasper will have their camping grounds closed after Labor Day to try to make up some of the shortfall.
According to the DNR, other cost saving measures will include less grooming of winter trails, turning off showers earlier and reducing maintenance and restoration at some parks.
The good news according to the DNR is that they will be able to get by with the reduction of services, and wonÕt have to close any parks.
The closures have been spread around the state, from Split Rock Creek in SW Minnesota and Beaver Creek Valley, in SE Minnesota to Zippel Bay, near the Canadian border.
24 parks in total have been affected by the budget cuts.
Dorian Grilley, executive director of the Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota, told the Star Tribune some of the state park campgrounds popular with anglers, such as Zippel Bay near Williams and Big Stone Lake near Ortonville, will be closed for the fishing opener next year.
The DNR also cut 24 seasonal naturalist and interpretive intern positions which will have an impact on programs and services available to state park visitors.
A similar early closing also took place in 1999, to save money.
Any campers with reservations at one of the affected parks will be able to change their reservation free of charge or get a refund by calling 1-866-857-2757
City lifts total watering ban
Even before the heavy rainfall Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the city of Luverne lifted its total watering ban.
The ban was in place because well fields dropped more than a foot last month due to heavy water use, and pumps were running up to 24 hours a day.
Residents are allowed to water lawns once a week, the night before their garbage is picked up. In other words, when you take out your dumpster for pickup, you can water that same night from 5 p.m. until 10 a.m. the next morning.
However, with the 6 inches of rain the city of Luverne got, the city may change its policy again.
Edgerton receives national attention
Edgerton's swimming pool controversy is receiving some national attention.
Earlier this spring, the Edgerton city council made the controversial decision to allow the public swimming pool to be open on Sunday.
The move was applauded by many, as was apparent in the attendance, but looked on with scorn by those who believe Sunday is a religious day and prefer that things stay closed.
As I was driving to Sheldon this Sunday, for my grand-daughter's baptism, I heard a report on the national CBS radio network.
What next? Will Katie Couric or Diane Sawyer be lining up for live interviews with the different sides?
If they do, we will let you know.
On a possible related subject, Edgerton Council member Darrin DeKam resigned his council position siting variety of personal reasons.
One member of the Edgerton Enterprise staff speculates that "the controversy caused by DeKam's support of opening the Edgerton swimming pool on Sundays was a significant determinant in his decision to resign."
Publisher Roger Tollefson can be contacted by e-mail at
tolly@star-herald.com