When the Luverne City Council approved a conditional use permit for Dingmann Funeral Home, the agenda item slipped by without much discussion or fanfare. Just a round of ayes from people who probably thought it would be settled before now.The home's planned location in the clinic is a good fit. Finally. I don't think many local news items will get as much long-term discussion and attention as Fledgling Field and the Funeral Home. Fledgling Field is the green space in the middle of Highway 75, where Dingmann originally wanted to build.It might have ended up on Fledgling Field this time around, but a no-controversy plot was found instead and there were no neighborhood objections. That sure wasn't the story during the first attempts to put the funeral home on Fledgling Field. Neighbors objected in full force. Those first couple permit requests were denied because of zoning regulations, set by the city and probably not adequately updated. It wasn’t just the neighborhood influence that kept the funeral home away.The city followed its zoning guidelines and the loudly objecting neighbors got blamed for stopping progress.Even though neighbors had a big part in blocking Dingmann’s move, zoning laws didn't allow the city much wiggle room.So now, maybe people can be happy for Dan Dingmann, and his entire business, and not blame Fledgling Field’s neighbors for holding up progress anymore.Other misconceptionsNorth Highway 75 residents near Fledgling Field aren't the only group whose been stereotyped or misinterpreted as something they're not.As someone new (still "new" after five years) to Rock County, I've noticed a few other incorrect assumptions out there.One is about the Star Herald, you know, this raging leftist publication. I sincerely wonder why anyone would use the term "liberal media" in the same sentence as this paper, or any of its writers.We don't endorse candidates. We rarely report on happenings outside of Rock County where political affiliations would come through. It's not like Rock County Board members or City Councilmen even ran on a party ticket. I don't know where that assumption comes from. It must have been that time I encouraged people to plant a tree or something. Another thing people will enlighten newcomers about, is that certain people behind the scenes run the city and county.Greg LaFond and Kyle Oldre are paid to "run" things to a certain extent as city and county administrators, but names like Bill Weber, Gary Papik, Tom Serie, and Ben Vander Kooi always come up. I sincerely doubt they're running things, but maybe they're just articulate enough to voice their opinions and ideas to their elected people.Another misconception that wasn’t spelled out in my welcome basket is to leave town for any dining out or shopping. It seems to be popular, even though good prices and good times are just as available here. Just ask the Saturday night Eagles Club crowd.
