Commissioners
- By Mavis FodnessJanuary 21, 2026After setting a record for aggregate tax collected in 2024 in Rock County, the amount collected in 2025 dropped, but it’s still the third highest in the past 15 years. Six operators paid $189,698 in taxes in 2025, down from the highest amount collected ($210,485) in 2024, which broke the previous high of $195,419 collected in 2023. “We had a pretty decent dip really,” said county administrator…
By Mavis FodnessDecember 09, 2025Paul Aukes held up a piece of quarter-inch angle iron Tuesday night, Dec. 2, at the public input meeting about rifles vs. shotguns for deer hunting. Pierced through the angle iron were two perfectly round bullet holes from a rifle. “This is what a 30-06 does,” he said of the potential damage to a person. “I’m against it.” Aukes was one of 40 people attending the listening session at the Rock…- By Mavis FodnessDecember 09, 2025Rock County Commissioners accepted the sale results for a 10-year $2.5 million bond conducted Tuesday, Dec. 2. TD Financial Products LLC of New York submitted the lowest bid at an interest rate of 3.074 percent. Two other bidders submitted bids at 3.103 percent and 3.131 percent. George Eilertson with Northland Securities in Minneapolis presented the bid results to commissioners Tuesday night…
- By Mavis FodnessAugust 13, 2025If county officials followed the proposed five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), costs would total more than $31 million. At a public hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, the Rock County Commissioners will consider specific projects and projected costs. The hearing is intended to solicit input from citizens and other government units. Changes to the county’s proposed CIP will be…
By Mavis FodnessMay 28, 2025As Phase 4 of the courthouse remodeling project comes to a close, work begins on the new Land Management Office location in the former armory building on South Freeman Street. Rock County Commissioners, in a 4-1 vote at their May 22 meeting, approved moving forward with the $688,000 project. Commissioner Greg Burger cast the dissenting vote. “I realized when we started most of these projects…- By Mavis FodnessJanuary 08, 2025Rock County Commissioners approved a 5.5-percent levy increase for taxes payable in 2025. The levy is set at $7.46 million, which is $385,600 more than the current levy of $7.07 million. Commissioners adopted the final levy Dec. 17, two weeks after the public truth in taxation hearing in which two people asked questions but did not affect the commissioners’ decision. “There wasn’t a lot of…
January 08, 2025Re-elected Rock County Commissioners Jody Reisch and Gary Overgaard were sworn into office by Rock County court administrator Natalie Reisch prior to the Board of Commissioners’ first meeting of the new year Tuesday morning. Jody Reisch, Overgaard and re-elected Commissioner Greg Burger (who was unable to attend the ceremony) will each serve four-year terms. Overgaard and Burger are beginning…- By Mavis FodnessDecember 30, 2024The cost to house a prisoner in the Nobles County Jail increased from $60 to $75 per day, according to a new agreement accepted by Rock County Commissioners at their Dec. 17 meeting. For the past five years, the amount was $60 per day, and the $15 increase was anticipated over the past year, according to Rock County Sheriff Evan Verbrugge, due to increased personnel and operating costs. From…
- By Mavis FodnessDecember 24, 2024The Rock County Commissioners approved pay increases for elected employees at their last meeting of 2024 on Dec. 17. The increases take effect Jan. 1. Salaries for elected commissioners Greg Burger, Gary Overgaard, Sherri Thompson, Stan Williamson and Jody Reisch will increase 5 percent from the current $22,820 to $23,961. Commissioners also approved a 5-percent increase for county attorney…
- By Mavis FodnessNovember 26, 2024Public comment will be taken on the proposed cannabis ordinance at a public hearing at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the law enforcement center in Luverne. Commissioners will conduct the hearing before adopting an ordinance to regulate how and where cannabis businesses can operate in the county. The proposed ordinance is 16 pages in length and sets restrictions on the time, place and manner in…
- By Mavis FodnessJuly 03, 2024Rock County Commissioners unanimously approved a $10,000 annual commitment for Luv1LuvAll to help close a financial gap for individuals seeking mental health care. The Rock County Mental Health GAP Fund (Grant Assistance Program) will begin taking applications Sept. 1. Three GAP committee members updated commissioners June 18 about the developing program two months after the group asked…
By Mavis FodnessFebruary 28, 2024Opponents of Rock County’s first large-scale solar farm say the 1,500-acre business will change the rural ways of living. Three concerned citizens talked with county commissioners at their Feb. 20 meeting about how the large number of solar panels will harm the environment, ruin the rural landscape and take needed farmland out of production. Grant Binford and Jane Nelson of Magnolia Township…- August 01, 2016To the Editor: I am writing this letter to encourage all voters in the first and third county commissioner districts to be sure to vote in the upcoming primary. It is very important that those of us in agriculture maintain a balanced county board. Everyone in Rock County is affected by agriculture in some way, but those actively involved in agriculture have more at stake than most. Agriculture…
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