Rock County Commissioners approved cost of living wage increases for non-union employees at their last meeting of 2020 on Dec. 22.
The 3.25-percent increase is effective Jan. 1.
Commissioners also approved two three-year contracts with the administrator and county engineer of 3-percent increases each year.
Salaries of commissioners Jody Reisch, Greg Burger, Stan Williamson, Gary Overgaard and Sherri Thompson increased from $19,415 to $20,046.
The board also approved a one-year contract with a 3-percent increase for Land Records director Tom Houselog, whose salary increased from $105,392 to $108,554.
Other non-union employee salaries increased from 2020 to 2021 as follows:
•County administrator Kyle Oldre, $114,756 to $118,199.
•Deputy administrator Susan Skattum, $67,017 to $69,180.
•Auditor/treasurer Ashley Kurtz, $87,880 to $90,736.
•Deputy auditor/accountant Vanessa Luettel, $48,963 to $50,544.
•County attorney Jeff Haubrich, $87,500 to $91,500.
•Assistant county attorney David Owens, $70,000 to $75,500.
•Veterans service officer (part time) David Haugom, $28,005 to $28,915.
•Sheriff Evan Verbrugge, $96,959 to $100,838.
•Sergeant Jeffrey Wieneke, $91,374 with 2021 salary still in negotiation.
•Library director Calla Jarvie, $64,209 to $66,296.
•Assistant library director Barbara Verhey, $61,963 to $63,960.
•County engineer Mark Sehr, $118,825 to $122,390.
•Assistant county engineer Andy Haakenson, $66,768 to $68,937.
•Land Management Office director Eric Hartman, $95,056 to $98,134.
•Land Management Office assistant director Doug Bos, $78,104 to $80,662.
•Rural Water manager Ryan Holtz, $78,104 to $80,662.

The COVID-19 vaccine continues to be administered to Rock County people in the first phases of the rollout.
So far, public perception seems positive, according to local public health officials.
“Certainly there have been health care workers that have chosen to not get vaccinated or take a ‘wait-and-see’ approach,” said Jason Kloss of Southwest Health and Human Services. “The COVID-19 vaccination is voluntary.”
While some are declining, Kloss said most are eager to receive their shots.
“Many are wondering when it will be their time to get the vaccine,” he said. “Obviously this depends on vaccine distribution and availability.”
He said the schedule follows strict guidance from the state as to who gets the vaccine and when. 
The Phase 1a first priority group included health care staff, EMS personnel and non-affiliated emergency responders.
Kloss said 67 percent of Sanford Luverne staff chose to be vaccinated.
The second priority group in Phase 1a includes assisted living workers and nursing home residents and staff.
The Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne, for example, reported that the vaccine had arrived and inoculations started Monday.
By Friday all residents and staff will have received their first dose, and the second dose of the two-injection series will be provided in four weeks.
More than 95 percent of residents have agreed to receive the vaccine, and many staff have said they are looking forward to receiving the vaccine.
“Staff understand the importance of the vaccine in keeping our residents and colleagues safe and healthy,” said Douglas Hughes, deputy commissioner of veterans health care for the MDVA.
“The vaccine will help us take a big step toward ending this pandemic.”
The vaccinations come after 10 months of responding to the coronavirus pandemic, which required the Luverne Veterans Home to adopt strict infection control procedures, restrict visitors and curtail group activities.
The Luverne Veterans Home currently has four positive cases among 72 residents and 206 staff.
Priority group 3 of Phase 1a includes other health care workers (dentists, chiropractors, optometrists), pharmacists, health care workers in correctional facilities, funeral directors, mental health workers, school nurses and group home residents.
Phase 1b includes frontline essential workers, teachers and persons 75 years or older.
Phase 1c includes other essential workers and persons 65 to 74 years old and persons 16 to 64 years old with high-risk medical conditions.
Phase 1d includes all others, but Kloss said the start of later phases will depend on the time frame of second dose administration.
“Keep in mind that this is only the first of a two-dose vaccination,” Kloss said. “The second dose must be given within about 30 days of the first dose.”
This means health care and EMS personnel and long-term care facilities will need to be given another dose in about 30 days to receive full protection from COVID-19.
“This will likely delay the progression to the subsequent phases,” Kloss said.

Meetings
Springwater Township Board will meet (with social distancing) at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, in the township hall.
Vienna Township Board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, in the Kenneth Community Center.
 
Free food Dec. 17
New Life Celebration Church will offer free food at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, 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 with questions.
 
Dental clinic in Luverne Jan. 28
The next dental clinic for adults and children of all ages will be Thursday, Jan. 28, at Rock County Health and Human Services. Call 612-746-1530 to schedule an appointment or stop by Rock County Health and Human Services for assistance in scheduling.
General exams and services will be provided. All forms of insurance accepted. The service is organized by #Luv1LuvAll's Rock County Oral Health Task Force.
 
‘Read with McKenzie’ by Zoom
A work-study student is available to help individual students with reading skills in 10-minute sessions on Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. via Zoom. The literacy program is called “Read with McKenzie.”
Contact the Rock County Library, 507-449-5040. The Zoom link is on the library facebook page.
 
Community Ed offers activities
Call the Luverne Community Education office, 507-283-4724, for registration information.
Basketball for grades K-2 begins Jan. 9 for six sessions. Fee is $15.
Men’s Basketball meets Wednesday evenings from January through March. Fee is $30.
Defensive Driving 4-hour refresher classes are scheduled for Jan. 21 or Feb. 11.
Distance Learning with Clay – for all ages (1-101). Pick up a chunk of clay the week of Jan. 25 and in your own home, with instructions from Jerry Deuschle, build your creation. To then apply paint and for drying and firing, make appointment at the studio. Fee is $20.
Register for Student Driver Education. Luverne school students grade 8 and older may register for February or June session for $340, which includes 30 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of behind the wheel instruction.
The February option begins on Feb. 1 and will be virtual, so list your child’s school gmail address when you register.
How to play chess for students grades K-8 after school; three sessions Feb. 2, 9 and 16. Fee is $15.
For adults, 55 years and older, a 10-week health and wellness Aging Mastery Program developed by the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging. Class is virtual through Zoom on your computer or iPad. On Feb. 4 they will teach you how to use Zoom if you have not done it before! Class begins on Feb. 11. Fee is $5.
Register by Feb. 6 for for the ACT Prep Class that will begin Feb. 22 virtually. Fee is $125 and includes taking a practice test and an individual conference with the teacher to review the test and tips for taking the actual test. Fee is $125,
School of Fish with Mike Frisch, TV show host and pro angler, will be Feb. 6 for students grades 3 through high school. Participants get a rod and reel, tackle box with tackle, gift card, snack pack and workbook. Each participant may bring an adult fishing buddy. Fee is $30. Dress for the weather.
The event takes place at The Lake. Participants will be ready to compete in Luverne’s Ice Fishing Derby on Feb. 20.
 
Input sought for digital readiness
A pilot program through Purdue University aims to increase civic digital engagement in Rock County and a community survey will help the group develop an engagement plan.
Paper copies of the survey are available at the Rock County Library, city offices and the Rock County Courthouse.
The 10-minute survey can also be completed online at https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/RockCountyDigitalSurvey. Surveys are accepted through Jan. 12.
 
Food Shelf cold weather procedures
The Rock County Food shelf has changed its curbside process for winter. Wait in line to park in one of the two parking spaces closest to the building.
One at a time, enter the building (masks and distancing required) to register and pick up vouchers. Be prepared for volunteers to put pre-boxed groceries in the car. As the parking spaces empty, the next cars can pull in.
The process will require patience. See the Rock County Food Shelf Facebook page for updates. Thanksgiving week schedule will be 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25.
 
Help write 9/11 history
The Minnesota Military Museum is seeking stories for a statewide initiative to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The goal of the project is to look at the impact of the horrific events of that day through a Minnesota lens, and researchers are inviting stories from Rock County.
For example: How did your county respond to the attacks immediately afterward? Have local residents served in the resulting Global War on Terror? What are their stories? Have there been events to remember 9-11 over the years since? Stories can be shared directly at www.mnmilitarymuseum.org. Click on “exhibits, test-gallery and share-your-story.”

Rock County Commissioners declined to participate in a tax abatement bond requested by the city of Luverne.
Luverne officials plan a $5 million expansion of Luverne Area Aquatics and Fitness and will pay for the project though a $5.8 million tax abatement bond.
Commissioners discussed that there was no county interest in participating in the abatement and unanimously denied the abatement request.
City officials identified 175 parcels in Luverne to act as collateral to make the anticipated bond repayments of up to $340,000 annually.
Without the county’s participation, the city qualifies for a 20-year repayment period versus 15 years if the county did participate in abatement.
According to County Administrator Kyle Oldre, the abatement bond and pool improvement project was discussed at a city-county liaison committee meeting.
“They are not taking the county tax, school tax or any special assessments, just the city portion of the these parcels would go, in theory, to the bond payment,” Oldre said.
A state-required public hearing for the city to issue the tax abatement bond is set for Jan. 12.

After months of debate, Congress passed the COVID-19 Relief Package by a wide margin on Dec. 22, and President Donald Trump, after his own delays, signed the legislation Dec. 27.
The pandemic relief bill authorizes nearly $900 billion in coronavirus-related aid, which was part of an overall $1.4 trillion spending bill that will fund the federal government through September of 2021.
The COVID-19 aid package includes financial support and relief for U.S. residents and many small businesses, including farm operations.
The COVID-19 aid package provides a stimulus payment of $600 to any individual who earned less than $75,000, based on the adjusted gross income on their 2019 federal tax return.
Married couples earning less than $150,000 will receive a total payment of $1,200.
This is half of the amount that was paid in the federal stimulus payments under the CARES act last spring.
There will be an additional payment for every child that was claimed on the 2019 tax return.
These direct aid payments were expected to be made before the end of 2020, but after Trump’s delay in signing the legislation, many payments will be received in 2021.
Individuals earning more than $99,000 or married couples exceeding $198,000 would not be eligible for the stimulus payments. Payments are adjusted for income categories up to that level.
The legislation also extends supplemental unemployment benefits of $300 per week for 11 weeks through March 14, 2021.
A big portion of the latest coronavirus relief package, approximately $284.5 billion, will be directed to assist small businesses through another round of funding to reopen and strengthen the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The PPP loans will be reserved for businesses with fewer than 300 employees that incurred at least a 25 percent loss of revenue due to COVID-19.
The PPP provisions allow for forgivable loans up to 2.5 times the average monthly payroll costs for the year. The maximum level for PPP loans will be $2 million, and PPP loans of less than $150,000 will have a simplified application process.
While specific details on the next round of PPP loans are not yet available, farm business will likely qualify for the PPP loans again, including farm operations that file taxes as sole proprietorships.
There are other provisions in the legislation that clarify eligible entities for PPP loans, eligible deductible expenses or PPP loan forgiveness, the loan forgiveness process for PPP loans under $150,000.

Blake Wysong (left) receives a plaque and words of gratitude during his last official Hills-Beaver Creek School Board meeting on Dec. 28 from Board Chairman Arlyn Gehrke. Wysong served one four-year term and chose to retire. “Thank you for your service and dedication to the Hills-Beaver Creek School Board” was written on the plaque. Chris Harnack ran unopposed for the four-year seat on the board and will start his term this month. Both Wysong and Gehrke removed facial masks for the picture.

The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board unanimously supported the Minnesota State High School League with an additional payment to help the organization reduce its operating debt.
Board members supported an amount lower than the MSHSL was requesting and passed a resolution stating the lower amount at their Dec. 28 meeting.
“We need to send a message,” said Superintendent Todd Holthaus.
That message, as stated in the resolution, is one of equity among school districts.
In September the MSHSL Finance Task Force sought an additional $2.8 million from member schools.
The extra money will alleviate a budget shortfall from canceled state tournaments in late March caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The task force calculated what each school should pay extra to bolster the organization’s current budget.
Member schools were placed into categories based on high school enrollment and activity classification (AAAA, AAA, AA and A, the smallest schools). No money was sought from home schools or schools with fewer than five high school students
H-BC was asked to pay $4,317 or $28.22 per student.
H-BC, an “A” school, was charged more per student than the highest classified “AAAA” schools, which paid $4.88 per student.
“MSHSL is placing a greater financial burden on smaller classification members schools’ budgets,” the H-BC resolution stated.
Annual MSHSL membership is on a per-pupil basis, which H-BC paid earlier this year.
“MSHSL is not following their own guiding principles nor are they recognizing that its member schools are funded primarily by the amount of pupils we serve,” the resolution stated.
H-BC has 104 high school students.
Instead of $28.22 per student, H-BC based their extra payment on a per-pupil basis model created by a representative at the Springfield School District.
Under the Springfield model each school would pay $11.16 per high school student.
Board members agreed to pay $1,707 based on the Springfield plan.

Finances continue to be positive for the Hills-Beaver Creek School District, according to an independent audit report presented at the district’s Dec. 28 meeting.
Accountant Matt Taubert presented the 2019-20 financial statement to board members for the fiscal year ending June 30.
“This is a clean opinion. It’s no qualifications, which is exactly what you’re looking for in your reports,” Taubert said. “The same opinion we have had for all the financial statements that we have done for the district.”
Taubert is with Meulebroeck, Taubert & Co. of Pipestone and has completed the district audit since 2013.
H-BC had total revenues of $5.9 million for the 2019-20 school year and expenditures of $5.5 million.
The $323,000 positive fund balance boosted the general fund to $3.4 million as of June 30. The amount includes $2.5 million in reserves.
Taubert noted the boost would have been larger if not for a roof repair at the elementary school that lessened the general fund by $265,000
The district instituted a policy several years ago to have at least 20 percent of an annual year’s expenditures or about $874,000 carried over at the end of the fiscal year.
“You’re well over your target. Your unassigned fund balance is at 59 percent of what an average three years of  expenditures would be,” Taubert said.
The fund balance was at a negative $224,000 at fiscal year-end 2012.
“In nine years you have increased your fund balance by $3.7 million,” he said. “You have some wiggle room now especially for uncertain funding times that might be coming up.”
The healthy unrestricted balance will allow the district to continue without any significant cuts or changes to curriculum in the near future.
 
Uncertainty ahead for 2021 due to COVID-19
H-BC enters the second half of the 2020-21 fiscal year with uncertainty, according to information presented at the district’s Dec. 14 Truth in Taxation hearing.
No one from the public attended the hearing in person or via Zoom.
A revised 2020-21 budget will be presented at a future meeting and could provide a glimpse of what is ahead for the district.
Six months ago, board members approved general fund spending of $4.721 million.
“That budget has changed quite a bit since June,” Superintendent Todd Holthaus said.
Revenue is up due to coronavirus aid dollars coming into the district along with expenses related to COVID-19. The district also purchased a new bus last fall.
After the hearing, the board approved the state-tabulated local 2021 levy of $1.371 million, or $18,800 more than last year.

My sisters and I met Sunday afternoon at the farm for an impromptu social gathering.
There are five of us, but only four could make it on short notice, and it was just us — no husbands, no kids, no grandkids and, of course, no Mom and Dad.
Mom died in September of 2019, and Dad died in August of 2020.
The sisters and our families spent a lot of time at the farm last fall going through things in the garage, toolshed and outbuildings.
But the house we left alone for now. It serves as home base for charting our next steps and for transitioning to our next stage of life as new matriarchs of the family.
A wave of nostalgia hit me Sunday when I opened the front door of my childhood home to the aroma of a hot meal.
For a second, I could see Dad at the kitchen table reading the paper and Mom at the kitchen sink peeling potatoes.
Lisa (the oldest sister) got there early to cook a ham and set the table with Mom’s good dishes and spring green tablecloth.
The rest of us showed up one at a time to add to the meal — a steaming casserole of cheese potatoes, fresh cut vegetables and dip, and a giant pedestal bowl of fresh fruit.
The colorful table was beautifully presented, and I briefly considered sending a photo to Mom. It would make her really happy to see her girls together for no reason other than to enjoy each other’s company.
She knew families who didn’t get along and siblings who didn’t speak to each other, and she said she was happy that we girls loved each other.
Also, she hoped we would continue getting together as sisters with our families even after she and Dad were gone.
On Sunday, as we each showed up at the house, we hugged — long, meaningful hugs. The kind that are discouraged during a COVID-19 pandemic.
And we sighed. A lot. In a way that said without saying, “This is the new us. This is how we will be from now on.”
We took our seats at the table, Lisa in Dad’s chair, I in Mom’s chair, and chatted about our holidays, about Lana’s recent vacation and Linda’s new living room furniture.
If this is the new way of things, we could tell the next generation was going to be just fine.
We held hands around the table and bowed our heads in prayer.
We thanked God for our blessings, we asked for forgiveness for our sins, and we prayed for guidance and mercy in 2021.
… Which, ultimately, isn’t a bad approach to the New Year and to our next phase in life.