Due to the rain-out of the Sioux Falls Municipal Band Concert at the Multi-Cultural Festival at Falls Park Saturday noon, Ray and Lois Nelson were able to attend the Nordland Fest at the Elmen Center and also watched the Thunderbird Air Show later in the afternoon.Martha Aukes, formerly of Steen, and her daughter Barbara Pates, both of North Dakota, were Saturday evening visitors in the home of Cliff and Vi VanWyhe.Susan (Nierson) and Kevin Olson, Aaron and Kallie, rural Madison, Minn., were in the area over the weekend to attend the concert of the Agape Singers of the Dawson area at the Christ Church in Sioux Falls. Their daughter was a participant in the concert. They were guests Sunday of her aunt, Shirley Olson, who also attended the concert on Saturday night. Wendell and Kathryn Erickson attended the Center for Western Study at The Oaks in Sioux Falls Tuesday night. This was a tribute to all veterans and especially those who were in training at the radio school in Sioux Falls. Marie Walraven and Luella Schlueter attended the all school reunion of the high school Saturday night in Marion, S.D., from which Luella had graduated. Bob and Twila Kirsch visited in the Lentz home in Windom and brought Riley to Hills to spend a week here. They also visited in the Luke and Deb Mathias home in Heron Lake on Sunday. Monday evening Wilmer and Betty Elbers attended the DeBoer reunion at the Pizza Ranch in Hull, Iowa. Wendell and Kathryn Erickson attended the Nordland Fest which was Friday and Saturday in Sioux Falls. Teri VanWyhe and Matt Mercer, Omaha, Neb., were at the Tom VanWyhe home in Sioux Falls and Cliff and Vi VanWyhe visited there Sunday afternoon. Sheldon and Ellie Sandager met Milton and Evelyn Anderson in Sioux Falls Sunday and enjoyed lunch together. Friday evening, Hills Stainless Steel, the Elbers, hosted the mid-season championship at the Rock Rapids Speedway. About 50 people were in attendance. A week ago, Dean and Peggy Goettsch attended the wedding of Amy Herman and Kurt Roloff at the Park Avenue Methodist Church in Minneapolis. On Sunday they helped with the reception in Sioux Falls. Sunday afternoon Wilmer and Betty Elbers visited in the home of Chuck and Nelmina Kroese at Hull, Iowa. Joel and Sandy Kroese, Atlanta, Ga., are spending a few days visiting in the area. Friday evening Mae Top and her sister-in-law, Henrietta Top of Luverne, attended the Relay for Life (cancer) all night walk at the Luverne City Park. They enjoyed supper and lots of entertainment afterward. After dark, more than 1,000 candles (luminaries) were lit on the road around the park. Mae was an overnight guest of Henrietta. They returned the next morning at the park for a 6:30 a.m. worship service and breakfast. Jim Sandager of West Des Moines, Iowa spent a couple of nights in the home of his parents, Vic and Fran Sandager.

10 years ago (1993)"Sometime between Thursday, June 17, and Monday, June 21, three break-ins occurred at businesses in Beaver Creek and Hills. Hills-Beaver Creek Coop Farm Service Elevator, Beaver Creek branch, reported the first burglary. Beaver Creek Lumber Yard and H-BC Co-op Farm Service, Hills branch, both reported break-ins. The amount of damage is undetermined at this time."25 years ago (1978)"The Hills Community Club presented a check for $300 to the H-BC Band as part of the festivities of the Beef Feed last week. The money is to be used in defraying costs for the band’s scheduled trip to Michigan."50 years ago (1953)"Among the graduates from the University of Minnesota Ag School was Paul Sandager from Hills. Paul has made quite a name for himself while attending the University, with his work as a student and outside activity." 75 years ago (1928)"Miss Ada Myrlie received first prize in the sewing and patching classes which included 80 girls from the state of Minnesota. She will get a free trip to the Minnesota State Fair. The contest was held in Luverne."100 years ago (1903)"Owing to the many washouts of bridges and culverts, road overseers can put a good share of the road work in with dump and wheel scrapers and in raising the roads in low places. During the last three or four years many of the farmers have attained the idea that all that is necessary to "work out" their road tax is to send some boy with two teams to put on a road grader, and then chase up and down the roads for miles at a stretch. This is all right as far as it goes, but those places that badly need attention should not be overlooked. Further experience has proved that one plank culvert is not sufficient and no culvert less than two feet wide should be put in."

Marian E. Hanson, 89, Elbow Lake, formerly of Beaver Creek and Luverne, died Monday, June 16, 2003, at ELEAH Medical Center in Elbow Lake.Services were Friday, June 20, at Bethlehem-West Elbow Lake Lutheran Church in Elbow Lake. The Revs. Weston Moir and Maurice E. Hagen officiated. Burial was in Beaver Creek Cemetery on Saturday, June 21. Marian Huselid was born to Martin and Anna Huselid on Aug. 14, 1913, in rural Clinton. She was baptized at St. Pauli Lutheran Church in Clinton. She graduated as valedictorian of the 1936 Clinton senior class. She entered the Fairview Hospital Nursing Program and received her RN degree. She then worked at Fairview Hospital, eventually becoming the medical floor head nurse. She married Emer Hanson of Minneapolis in 1939 at St. Pauli Lutheran Church in Clinton. Following their marriage, they lived in Minneapolis, Appleton and Beaver Creek. Mr. Hanson had been a bank examiner and a bank cashier prior to the purchasing of the Beaver Creek State Bank in 1951. The bank was sold in 1974 and they retired to Luverne. Mr. Hanson died on July 7, 1980. Mrs. Hanson was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne and active in the women’s groups. She moved to the Barrett Care Center, Elbow Lake, in December 2002. Survivors include three children, John (Shirley) Hanson, Savage, Mary (Dr. Larry) Rapp, Elbow Lake, and Dr. Martin (Paulette) Hanson, Marshall; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one brother, Dick (Marlys) Huselid, Florida; two sisters, Gladys (Jim) Haxton, Arizona, and Jeanette Stacke, Lakeville; and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Hanson was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Emer, two brothers, Sanford and Paul, and two sisters, Eleanor and Sylvia. Erickson-Smith Funeral Home, Elbow Lake, was in charge of arrangements.

By John RittenhouseTwo amateur baseball teams from the Star Herald coverage area played a home-and-home series last week and weekend.The Luverne Redbirds gained the upper hand over the Hills Thunder during the two-game set.Luverne beat the Thunder 11-1 in Luverne Wednesday, June 11. The Redbirds posted a 9-0 win in Hills Saturday.The Redbirds sported a 6-1 record at the end of the two-game series, while Hills stood at 2-6.Luverne 11, Hills 1The Redbirds opened the two-game series by securing a 10-run, seven-inning win over the Thunder in Luverne Wednesday, June 11.Kyle Kreun and Travis Arends combined efforts to toss one-run ball for seven innings to set the pace defensively for Luverne.The Redbirds scored at least one run in all seven innings of the game, winning the contest by the 10-run rule.Single runs in the first three innings gave the hosts a 3-0 cushion. Ben Winkels, James Fisher and Kreun all singled home runs in the innings.Hills made it a 3-1 game when Cade Lang singled and scored on an error in the top of the fourth, but Derek Ohme countered with an RBI single for Luverne in the bottom of the fourth to make the difference 4-1.The Redbirds went on to score two runs in the fifth and sixth innings before adding three more to end the game in the seventh.Eric Edstrom and Terry Eernisse slapped run-scoring doubles for Luverne in the fifth. Jeff Sehr produced a run with a sacrifice fly and Winkels doubled before scoring on a wild pitch in the sixth.Winkels and Sehr singled home runs in the seventh. Barry Shelton walked and scored on a wild pitch in the frame.Kreun blanked Hills while allowing one hit in the first three innings to get the win. Arends allowed five hits and one unearned run while pitching the final four frames.Jared Lang took the loss for Hills. Chad Rauk slapped two hits in the game.Hills AB R H BIJ.Lang 4 0 0 0C.Lang 3 1 1 0S.Harnack 2 0 1 0E.Harnack 2 0 0 0Sammons 3 0 1 0Van Maanen 3 0 0 0Rauk 3 0 2 0Jellema 3 0 0 0C.Harnack 3 0 1 0Luverne AB R H BIOhme 4 1 2 1Sandbulte 4 3 1 0Winkels 5 2 4 2J.Sehr 3 0 1 2Kreun 3 0 1 1Weber 0 0 0 0Iveland 4 1 2 0Edstrom 3 2 2 1Tr.Eernisse 3 1 3 1Schneider 1 0 0 0Fisher 3 0 1 1Shelton 0 1 0 0Luverne 9, Hills 0The Redbirds finished their sweep of the two-game series with a nine-run win in Hills Saturday.Travis Eernisse and Micky Sehr pitched a combined shutout for Luverne. Winkels and Weber drove home a combined five runs.Luverne took control of the game by scoring four runs in the top of the first. The innings featured a two-run single by Weber and a run-scoring single by Winkels.Jeff Sehr reached base on an error and scored before Jon Jarchow clubbed an RBI double to make it a 6-0 game in the third.Winkels capped a three-RBI game with a two run single in the sixth inning.Micky Sehr walked and scored on a single by Shelton when Luverne capped the scoring in the ninth.Travis Eernisse allowed five hits and two walks during a six-inning stint on the mound. He received the win. Micky Sehr yielded three hits while pitching three scoreless innings of relief.Matt Funke and Wade Jellema rapped two hits each for Hills. Rauk was saddled with the loss.Luverne AB R H BIOhme 4 1 2 0Reisch 4 0 0 0Winkels 4 1 2 3J.Sehr 5 2 0 0Weber 4 2 2 2M.Sehr 0 1 0 0Iveland 3 0 0 0Schneider 1 0 0 0Jarchow 4 0 3 1Shelton 1 0 1 1Tr.Eernisse 2 1 0 0Fisher 5 1 1 0Hills AB R H BIC.Lang 4 0 0 0Funke 4 0 2 0S.Harnack 3 0 1 0E.Harnack 3 0 0 0Sammons 4 0 1 0Rauk 4 0 1 0Van Maanen 4 0 1 0Jellema 4 0 2 0C.Harnack 4 0 0 0Top 0 0 0 0

By John RittenhouseArea racers posted four feature victories at three different tracks over the weekend.Former Luverne resident Anthony Mann and former Hills resident Darrin Korthals won features at Rapid Speedway Friday, and Hardwick’s Mark Brockberg won a feature event the same night at Murray County Speedway. Kanaranzi’s Colter Deutsch notched the final feature win at Huset’s Speedway Sunday.Mann and Brockberg won sportsman class races in Rock Rapids, Iowa, and Slayton Friday.Mann posted a pair of wins at Rapid Speedway, winning the first heat race and A feature. Pete Kracht, who placed fifth in the first heat and 10th in the feature, was competing against Mann.Brockberg won his sportsman class feature at Murray County Speedway, where Luverne’s Jeff Haubrich placed second in the hobby stock feature, and Luverne’s Josh Reisch and Mike Steensma took third and fourth respectively in the modified feature.Deutsch had a big night on Father’s Day at Huset’s Speedway. He won the first heat race in the hobby stock class and took the checkered flag in the A feature.Luverne’s Mike Buss (fourth in the second heat and 12th in the feature), Steen’s Billy Cowell (first in the third heat and 11th in the feature) and Magnolia’s Josh Klay (fourth in the third heat and sixth in the feature) competed against Deutsch at Huset’s.Former Ash Creek resident David Kruger and Luverne’s Chad Overgaard raced in the late model street stock class at Huset’s. Kruger won the second heat and placed sixth in the feature. Overgaard finished fifth in the second heat and seventh in the feature.Luverne’s Jake Peters raced in a pair of classes at the track near Brandon, S.D. He was eighth in the first heat and 15th in the feature in the outlaw sprints. Peters was third in the first heat and ninth in the feature in the 360 sprints.Deutsch won a hobby stock heat race at Rapid Speedway Friday, but he finished 13th in the A feature.Cowell (third in the first heat and 10th in the A feature), Hardwick’s Brent Hulstein (fourth in the second heat and eighth in the A feature), Buss (sixth in the second heat and third in the B feature) and Klay (seventh in the B feature) also raced in hobby stock competition at Rapid Speedway.Korthals came up with the top race out of five area street stock drivers competing in Rock Rapids Friday.After placing fifth in the second heat, Korthals won the A feature event.Kruger (fourth in the second heat and fifth in the feature), Chad Overgaard (third in the second heat and 12th in the feature), Ellsworth’s Scott Overgaard (fourth in the first heat and third in the feature) and Adrian’s Mark DeBoer (second in the first heat and second in the feature) also mixed it up in the street stock class in Rock Rapids.DeBoer raced at Lake County Speedway in Madison Saturday, finishing fourth in the second heat and 10th in the feature in the street stock class.

By Jolene FarleyThe Fellowship of Christian Athletes is sponsoring a comedy show and silent auction on Monday, June 23, to raise funds for an upcoming mission trip to Guatemala, El Salvador.The silent auction begins at 6:30 p.m. and remains open until comedian Darren Streblow performs at 7:30 p.m. The silent auction re-opens from 8:15 to 8:40 p.m. then Streblow performs again until 9 p.m. when the bids will be awarded. There will be a free-will offering.The silent auction offers a large variety of items, including an autographed 2002 Green Bay Packers football and other sports memorabilia, 18 slaves with six hours of labor each, floral arrangements, gift certificates to various businesses, a garden tiller, picnic basket and a family pass for open swim at Rock County Pool and Fitness Center. "We tried to get just a wide variety of things," said FCA member Tom Goehle.Message of hopeEighteen high school and college athletes plan to leave for El Salvador Monday, July 28, and return Friday, Aug. 8.Goehle said the group tried to visit Bolivia, South America, last summer with the charity group Mano a Mano, but travel to the country wasn’t advised at the time. Christian Ministry Organization of Latin America, which is organizing the schedule for FCA, matches missionary groups from the United States with areas of need in Central America.The FCA group will visit the Guatemala city dump where thousands of people live in and around the area. "They get their food from there, they live there," Goehle said. Goehle said the group’s mission is to encourage residents and bring them a message of hope through the gospel. FCA will also help serve food. A visit to an orphanage will offer the group "just the chance to love kids," Goehle said. They will travel to small villages in the mountains to begin a sports ministry. Using basketball teams as a medium to draw people in, the group will distribute pamphlets and visit with residents of the villages. Individuals will share their testimonials and distribute coupons for residents to turn in to local churches if they’re interested in learning more. Since it is legal in El Salvador to bring religion into schools, the group will visit some schools. They will travel to an area in the mountains where missionaries haven’t visited and where natives worship the sun, moon, crops and rain, according to Goehle."You make an eternal difference every day, but you’re so much more aware of it when you go on a missionary trip," Goehle said. The silent auction and comedian is the main fundraiser for the mission trip. Goehle said the group hopes to pay only $200 to $300 each out of pocket.Sponsors for the FCA Silent Auction and Comedy Show are the Exchange State Bank, Hills, and Main Street Financial, Luverne.

By John RittenhouseA teaching and coaching career that lasted 32 years came to an end when the 2002-03 Luverne High School closed its doors for the summer early this month.John Oksness, a member of the LHS faculty and coaching ranks for the past 22 years, retired from District No. 2184 teaching and coaching at the end of the school year.Retirement, however, is a word Oksness did not use to describe his life after LHS."I want to find something else to do," he said. "I’m looking at some things other than teaching. It’s been a good career, but now I’ll be looking for something else to do."Oksness started teaching in 1971, after studying at Minnesota and Iowa schools.Oksness was raised in the tiny town of Doran in western Minnesota, where he went to elementary school before finishing his high school education at nearby Breckenridge.After graduating from Breckenridge in 1964, Oksness attended Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, for the next four years.Oksness graduated from Luther College in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology. After deciding to pursue a teaching career, he attended Moorhead State University for one year to gain a teaching certificate.Oksness began teaching at Minnesota Lake High School in 1971, where he stayed for four years before taking a position in Hayfield for six years.When the Hayfield District started reducing its staff, Oksness’ position was cut at the end of the 1980-81 school year. The next fall, he latched onto a job in Luverne where he spent the next 22 years."I was looking for a place where I could be in a senior high type of teaching position, and Luverne had a position open in chemistry. I had been through Luverne many times when I was younger, and I always knew it was a nice town and a clean town. It’s a great place to raise a family, too."Oksness instructed ninth-grade science, chemistry and physics early in his LHS career, and spent the last few years teaching science and chemistry without science duties."I have a lot of good memories from being in the classroom," Oksness said. "I always wanted to offer a class that was challenging for the kids. Hopefully, we did a good job of preparing them for college."Oksness will also be remembered for his contributions as a coach at LHS.He was head baseball coach at LHS for two years (1983 and 1984), before stepping into the head coaching position in the golf program in 1985. He worked with prior coach Dale Knoll for one year before taking over the entire program from 1986 through 1995. Oksness was the head boys’ golf coach from 1996 to 2003.Under Oksness’ leadership, many LHS boys and girls teams, and a number of individuals, have advanced to state. He’s also worked with LHS girls’ coach Chris Nowatzki since the 1990s, helping craft a program that produced a state team championship in 2001."We had some good boys teams in the 1980s, and of course, we’ve had a lot of success on the girls’ side. I’ve enjoyed coaching with Chris," he said.Oksness also was on the football coaching staff in the late 1980s and early 90s, working as an assistant coach of Bob Osterday and Joel Swanson."Those football teams we had here in the late 1980s, when we were very successful, stand out," Oksness said. "I have a lot of good memories from coaching with Bob Osterday, Swanny, Terry Althoff and Joe Roberts. It’s hard to weigh what I’ll miss more — coaching or teaching. Both have been very important to me."With the exception of making more frequent trips to the family cabin on Ottertail Lake, Oksness plans to remain a Luverne resident for now.John and his wife, Sharon, have four children. Annie lives and works in San Francisco, Phil attends South Dakota State University, Brookings, Katie recently completed school and works at Hair LTD in Luverne. Emily, a 2003 graduate, will attend Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls this fall.Staying close to their children is important to John and Sharon Oksness, and that could lead to a change of residence in the future.

County Commissioners meet June 3Commissioner’s Room 9:00 A.M.Rock County Highway Building June 3, 2003Chair Boyenga called the meeting to order with all Commissioners present.Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Wildung, to approve the June 3, 2003 County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.Motion by Bakken, seconded by Hoime, to approve the May 20, 2003 County Board minutes, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Hoime, seconded by Bakken, to approve the following consent agenda items with additions, declared carried on a voice vote. 1. Fund balance designation: General Fund $1.75 million w/$1.25 million-future building projects & $500,000 – compensated absences at the time of employment termination; Public Works $1.65 million w/$1.25 for road & bridge projects and $400,000 for capital purchases/equipment; Ditch Fund $30,000 future maintenance; Environmental Fund $550,000 w/$250,000 for future capital outlays and $300,000 in Transfer Station improvements; Family Services $500,000 with $440,000 for program costs and $60,000 compensated absences at the time of employment termination. 2. Student Intern recognition – John Kreuch & Justin Arndt3. Resolution No. 25-03, a resolution to participate in a Hazard Mitigation Planning Process(Additional)4. Rock County Rural Water pay request - $5,901.37 to Carstensen ConstructionMike Winkels, Sheriff, presented a request to replace (4) squad cars; motion by Wildung, Bakken, to replace the (3) leased vehicles and (1) county owned vehicle with (4) new leased vehicles, declared carried on a voice vote.The Sheriff requested to enter into a 911-circuit agreement with Frontier Phone Company; motion by Wildung, seconded by Jarchow, to authorize the agreement, declared carried on a voice vote.The Sheriff also requested to purchase a mapping interface software program from Nine One One, Inc. for $6,500.00 to be paid from the E911 Fund; motion by Bakken, seconded by Hoime, to authorize the purchase of the software, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Bakken, to raise the concealed weapons permit to carry fee from $75.00 to $100.00 declared carried on a voice vote.The Sheriff requested to fill (1) Sergeant’s position due to the retirement of Kurt Kester; that position was authorized to be filled by the order of the County Board Chair.Eric Hartman, Land Management Office Director, requested approval of conditional use permits for Central Specialties for the operation of a temporary hot mix asphalt plant for area road construction projects to be located in the NW 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Section 28 of Battle Plain Township and in the W 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Section 35 of Mound Township. Motion by Hoime, seconded by Bakken, to approve both permits for Central Specialties, declared carried on a voice vote. The LMO Director presented a request to re-zone 19.1 acres located in Section 12 of Luverne Township from A2 to R1 for a new residential development entitled Valley View Subdivision. In attendance, Paul Doherty, Planning & Zoning Committee Chair and spoke in opposition of the development. Following discussion, motion by Hoime, seconded by Jarchow, to authorize the re-zoning, declared carried on a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Bakken voting nay.Gloria Rolfs, Auditor/Treasurer, presented the following solid waste abatements: oParcel No. 11-0142-000 located in the NE 1/4 of 10-103-46 for $42.00 oParcel No. 03-0212-000 located in the Village of Ash Creek Lots 1 thru 3 in Block 2 for $42.00Motion by Wildung, seconded by Bakken, to authorize the $42.00 abatement on Parcel No. 11-0142-000 only, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Jarchow, to accept the fund balance report as presented by the Auditor/Treasurer, declared carried on a voice vote.The Auditor/Treasurer presented the claims with additions; motion by Jarchow, seconded by Bakken, to pay the claims as presented, declared carried on a unanimous vote. A complete listing of claims is available at the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office. General $ 67,335.50LEC 1,207.00Road & Bridge 24,019.60Welfare 30,820.99Landfill 610.12TOTAL $123,993.21Mark Sehr, Engineer, presented bid results on Project SP 67-599-66 and SP 67-599-111 for bridge 1781 and 2244 replacement projects on Vienna Township Road 65: Duininck Brothers, Inc $482,101.00 Minnowa Construction, Inc. $513,322.50On a recommendation from the Engineer, motion by Bakken, seconded by Jarchow, to accept the low compliant bid from Duininck Brothers for $482,101.00, declared carried on a voice vote.Luverne Township Board Chair Lowell Fick presented concerns regarding township road T-147 from 115th Street to 120th Avenue as a result of the CSAH 4 construction project. He stated that the acreages and farmsteads along the detour route are being impacted by the traffic increase, which is causing speed and dust concerns. Mr. Fick requested the county to implement some type of dust and speed control on T-147 from 115th Street to 120th Avenue. Motion by Hoime, seconded by Bakken, directing the Engineer to look into placing magnesium water or an alternative product in front of the acreages along the detour route and that the cost not exceed $2,500.00 and that in turn, the township would post lower speed limits, declared carried on a voice vote.The Engineer presented the following construction updates: oBlue Mound Bike Path; they will begin placing an aggregate base on the path this week.o2002 Box Culvert Projects; project will not begin until after August 15, 2003 due to federal requirements protecting the endangered Topeka Shiner minnow. The contract will not be penalized as they are not allowed to work in the channel. oCSAH 4 to CSAH 11; the bituminous pavement has been removed and work continues. The County Board was informed that the 2002 Domestic Preparedness Grant has been accepted and approved and that those dollars would be spent in the near future. Jere Ohme, Recorder, attended the County Board meeting to express his support of the recent legislation authorizing the appointment of a County Recorder. After discussion, the County Board thanked Mr. Ohme for the work that is conducted from his office and directed that the County Administrator set up a schedule for the appointment process. County Attorney representatives Terry Vajgrt and Jeff Haubrich presented several issues of which the first was regarding the recent legislative adoption of the 2:00 A.M. closing of bars that will become effective July 1, 2003. Mr. Vajgrt advised the County Board that unless they were to pass an ordinance, liquor establishments would have that option beginning on July 1st. The County Board chose not to take any action at this time. Mr. Vajgrt presented information regarding the Airport Zoning; the Joint Airport Zoning Board has rezoned the airport area and no action was required from the County Board. Mr. Haubrich presented Resolution No. 24-03, a resolution amending the Rock County Personnel Policy by renumbering the existing Article XXXVI to Article XXXVII and inserting a new Article XXXVI, a policy prohibiting carrying or possessing a firearm while conducting county business with the exception of POST licensed Sheriff’s Department employees. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Jarchow, to approve Resolution No. 24-03, declared carried on a voice vote.The County Board discussed firearms control on county properties; action was tabled until the June 17th County Board meeting to allow additional time for discussion with legal counsel of the issue. The County Board was in receipt of a letter from the State Auditor informing them that the State Auditor’s Office would be exercising an option to audit other units of government and that at some time in the future the county would be required to hire a CPA firm to conduct an audit.The County Board was in receipt of a number of items from the Association of Minnesota Counties regarding the close of the special legislative session to include: Summaries of Health & Human Services, Transportation, Corrections and General Government. The County Board directed that a special retreat be scheduled for June 17th to further discuss the impacts of the state budget. The County Board briefly discussed the District VIII meeting to be held on June 5th.Commissioner Hoime presented an update regarding the contract between the Rock County Community Pool & Fitness Center and Sioux Valley Hospital. He stated that the contract is due and the Pool Committee is currently renegotiating for a contract extension. Commissioner Hoime also attended the Alexandria Garbage Incinerator tour with a number of other commissioners throughout the region. Commissioner Bakken stated that he had attended the Rock County Historical Society Annual Meeting that was held on May 31st.With no further business to come before the County Board, the meeting was declared adjourned. Ron Boyenga, Chairman of the BoardATTEST:Kyle J. Oldre, Clerk to the Board(6-19)