By Sara Strong
Like a bad song that got stuck in their ears, Rock County Commissioners had to listen to more matters of the failed Prairie Expo.
The Southwest Regional Development Commission is asking legislators to allow it to increase levies in the nine member counties in order to pay off Expo debts.
In order to show support for the levy request, SRDC director Jay Trustee Tuesday asked the board to sign a resolution in favor of it.
Rock County said no.
The vote was split 3-2 against the move to support additional levies covering $1.5 million loans. Ron Boyenga, Bob Jarchow and Ken Hoime didnÕt want the extra levies, but Jane Wildung and Wendell Erickson did.
Wildung and Erickson reasoned that helping with this debt now would prevent the SRDC from closing altogether and leaving the counties with $5.5 million more to pay for in debts.
Even without Rock County's support, the legislation for extra levies could pass and mean a slight increase on taxes. Trustee said that he paid $1.57 to the SRDC last year, so even doubling that would mean heÕd pay about $3.
The actual dollar amount isn't what was important to the commissioners who voted against showing support.
Jarchow said it's about personal accountability. "Are the taxpayers ultimately responsible? People were making a lot of decisions for taxpayers and thereÕs no personal accountability."
Boyenga said, "It's the principle because a few people screwed up and we're paying for it."
The city of Worthington has said it wants its money back from a $750,000 bond. Without money from excess levies, the city could get a judgement against the SRDC and freeze its funds, effectively shutting down the organization. Trustee said paying now might help prevent paying more later.
"I can almost feel the gun barrel against my head," Jarchow said.
Boyenga said, "It's a bad organization when it can get you into all kinds of debt and I don't think we should be a part of it."
Wildung said she understands the principle behind not supporting the levy legislation, but worries about future liabilities and that's why she wanted to support it.
New faces
A new non-profit committee will try to find a public purpose for the building. Without the public purpose, specifically tourism, state bonds would also have to be repaid.
The non-profit group, called Prairie Discovery Inc., will be comprised of private and public individuals with business and marketing experience. The members will be officially named Feb. 14. So far, Steve Perkins, Luverne; Marlys Vanderwerf, of the Walnut Grove Economic Development Authority; and Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes have agreed to be on the board.
Trustee said the non-profit is organized as legislators authorized and won't be able to incur any debt without all county commissions' approval.
When the group comes up with ideas for the Prairie Expo building, the state will be involved. The Department of Finance will determine whether interest fits the needs of the public. If not, any project will stop because if a use is not fitting, counties will have to pay back the state's $5.5 million.