By Sara Strong
The city of Luverne doesn’t agree with its image of a bad guy in the state budget showdown.

In fact, much of greater Minnesota is objecting to a recommendation by State Auditor Patricia Awada to cut 42 percent in Local Government Aid. More than the recommendation itself, Luverne sees political statements about LGA as being loaded.

Some statements from the auditor’s office could leave people thinking cities like Luverne are coasting along, almost hoarding money, while the rest of the state foots the bill.

"There are assumptions and generalizations that are not true to Luverne in many cases," City Administrator Matt Hylen said. "While this is an interesting analysis they’re trying to make, it doesn’t fit Luverne."

Awada said, "This study shows that when it comes to overall city spending, the more LGA that a city receives, the more they spend. … When residents do not directly bear the full cost of programs, they are less likely to exert control of costs."

In the past, Luverne got increasing amounts of state aid as the state imposed taxing limits on the city, in effect stopping the local control that is now being urged.

Hylen said the city shouldn’t be penalized for good financial planning, having what he feels is a comfortable amount of reserves.

Financial Director Barb Berghorst said, "Across the board cuts in LGA would have a significant impact on the Luverne Governmental Budget."

However, she said, Luverne is right at the median level of state aid for non-essential services (about $113 per capita).

So if the auditor’s recommendation for cuts in LGA based on the median level of spending on non-essential services goes through, Luverne wouldn’t lose much in aid. … But other area cities would, and lobbying efforts on their part might change the story when the next proposal comes down from the capitol.

Essential, non-essential
Just to put the importance of LGA in perspective for Luverne — if it were eliminated altogether, city property taxes would quadruple. While that’s not proposed, any cut is a significant part of the city’s budget.

For the 2003 budget, local taxpayers will pay $534,818 of the total governmental budget of $3,537,615. The levy is actually a decrease of almost 3 percent from 2002.

When talking about non-essential services, like the library and parks and recreation. Essential services are those that provide standard city infrastructure like general government, public safety and streets.

Awada said in her report, "The [Office of State Auditor] found that while it is not feasible to totally eliminate LGA, or to make across the board reductions, it is possible to make adjusted reductions … and still allow virtually all cities to provide essential services at current levels, and non-essential services at the current per capita median level, without raising property taxes."

According to that median number ($113 per capita), Luverne’s non-essential services wouldn’t have to be cut.

Other cities in the area can’t say the same though: Pipestone spends $228 on non-essential services; Marshall spends $221; Windom spends $170; Jackson spends $163.

Berghorst said the richer Metro-area cities won’t feel much from any aid cuts, which is what bothers her the most. Those cities whole-heartedly support the LGA cuts, but have high property tax bases for their own non-essential services.

In all services, essential or not, Luverne is at or below the median (middle) spending level, and Berghorst thinks that’s an important point to make.

"Even though cities above the median LGA per capita spend 42 percent more on total current expenditures, they do it with 28 percent less property tax revenue per capita," the report said.

Berghorst points out that LGA was designed to help smaller cities keep population and businesses by stabilizing property taxes, while affording cities enough to pay for services.

The Metro area of the state isn’t without its own sort of state aid. The state took over suburban transit property tax levies costing more than $129.5 million in the current biennium. It will cost another $282.7 million in the next biennium.

The city of Luverne realizes that it, along with all parts of Minnesota government, will have to adjust because of the deficit. It just doesn’t want to be falsely pointed to as an easy budget solution.

By Lori Ehde
Friday is the deadline for teams to sign up for the 2003 version of the Rock County Shape Up Challenge.

The six-week Challenge, sponsored by Luverne Community Education and Nobles-Rock Public Health, starts March 17 and continues through April 27.

Public Health Educator Paula Anderson said the Challenge is not about losing weight, but rather improving lifestyle.

"It not only focuses on proper activity and nutrition, but on the person as a whole," Anderson said.

She added that losing weight is often a pleasant side-effect of the program.

"If you're eating five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, you're not going to have a lot of appetite left for things that are fattening," she said.

"Plus, if you're happier overall, as a person, this tends to be motivational in meeting personal goals."

She warned some people actually gain weight from adding extra fruits and vegatables to their current diet. The point is to replace junk food with fruits and vegetables.

More than 180 people participated last year, and many later reported they found themselves continuing many of the good habits they picked up during the Challenge.

"People realized it wasn’t that hard to get their five-a-day servings of fruits and vegetables, especially when you factor in juices," Anderson said.

"A lot of people said they enjoyed the requirement to spend 10 minutes a day on themselves. When you plan on that time for yourself, your whole day goes better."

The Challenge calls for teams of six to eight members to compete in a friendly health competition they say is a BLAST.

The acronym stands for Better nutrition (five servings of fruits and vegetables each day), Lifestyle change (drink eight glasses of water a day), Activity (structured exercise 20 minutes a day), Self care/Social connection (maintain annual checkups and complete random acts of kindness) and Time out (10 minutes a day of relaxation time, deep breathing or prayer).

These are all things anyone can do at any time, but joining the Shape-Up Challenge can be a catalyst for lifestyle changes.

"Most people aren’t self-motivated, but when you have to answer to five to seven other people, you take time to eat right and take care of yourself," Anderson said.

"So, maybe you’ll choose water over pop and carrots over cookies."

Team members earn points in each of the BLAST categories (minimum requirements apply).

At the end of six weeks, the team with the most points wins.

Weekly prizes are awarded during the Challenge, with a grand prize awarded to the most successful team, and special motivational events will be planned.

Call Community Education, 283-4724, or Public Health, 283-5066, to sign up. The cost is $8 per individual.

By Sara Strong
After a second round of advertising, the Mounds View and Evergreen Apartments have just one potential buyer.

The Luverne Economic Development Authority owns the apartments and had two groups interested in their purchase. Monday was the deadline for submitted purchase proposals, which the LEDA received at its Tuesday meeting.

Doug Eisma, Dan Vis, Paul Vis and Bill Vis made the first offer as a group, but stepped back on the most recent chance to purchase, leaving Luverne’s Steve Perkins in the running.

To buy both apartments, Perkins offered $1.45 million and for just the Mounds View, offered $1.05 million.

Perkins’ offer was about $50,000 more than his previous. One of the points in his offer was to not increase rent for a year.

The LEDA will host a public hearing on the potential sale of the apartments at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25.

Other city buildings
The LEDA also discussed other buildings the city owns.

It received a change order request from Christensen Corporation (Virgil Christensen) to increase the contract amount it was paid for work on the recent Continental Western Group expansion.

The original agreement was for $40,000 but work was completed a month ahead of schedule and $80,000 under budget.

Christensen attributed the success of the project to city employee Darrell Huiskes, who served as the construction manager on the job, with no additional compensation.

Christensen requested an additional $10,000 be added to his contract payment, which he indicated he’d give Huiskes.

LEDA member Mike Engesser said, "I feel it’s warranted."

Christensen actually turned the request in to the city in November, but was being reviewed by the city attorney.

The city can approve change orders on any contract, and the receiving party can choose to do whatever it wants with the money.

Exsito building
The LEDA has a couple potential occupants for the 610 W. Hatting building, which formerly housed Exsito tomato products.

The LEDA approved the building committee to work with potential leasers and negotiate an agreement.
One potential business is Gold’n Plump, which needs some short-term extra space. The other company is out of Michigan, called Falcon Pallet Company. It is also interested in short-term use of the building, but may locate to Luverne and construct a new facility if it does.

For Falcon Pallet, another open building in Luverne could be suitable since it’s a short-term interest for now.

Tri-State
The portion of the former Continental Western Group campus that the city now owns is still for sale. It’s the building at 1 Roundwind Road.

The city is trying to recruit new businesses to the location and is facing the possibility that it will have to pay for some roof repair.

Luverne Mock Trial
Luverne’s mock trial teams, who have been working on their case since mid-November, are now in regional competition. They entered regional competition with an undefeated season and beat St. James and Jackson in Worthington last week. Luverne’s Blue and Green teams then faced each other, and the Blue Team will advance to the regional championship Feb. 25 in New Ulm where they will face Lake Crystal. The state tournament this year is set for March 11 and 12.

Pictured are (front row, from left) Christina Lovett, Lindsay Vandeberg, Abbie Lange, Wesley (team mascot), Karen Jarchow, Jamison Tooley, Jennifer Lovett, (second row) Kim Rockman, Katie Sandager, Thomas Pinkel, Caroline Moodie, Sadie Dietrich, teacher coach James Sanden, (back row) Amber Ernst, John Kruech, Jessa Dahl, Steven Althoff, Daniel Amborn and Jesson Vogt. Not pictured are Alex Miller (attorney coach) and Kristen Miller.

The Minnesota High School Mock Trial Competition is a citizenship education program sponsored by the Minnesota State Bar Association. Students take on the roles of plaintiffs attorneys, defense attorneys and witnesses to argue specific cases. This year, the case centers on a student charged with negligent homicide in the death of a classmate killed in a car accident in which he was driving.

Photo by Lori Ehde

Above, Courtney Bullis tries out a bear hug with her recently-completed Valentine's Day artwork Monday in Peggy Goettsch's kindergarten class.

At right, Peer Helper Stephanie Morgan helps Kenda Blomgren compose a Valentine message during a Kids in the Commons activity Tuesday after school.

Valentine's Day is a major holiday for elementary students, who will celebrate with parties Friday.

Photos by Lori Ehde

The Patriot Partners sponsored a Whopper Feed Monday before the Hills-Beaver Creek boys’ basketball game against Sioux Falls Christian. Although the Whopper maker didn’t work, the crew came up with an alternate plan to feed the hungry crowd. They borrowed a grill from a local person and the Whopper Feed went on as planned. Patriot Partners use the proceeds from the fund-raiser to award three $250 scholarships to graduating Hills-Beaver Creek students every year. Additional funds raised are earmarked for the high school locker room project.

Photo by Jolene Farley

Donald Ray Kruger, 56, rural Hills, died Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2003, at Luverne Community Hospital.

Services were Saturday, Feb. 8, at First Lutheran Church in Valley Springs, S.D. The Rev. Ray Heidenson officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Donald Kruger was born to Donald Delbert and Jennie (Ruby) Kruger on July 10, 1946, in Slayton. He grew up and attended school in Hills. He began his own business, Ray’s Gravel and Repair, in rural Hills where he worked for more than 30 years.

He married Jerri Guenther on May 20, 1978, at Palisade Lutheran Church, rural Rock County. After their marriage the couple lived in rural Hills on an acreage that Mr. Kruger built.

Mr. Kruger enjoyed working at his business and fishing and hunting in his spare time.

Survivors include his wife, Jerri Kruger, rural Hills; one daughter, Wendy Kruger, rural Hills; one brother, Jack (Kathy) Kruger, St. Paul; and one sister, Martha Boomgaarden, Blue Earth.

Mr. Kruger was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Betty.

Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

By Jolene Farley
An open house and public forum is planned Monday, March 3, for the proposed locker room and fitness facility project at Hills-Beaver Creek High School.

"There is absolutely nothing on the school calendar that night," said Superintendent Dave Deragisch. "That’s a week before (the vote), which is perfect timing."

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., voters will have the opportunity to tour the locker rooms. The public forum, with School Board present, begins at 7:30 p.m. and locker room tours will continue after the forum.

Voters will go to the polls Tuesday, March 11, to decide on the proposed $400,000 levy to fund the project. The levy would increase taxes by $.35 cents per acre on agricultural land and $5 on homes with a market value of $40,000, according to estimates by Deragisch.

Initial cost estimates for the project without a weight room, range from $398,144 to $439,552.

A weight room would add $113,302 to the cost of the project, handled by Group II Architects, Sioux Falls.

If the bond issue passes, bids could be opened as early as April 1 and the locker rooms could be completed by September.