Rock County Commissioners approved pay increases for elected employees at their last meeting of 2021 on Dec. 28.
The increases took effect Jan. 1.
Sheriff Evan Verbrugge’s pay increased 4.5 percent, from $100,838 to $105,375.
County attorney Jeff Haubrich’s salary increased 2.74 percent from $91,500 to $94,000.
Salaries of commissioners Stan Williamson, Greg Burger, Jody Reisch, Gary Overgaard and Sherri Thompson increased from $20,046 in 2021 to $20,698 in 2022.
The board on Dec. 14 approved a 3.25-percent increase for all non-union employees along with a Teamsters contract for the new Sergeant Union.
 The 22-page agreement is for 2020, 2021 and 2022 with salary increases of 2 percent, 3.25 percent and 3.25 percent for each respective year.
The 2021 and 2022 salaries for the directors and assistant directors in each of the county departments, based on current contracts and/or approved cost of living increases include:
•County administrator/emergency management director Kyle Oldre, $118,199 to $121,745.
•Deputy administrator Susan Skattum, $69,180 to $71,427.
•Auditor/treasurer Ashley Kurtz, $90,736 to $97,427.
•Deputy auditor/treasurer Vanessa Letter, $50,544 to $52,187.
•Assistant county attorney David Owens, $75,500 to $78,000.
•Veterans service officer David Haugom (part time), $28,915 to $29,858.
•Land Records director Rachel Jacobs, (first year), $63,273.
•Sergeant Jeff Wieneke, $91,374 to $97,427.
•Library director Calla Jarvie, $66,296 to $71,177.
•Assistant library director Barb Verhey, $63,960 to $66,040.
•County public works director/engineer Mark Sehr, $122,390 to $126,062.
•Assistant county engineer Andy Haakenson, $68,937 to $74,027.
•Land Management Office director Eric Hartman, $98,134 to $101,316.
•Assistant Land Management Office director Doug Bos, $80,662 to $83,283.
•Rural water systems manager Ryan Holtz, $80,662 to $83,283.

Meetings
Stateline Cemetery Association will have its annual meeting at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, at Pizza Ranch in Rock Rapids.
Beaver Creek Township Board will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, at the township hall in Beaver Creek.
Parkinson’s Support Group will NOT MEET in January due to Covid risks. Call Diane Karlstad at 507-530-3307 with questions.
 
‘Batting and Long-Arm Sewing’ Saturday
The Blue Mound Quilters will offer a program, “A Guide to Batting and Long-Arm Sewing,” at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at the Sewing Basket in Luverne. The program is open to the public. The Blue Mound Quilters will have their meeting before the program at 10 a.m. Bring a beverage and sack lunch. Call Jill Willers at 935-2560.
 
Online mental health classes
NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) will offer free online mental health classes for January and February.
 Among them are suicide prevention classes called QPR – Question, Persuade and Refer — plus a special one for ag communities.
The classes are designed for family members and caregivers, persons living with a mental illness, service providers and also for the general public. Go to namimn.org and click on “Classes.”

 Free food Jan. 20
New Life Celebration Church will offer free food at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, at the Generations Building on East Lincoln Street in Luverne. Vehicles should enter the west parking lot from Lincoln Street and drive to the double glass doors on the west side of the building where volunteers will load groceries into cars. Walkers should receive their pre-packaged groceries on the east side of the building. Call 507-283-4366.
 

Community Ed
Call Cindy at Community Ed, 507-283-4724, to register for classes.
Community Ed website is http://www.isd2184.net/Communit_Ed/index.htmlJoin the Adult Pickleball League this winter.  Fee is $20.
Refresher 4-hour Defensive Driving Class will be Jan. 20 at 5:30 p.m.
Luverne School students, grades 8 and older may register now for the Winter Session of Student Driver Education that begins Jan. 31 from 4 to 6 p.m. The fee is $355, which includes 30 hours of classroom and six hours of behind the wheel instruction. On Jan. 24, out-of-district students may register for open spots in the winter session.
First Aid/CPR/AED Certification Class is Feb. 3.  Fee is $58.
Students ages 3-12 years old will learn to play the orff instruments (smaller version of xylophone) at Melodious Mallets.  Class begins Feb. 4 and culminates with the Luverne Street Music Spring Showcase in May.  Fee is $100 for 16 lessons.
Register by Feb. 9 for the ACT Prep class that begins Feb.24 for juniors and seniors.  Fee is $125.
Softball Camp begins on Feb. 10 for six sessions for girls in grades K-8 who are interested in being catchers and pitchers to learn and practice their skills (experienced or inexperienced).  Sign up by Feb. 1 at the lower fee of $60.

Preschool Fun for children ages 0-5 years and parent Jan. 25 or Jan. 27. No fee, but registration needed to reserve morning or evening play time.
 Goehle gym open Sundays through March 27
The Hugo Goehle gymnasium in Hills is open for public recreation from 1 to 3 p.m. Sundays now through March 27.
 
A.C.E. respite care available, volunteers needed
A.C.E. of SW Minnesota (A.C.E.) offers respite care services in Rock County for those needing a break from caring for a loved one.
The respite program offers short-term (1-3 hours), temporary care for families and caregivers by providing a brief period of reprieve from the daily cares they provide to their loved one.
Volunteers provide non-professional supportive services to caregivers to give them time for themselves, relieve their stress and help them remain healthy.
Respite care volunteers are also needed. Trained A.C.E. volunteers provide respite care to family caregivers of adults age 60 and older who are suffering from long-term health conditions.
Contact Linda Wenzel at 507-283-5064 or ace.rock@co.rock.mn.us.
 
Happenings at the Rock County Library
For more information about library happenings, call 507-449-5040 or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com
The 2022 Winter Reading Program, “Catch a Keeper at your Library,” is currently under way and goes through March 31. Read or listen to 12 books checked out from the Rock County Library and win a fabulous prize. Winter Reading Bingo will also be played. Bingo sheets are available now at the library.
Trivia Night is at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at Take 16 in Luverne. Team registration begins at 6 p.m.
Reminiscence Kits are available featuring various topics such as gardening, pets, baking, sewing, farming and hunting. The kits are designed to use with a loved one experiencing memory loss, encouraging the loved one to open up about activities they once loved in the past.
 
Nominations sought for Rock County Hall of Fame
The Rock County Historical Society’s Hall of Fame Committee is seeking nominations for the 2022 induction of current and former residents.
Nominees must have a significant identity with Rock County and have made an exceptional contribution to society, achieved exceptional success, and brought honor and prestige beyond the borders of Minnesota.
Nominations are accepted now through Feb. 28, 2022. Forms are available at The History Center, Luverne Area Chamber or online at www.rockcountyhistorical.com or www.luvernechamber.com. An awards presentation is scheduled for July 17, 2022.

Independent auditor Matt Taubert repeatedly used “great” as he presented the recent fiscal end audit to members of the Hills-Beaver Creek School Board.
Taubert is a certified public accountant with Meulebroeck, Taubert and Co. from Pipestone. The firm has audited the school district’s financials since 2012, when the district recorded a general fund balance of negative $247,000.
“You’ve worked your way up to a $4,010,711 positive fund balance. That’s great — I have no other way to say it,” Taubert said.
“In 10 years you’ve increased the fund balance by $4.2 million. So that is great.”
H-BC brought forward $4 million into the new school year, according to the audit report ending June 31, 2021.
Taubert recalled the district’s informal policy to maintain at least a 20 percent revenue over expenditures in the general fund each fiscal year. H-BC’s three-year average is 63.5 percent.
“That’s great. Obviously, your job is not to accumulate fund balances, but it is nice to have fund balances to weather potential storms in the funding side,” Taubert said.
For the 2020-21 school year, revenue reached $5.3 million or about $446,000 more than projected.
Taubert attributed the increase in revenue to more federal aid sent to the district via coronavirus pandemic aid.
The district spent $4.8 million during the 2020-21 school year, which included $419,000 in building maintenance, with more than half spent on a roofing project at the elementary school.
Also, according to the audit, the food service fund achieved a positive fund balance of $88,108 after receiving $248,002 for 2020-21 and spending $160,894.
A positive balance of $33,457 was recorded in the community service fund with $119,437 in revenue and $85,980 in expenditures.
The district has $2.9 million unassigned in its general fund balance.
 
Deficit projected for current school year
During Hills-Beaver Creek School District’s Truth in Taxation public hearing Dec. 13, Superintendent Todd Holthaus said the decline in enrollment will lessen the per pupil aid garnered from the local 2022 levy by 2.61 percent or $35,726.
The hearing, which no one from the public attended, followed the district’s favorable audit report.
“The district is sitting in a very good financial situation right now in regard to reserves,” Holthaus said.
“Those dollars will be coming in handy as we move forward in regard to declining enrollment.”
Board members anticipate ending the 2021-22 school year with a deficit of $314,000 due to less revenue and more staff to meet student needs.
However, Holthaus said, no federal Covid aid is included in the existing budget.
H-BC voters recently approved renewing the district’s excess levy for the next 10 years, which included annual adjustments for inflation.
Local property owners will contribute $1.33 million to the district’s planned $4.8 million 2021-22 budget.

Rock County has completed an updated draft of its Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (MHMP) and is now seeking public feedback on it.
Citizens can find a link to review the plan and offer feedback by visiting z.umn.edu/rock_hmp.
The review and comment period is open through Sunday, Jan. 16. After that, the county will submit the draft plan to the state of Minnesota and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for review.
The Rock County MHMP is a multi-jurisdictional plan that covers Rock County, including the cities of Beaver Creek, Hardwick, Hills, Jasper, Kenneth, Luverne, Magnolia and Steen.
The Rock County plan also incorporates the concerns and needs of townships, school districts and other stakeholders participating in the plan.
“Rock County is vulnerable to a variety of potential natural disasters, which threaten the loss of life and property in the county,” said Rock County administrator and emergency management director Kyle Oldre.
“The plan addresses how to mitigate against hazards such as tornadoes, flooding, wildland fires, blizzards, straight-line winds, ice storms, and droughts which have the potential for inflicting vast economic loss and personal hardship.”
Oldre has been working with U-Spatial at the University of Minnesota Duluth and representatives from county departments, city and township governments, school districts, and other key stakeholders.
“Together, the planning team worked to identify cost-effective and sustainable actions to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life or property from natural hazards,” he said.
Some examples include:
•improving roads and culverts that are prone to repetitive flooding;
•constructing safe rooms at campgrounds, public parks, mobile home parks or schools to protect lives in the event of tornados or severe wind events;
•burying powerlines that may fail due to heavy snow, ice or wind storms;
•ensuring timely emergency communication to the public through warning sirens and mass notification systems, and
•conducting public awareness and education campaigns to help people be prepared to take safe action before, during, or following a hazard event.
“Hazard mitigation planning helps Rock County and other jurisdictions protect their residents,” Oldre said.
“Working with local communities through the process helps identify vulnerabilities and develop strategies to reduce or eliminate the effects of a potential hazard.”
In addition, he said, increasing public awareness of local hazards and disaster preparedness helps to create a community that is resilient to disaster, and it breaks the cycle of response and recovery.
Updating the plan positions the county and its jurisdictions to apply for future Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant funding from FEMA for projects that will help to reduce or eliminate impacts of future natural disaster events.
“Community feedback is vital to the success of the plan,” Oldre said.
Residents can review the draft and provide feedback either online or directly to Rock County Emergency Management.
Oldre can be reached at 507-283-5065 or kyle.oldre@co.rock.mn.us.

The cost for eligible students to learn to drive through Luverne Community Education increases $15 for the 2022 program year.
Classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction will now cost $355 per student.
The increase takes effect with classroom sections next month and in June.
The approved increase by the Luverne School Board on Dec. 23 is the third consecutive year for an increase.
This year’s increase covers a wage increase for behind-the-wheel instructors and increasing fuel costs. The increase is the first since 2016 for the behind-the-wheel instructors.
The per-hour rate for driving instructors increases $3 (10 percent) to $28, a more comparable rate with other school districts, according to information provided to board members by Community Education director Lisa Nath.
Luverne’s approved $28-per-hour rate now matches that of Hills-Beaver Creek and is $1 higher than the rate paid in Edgerton and Adrian. Pipestone’s rate is $30 per hour.
Nath anticipates 90 students enrolling in the upcoming program session with an anticipated $31,950 budget. The session would break even if 87 students complete the program.
Luverne School Board members unanimously approved the increase Dec. 23 in a 6-0 vote. Director Jodi Bosch did not attend the meeting.
In other business, the school board:
•approved the hiring of Leah Radisewitz as basketball cheerleading coach beginning Dec. 13 and custodians Britton Stratton also on Dec. 13 and Matthew Fleming on Dec. 20.
•granted the maternity request for elementary teacher Dana Wolf for 13 weeks beginning approximately Feb. 24.

Dispatch report
Dec. 24
•Complainant eastbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 14, Magnolia, reported debris on the road.
•Complainant on E. Dodge Street and 140th Avenue, Luverne, reported a possible unsafe ATV riding.
•Complainant on County Road 6, Beaver Creek, requested a deer tag.
Dec. 25
•Complainant on Highway 75, Casey’s, reported a vehicle for poor driving conduct.
•Complainant on Highway 75 and 131st Street, Luverne, reported a pedestrian at location.
•Complainant on Interstate 90, mile marker 18, Magnolia, requested a deputy for assistance.
•Complainant on 60th Avenue, Beaver Creek, reported a custody issue at location.
Dec. 26
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported a driving complaint.
•Structure fire was reported on 50th Avenue, Beaver Creek.
•Complainant on E. Minnesota Avenue, Steen, requested a deputy for property exchange.
•Complainant in 24-hour parking lot reported an aggressive driver.
•Complainant on S. Fairview Drive reported a vehicle racing up and down the road.
•Complainant on E. Warren Street reported a vehicle with loud exhaust.
Dec. 27
•Complainant on N. McKenzie Street reported harassing communication via note.
•Complainant on W. Fairview Drive reported vandalism.
•Complainant on E. Adams Avenue reported fraud.
•Deputy assisted state patrol with a warrant for arrest on Interstate 90, mile marker 12, Luverne.
•Complainant northbound on 90th Avenue from County Road 4, Luverne, reported a vehicle tried to run them off the road.
Dec. 28
•Complainant in Sioux Falls reported that someone is at her door and she doesn’t want to answer.
•Complainant on N. Spring Street reported fraud.
•Complainant requested to speak to a deputy.
Dec. 29
•Suspicious activity was reported at location on N. Kniss Avenue.
•Complainant on 41st Street and 50th Avenue, Hills reported crossing arms are down and road is closed.
•Complainant requested to speak to a deputy about bad check.
•Complainant on E. Warren Street reported theft.
Dec. 30
•Complainant on W. Mead Court reported loud music for hours.
Dec. 31
•Complainant on S. Donaldson Street requested to speak to a deputy about a housing issue.
In addition, officers responded to 5 motor vehicle accidents, 2 deer accidents, 5 vehicles in ditch, 15 ambulance runs, 6 paper services, 4 animal complaints, 1 fingerprint request, 1 alarm, 3 drug court tests, 2 purchase and carry permits, 15 traffic stops, 2 abandoned 911 calls, 3 tests, 2 welfare checks, 1 report of cattle out, 1 OFP and 1 follow-up.

United Community Action Partnership (UCAP) Transportation announced last week that community transit fares are returning to pre-covid rates.
Director Nick Leske said that special funding for transit systems during the pandemic expired at the end of 2021, so a return to normal fare prices is necessary.
“All of our previous fare collection procedures and costs are back,” he said.
That means all types of bus passes are back to their normal cost. “During the pandemic, we only sold monthly ride passes, and we sold them for a suggested fee of $40.”
The return of full fare rates means people can once again purchase passes based on their travel needs.
Those who travel within a single town can purchase a monthly ride pass for $70. For people who need to travel between towns, a monthly pass is $80.
The convenience of being able to purchase a variety of passes directly from bus drivers is also coming back.
“Our $25 ride cards and tokens were not sold during the pandemic so we could reduce the number of hand-to-hand exchanges between passengers and drivers,” Leske said, “but those options will be available on buses again for those who don’t want to purchase a monthly pass.”
Monthly ride passes will need to be purchased through a UCAP office, as was the case before the pandemic.
“We want to keep things as clean and simple for everyone on board the buses,” Leske said.
The base fare is $2 for an in-town, dial-a-ride bus when scheduled at least the day before.
When a ride is scheduled on the day of transportation, the base rate is $2.50. The fare increases in $1 increments based on distance traveled from point to point.
Complete details on fares are available at communitytransitswmn.org.
After more than a year of free or reduced rate transportation, Leske said it may be difficult for some people to begin budgeting for transportation again, but he said collecting fares is an important part of keeping buses on the road.
“In a normal year, our contract with the Minnesota Department of Transportation only covers part of our operations,” he said.
“Passenger fares help cover the rest. We couldn’t exist long term without them.”
 
United Community Action Partnership is a non-profit organization that strives to help low and moderate income families improve their lives and move out of poverty.

Maybe it’s the promise of a new year, or maybe we really do live in a great community, but this round of Star Herald “thumbs” are all pointed up.
Thumbs up — to the city workers who combed the field east of Blue Mound Avenue to pick up all the recycling that blew out early Monday morning.
Thumbs up — to the city of Beaver Creek for approving new “Welcome to Beaver Creek” signs at the city’s primary entrances. The warm sentiments encourage visitors to check out local amenities — like a free splash park —offered in the small community.
Thumbs up — to housing director Tammy Johnson and her team at the Blue Mound Tower for sweeping improvements to the 1971-built apartments. To say it’s a transformation is an understatement, and the result is a home that residents — college students, senior citizens and others — can be proud of.
Thumbs up — to Rock County commissioners for approving a $3,000 investment in a regional recreational trail study to connect what we enjoy locally with that of other communities.
Thumbs up — to the city of Luverne for clearing snow from The Loop after the Dec. 10 snowstorm. It allowed many people to enjoy the outdoors when unseasonably warm temperatures returned to the area following the storm.
Thumbs up — to the Luverne School District for its recently completed $31 million remodel and expansion. The updates were much needed and the new features — commons, media center and performing arts center —are reasons students, families, teachers and administration can be proud to be Cardinals.
Thumbs up — to the Minnesota Army National Guard (and private investors Warren Herreid II and Jeannine Rivet) for breaking ground on a 46,293 square-foot Readiness Center in Luverne to replace the 1921 armory. The project will benefit National Guardsmen and women and also the community.
Thumbs up — to historical-minded individuals and the Leicher family for bringing and sharing with the public an original Luverne Thirty automobile in The History Center showroom in Luverne. The rare collector car was built in Luverne and is now back in Luverne — home where it belongs.
Thumbs up — to local leaders who worked tirelessly for years at the region’s day care shortage crisis. The bold move to purchase the former Tri-State Insurance building for a day care center will likely be successful, with the promise of public subsidies going forward.
Until working families can afford to pay qualified child care professionals at the helm of such facilities, this is the investment communities must make to support growth. Which leads to our final …
Thumbs up — to local leaders, developers and investors for putting the complicated pieces together for the PrairiE Loft I and II apartments on South Highway 75. The 54 energy-efficient market-rate rental units will alleviate the tight housing market that tends to stifle growth.
Businesses can’t grow in Rock County if there aren’t workers, and workers can’t live here if there’s no child care or housing. With these two gems on the horizon — and all the recent “thumbs up,” we look forward to good things ahead in 2022 and beyond.

A young family stopped in the Star Herald office just after Christmas to inquire about a subscription to the newspaper.
The newsroom was busy sending pages to press, so I didn’t greet them at the counter, as much as I would have liked to.
From across the room, I could hear our front office staff take down their address and subscription information while small talk unfolded.
“So, you’re new to town?”
“Yes. We just moved here.”
“Are your kids in school here?”  The young ones had accompanied their parents on the errand and were milling around the front door.
“They’ll start here after the Christmas break.”
More small talk, more questions, and then the kicker:
“We wanted to get the paper right away to learn about the community.”
They were strangers, but I felt like leaping over the counter to hug them.
We’re aware we have loyal readers, and we’re grateful for each and every subscription, online and in print.
But our fan list is getting shorter and Facebook is an easier (and cheaper) alternative source of information.
I’m on Facebook, and as a news person I use the platform to discover upcoming events, a new business, or other newsworthy tips to track down for a Star Herald story.
It’s a great little tool, but it’s a little thin on substance, considering I never see any of my Facebook “friends” at a public meeting where our elected officials make decisions about how to spend our hard-earned tax dollars.
Somehow, this little family understands the value of professional journalism (facts versus coffee talk — or Facebook chatter).
I can name many lifelong Rock County residents who don’t read the Star Herald. They’re educated, involved, sincere and generous — but not very informed.
They appreciate the community they live in, but don’t know much about it.
They still don’t understand Hot Dog Night or Buffalo Chip Throwing Contests.
Or the appeal of 4,000 nutcrackers. (The collection each year brings thousands of people into town where they spend their money at local businesses.)
After numerous front-page Star Herald headlines about a looming construction project, these same well-meaning folks ask, “What are they building on the old Sharkee’s lot?” (It’s a years-in-the-making, multi-million dollar, three-story, 54-unit, green-built, market-rate apartment complex that will put a big dent in Luverne’s housing shortage.)
Sigh.
It was a short visit the day our new residents stopped in the Star Herald office, but they made my day.
I wanted to hug them …
For getting it.
For getting a subscription.
And for restoring my faith in humanity (and my hope for the future of small-town journalism).
Welcome to Rock County, dear little new family in town.
We hope you like us, and we hope the Star Herald lives up to your expectations as the best way to connect with your new community.