Rock County Board of Equalization Meeting 9:00 AMRock County Courthouse Law Library June 14, 2004Vice Chair Hoime called the meeting to order with Commissioner Boyenga, Bakken and Wildung present and Commissioner Jarchow absent. Also present were County Administrator Kyle Oldre and County Assessor Tom Houselog. The Rock County Assessor’s office presented a review of the 2004 assessment. Following the review, motion by Boyenga, seconded by Wildung, to adopt the 2004 assessment report with thanks from the County Board for the information provided, declared carried on a voice vote.With no further business to come before the Rock County Board of Equalization, meeting was declared adjourned. Ken Hoime, Vice Chairman of the BoardATTEST:Kyle J. Oldre, Clerk to the Board(7-22)

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORSBridge No. 67J67 / SAP 67-599-131 (Mound Twp. / Old Bridge L-2287)Bridge No. 67J72 / SAP 67-599-132 (Beaver Creek Twp. / Old Bridge L-2341)Bridge No. 67J75 / SAP 67-599-135 (Beaver Creek Twp. / Old Bridge L-2332)Bridge No. 67J76 / SAP 67-599-138 (Martin Twp. / No Old Bridge Number)Sealed proposals will be received by the Rock County Highway Department at Luverne, Minnesota until 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, August 17, 2004.READ CAREFULLY THE PROVISIONS FOR THE WAGE RATES AS CONTAINED IN THE SPECIAL PROVISIONS, AS THEY WILL AFFECT THIS PROJECT.Attention is called to the fact that the contractor must comply with the Special Equal Employment Opportunity Provisions as contained in this Proposal. Proposals will be opened and read publicly in the presence of the Rock County Highway Engineer at the Rock County Highway Building located at 1120 North Blue Mound Avenue in Luverne, Minnesota immediately following the hour set for receiving bids for the following Rock County Highway work. Bids will be awarded on August 23, 2004 at the regular Board of Commissioners Meeting. Bridge 67J67 – SAP 67-599-131: The major quantities of work are: 1 Lump Sum Approach Grading; 260 Cu. Yds. of Rock Channel Escavation; 102 Lin. Ft. of 10’x7’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert; 6 – 10’x7’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert End Sections; 528 Cu. Yds. of Granular Backfill; 83 Cu. Yds. of Granular Bedding; and 39 Cu. Yds. of Random Riprap, Class II.Bridge 67J72 – SAP 67-599-132: The major quantities of work are: 1 Lump Sum Approach Grading; 68 Lin. Ft. of 10’x5’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert; 4 – 10’x5’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert End Sections; 374 Cu. Yds. of Granular Backfill; 59 Cu. Yds. of Granular Bedding; 44 Cu. Yds. of Rock Bedding; and 55 Cu. Yds. of Random Riprap, Class II.Bridge 67J75 – SAP 67-599-135: The major quantities of work are: 1 Lump Sum Approach Grading; 36 Lin. Ft. of 14’x8’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert; 2 – 14’x8’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert End Sections; 542 Cu. Yds. of Granular Backfill; 46 Cu. Yds. of Granular Bedding; 33 Cu. Yds. of Rock Bedding and 39 Cu. Yds. of Random Riprap, Class II. Bridge 67J76 – SAP 067-599-138: The major quantities of work are: 1 Lump Sum Approach Grading; 20 Cu. Yds. of Structural Conc.; 36 Lin. Ft. of 14’x6’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert; 2 – 14’x6’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert End Sections; 251 Cu. Yds. of Granular Backfill; 46 Cu. Yds. of Granular Bedding; 33 Cu. Yds. of Rock Bedding and 43 Cu. Yds. of Random Riprap, Class II. Plans, specifications and proposals may be examined and obtained at the office of the Rock County Highway Engineer, 1120 North Blue Mound Avenue, P.O. Box 808, Luverne, MN. 56156-0808.The non-refundable cost for Plans and one proposal (all Projects on one Proposal) will be $20.00. (Includes Sales Tax)Bids must be accompanied by a certified check or corporate surety bond drawn in favor of the Rock County Treasurer in the amount of at least five percent (5%) of the proposal. Sealed bids shall be clearly marked "PROJECT NO. SAP 67-599-131 ETC."The Board of Rock County Commissioners reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any defects therein.Rock County is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.Mark R. Sehr, P.E.Rock County Highway Engineer (7-22, 7-29, 8-5)

NOTICE OF POSTPONED FORECLOSURE SALENOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage: DATE OF MORTGAGE: April 2, 2001ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $40,000.00MORTGAGOR: Thomas B. RagerMORTGAGEE: Minnwest Bank, Luverne, a Minnesota banking corporationDATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Filed for record on April 11, 2001 as Document No. 149645 with the Rock County Recorder’s OfficeLEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY:Lot 5 in Block 5 Westview Addition to the City of Luverne, Rock County, Minnesota.AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID BY MORTAGEE: $38,452.51THAT prior to the commencing of this mortgage foreclosure proceeding Mortgagee complied with all notice requirements as required by statute;THAT no action or proceeding at law is now pending to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof;PURSUANT to the power of sale in the mortgage, the above described property will be sold by the Sheriff of Rock County as follows:DATE AND TIME OF SALE: Aug. 26, 2004 at 10:00 A. M.PLACE OF SALE: The west front steps of the Rock County Law Enforcement Center, located at 213 East Luverne Street, Luverne, Minnesota, to pay the debt secured by said Mortgage and taxes, if any, on said premises and the costs and disbursements, including attorney fees allowed by law subject to redemption within six (6) months from the date of said sale by the Mortgagors, their personal representatives or assigns.Dated: July 20, 2004 Minnwest Bank Luverne/s/ Jeffrey L. HaubrichBy: Jeffrey L. HaubrichAttorney in fact for MortgageeAttorneys for MortgageeSkewes, Klosterbuer and VajgrtP.O. Box 538Luverne, MN 56156-0538Telephone: 507-283-9111IMPORTANT NOTICEThis notice is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.(7-22, 7-29, 8-5, 8-12)

LCC to host second annual Britz OpenThe Luverne Country Club will host its second annual Britz Open Saturday, July 24.The 18 hole tournament is open to members and non-members alike.The first nine holes will be played in a scramble format, and the second nine will be alternate shot.The day will have two shotgun starts, the first at 8 a.m. and the second at 1 p.m.The tournament will be divided in several divisions, including Juniors 15 and Younger, Women’s Mixed, Men’s, Women’s Seniors and Men’s Seniors.If you feel ambitious, you can sign up with one partner for the 8 a.m. shotgun and find someone else to partner up with for the 1 p.m. start.The $20 entry fee includes lunch and prizes.Luverne native Jerilyn Britz, the tournament director, is the 1979 US Open Champion.Eden Prairie family finds ‘Billie the Kit’An Eden Prairie family has been reunited with its lost family cat, thanks to help from Luverne Veterans Home employees.While visiting friends in Luverne on their way back from the Black Hills, Steve and Joan Wilson, and their children Beth, Becky and Ben, lost their cat, Billie the Kit.The cat disappeared Monday, July 5, while the family visited Luverne friends.Over the next two weeks the couple put up posters and ran ads trying to locate their lost pet. Joan spent the last two weekends in Luverne looking for their cat.On Saturday night, almost two weeks later, Shirley Connor, the recreation director at the Minnesota Veterans Home heard a meowing in the bushes in her back yard.When she called her friend and co-worker, Nancy Lofthus, to tell her about the cat, Nancy had remembered seeing a poster describing a missing cat, with a $100 reward.Shirley called the Wilsons, only to discover that Joan was in Luverne at the time searching for the cat again.Steve called Joan on her cell phone and Kit was reunited with a very happy Joan a few minutes later. As for the $100 reward, neither Connor nor Lofthus felt comfortable accepting the reward, so they donated the $100 to the Veterans Home animal fund.Rock County Fair set for July 28-31Plenty of fun, familiar events along with some new ones will be a part of the 94th Annual Rock County Fair.Wednesday, July 28Along with the opening day registration and entries, the 4-H Foods/Gardening exhibits will be judged from 3 to 6 p.m.Thursday, July 29The Nobles/Rock Cattlemen’s Association will sponsor the annual Beef Feed at 5:30 p.m.The Rock County Talent Contest will be held in the grandstand at 7 p.m. This will be the third year for this very popular event. Prizes of $100, $75 and $50 will be awarded to the winners in each division.Friday, July 30As I told you a few weeks ago, the Rock County Land Management Office will again offer free water nitrate testing from 1 to 7 p.m.That same afternoon, Carol Zwaan and Country Grass will provide free entertainment for Senior Citizens Day at 2, 5 and 7 p.m.The Rock County Pork Producers will start their pork feed at 5 p.m. and the evening will end with a concert by Go Fish at 7 p.m. at the grandstand.Saturday, July 31Will include a Tractor Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a Threshing and Baling Demonstration from noon to 5 p.m. and a Bio Fuels Enduro Race beginning at 7 p.m.Midwest Rides will provide the midway for the three days. Advance tickets can be purchased at Glen’s Food Center, Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce, Hardwick Grocery, Exchange State Bank of Hills, Rauk’s Hilltop Stop, and the Luverne Pizza Ranch.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com

When you care enough to send the very best, send a card, not an e-mailI gotta hand it to Hallmark: In an age of on-line, dancing birthday cards, e-mail and text messaging, it appears their hard copy personal greeting cards are selling better than ever.While shopping at Grapevines in Luverne this week, I was amused by all the new titles of card categories to shop in.For example, cards for pets are big sellers, according to Grapevines manager Kim Von Tersch. "I chuckled when I saw them, but we sell out of them all the time," she told me.One can announce a new cat or dog in the family, expressing sympathy for "Loss of Companions" and send a thank-you specifically to the "Dog Sitter."We all know pets can’t read, but many of the cards are directed personally to the pets themselves. In the "Get Well" section, I found one that said, "Get Well Wishes for a Sweet Cat."Outside of pets, there are countless specific occasions we can send cards for. Among my favorites are "Going Back to School," "Congratulations on Your Driver’s License," "New Apartment," "Potty Trained Kids" and "Braces for Kids."Finally, Hallmark didn’t miss a chance to capitalize on the growing number of blended families. For example, a birthday card can be sent to someone who’s "like a son to me."Along those lines, there’s a whole line of cards under "Divorce." There’s "Congratulations on Your Divorce," or "Thinking of You as You Go Through Divorce," depending on your perspective.On one hand, the new greeting card ideas are pure marketing genious on Hallmark’s part. On the other hand, I love the idea of snail mail thriving in an era of "read and delete" in e-mail inboxes.Rock County Hall of Famer Quentin Aanenson lamented this trend during a recent visit to the Star Herald office.We were talking about the advantages of online communication as far as staying in touch with military personnel overseas.Aanenson, as many will remember, was a World War II fighter pilot who produced the world class documentary film, "A Fighter Pilot’s Story."He told me that he and his wife, Jackie, exchanged hundreds of letters during his stint in the war, and they still have those letters in their possession."There’s something more lasting about a hand-written letter on paper," he remarked."We can pick up those pages and read them and feel the emotions of what we were feeling at the time … it just comes right out of the paper."We talked about how it’s really not possible to preserve that flavor in an e-mail message, even if it is printed and saved.So carry on, Hallmark. May your sales ever flourish and may you never run out of new ideas for reasons to send cards.By the way, Kim tells me Hallmark is revamping all its niche card headers, so shop now under the current categories and be sure to stop at Grapevines in September when the new line is released.I can’t wait to see the new subtitles. Maybe we’ll see more specific titles in the Get Well section, like "Thinking of You During PMS Week," or "Sorry to Hear about Your Minor Infraction with the Law."I wonder if Hallmark could design a card for "Thinking of My Favorite Editor During This Difficult Political Season."

Deposit charges for beverage cans and bottles seemed like a good idea at first. Of course, the same might have been said about the Hindenburg, the Ford Edsel and New Coke. The plan in Iowa was to reduce unsightly roadside litter and make the state a little more like Kevin Costner’s idea of heaven in "Field of Dreams." Entire sections of people’s garages became bottle and can collection centers, where containers were dutifully drained, sorted and stored. Periodically the containers were carted off to local stores for their five-cent refunds. Loading up the car trunk with bottles and cans and driving to the store may seem like a lot of work for something like $2.10, but it’s a small price to pay to keep a state beautiful and attractive. Most of us probably know very little about the container deposit systems in the other states with names abbreviated on the tops of our soda cans — CA, MI, OR, NY, CT, MA, VT and ME. For all we know, their container refund systems may be perfect. But the beverage container deposit system in Iowa has become so outrageously complicated that a person in another state, such as Rhode Island or Idaho, should think twice before driving there and making a small fortune in deposit money. When the system was first put in place, bottle and can returnees were treated graciously and with open arms at liquor and grocery stores. The only rules were that the containers had to be clean, not crushed, and they couldn’t be transported in plastic bags. An honor system was in place and if the store employees knew you by name, they would simply smile and ask, "How many cans do you have today?" Because of apparent criminal tendencies in the population, store employees eventually had to count the bottles and cans as they emptied cardboard boxes and paper bags into other cardboard boxes and paper bags. It was all right, though, because it was the law and it was keeping the state beautiful. And then more local rules were added. Customers, now disdainfully treated like lowly pond scum, have to line up their own bottles and cans in cardboard flats for counting purposes and pray that they and their containers will appear refund-worthy. Some stores impose a limit of 50 returned containers for each trip. Implications are made by other businesses that returns should be accompanied by additional purchases. Iowa may be more scenic, but the container deposit plan is now pitting store employees against customers and shopping experiences seem much less pleasant. In only a matter of time, customers hoping to receive their bottle and can refunds will be required to conform to certain dress codes, speak obscure languages and undergo lie detector tests. "Tell us the truth, did you pay deposits on these cans, or did you find them in some roadside ditch? Are you trying to make a fast dime?" It’s time to decriminalize the act of returning bottles and cans for deposits. If it’s a state law, businesses should comply. If they don’t want the hassle of handling bottles and cans and returning deposit money which rightfully belongs to their customers, they should stop selling the beverages. Profit losses aside, it would be a simple answer.

To the People of the city of Luverne: On July 5, we lost our cat, Billie the Kit, in Luverne on the last stop, of the last day, of a two-week family trip through the Dakotas. We searched for hours, then days. She was nowhere to be found. This brought tears, guilt and second-guessing ourselves for ever having brought a cat on a camping trip. We feared that she may have met her demise in the Rock River (remember all the rain). Still, the search was on with door-to-door visits at homes and businesses. Flyers, and newspaper and radio ads were posted, along with a new batch of flyers with color photos and three return trips to Luverne. Surely we met more than 100 of Luverne’s citizens during our efforts to find Kit. To a person, every one of you was cordial, courteous, thoughtful and caring. We remarked several times how enriched we were, even if Kit were never to be found, by our experiences with you. But hang on. Kit was found, thinner and a bit distraught, but otherwise healthy, near the Veterans Home and returned to our lives on July 18. We cannot begin to express adequately our thanks to the people of Luverne who helped us in our search efforts and extended their warmth and sympathy to us. Our thanks for your kindness, caring, hospitality and basic decency. Now, please share our joy! Also, please take this opportunity to reflect upon yourselves and, at risk of immodesty, give yourselves a great big round of applause. You deserve it. God bless you all, Steve, Joan, Beth, Becky and Ben WilsonEden Prairie

For months and months now, the city of Luverne and Rock County have been bickering with each other over the subject of who is going to pay what for law enforcement, dispatch, and jail expenses. Since the consolidation of the Luverne Police Department into the Sheriff’s Department this issue has not been a large problem. However, the city and county now find themselves at odds with each other – the city claiming the amount they are being charged is unfair. According to news articles in the Rock County Star Herald, 63.5% (this excludes burn permits which don’t require officers’ time) of the sheriff’s department time goes to the city of Luverne. The city pays for 60% of the total law enforcement budget. Does that seem fair to you? It seems fair to me. This leads to what our city administrator calls the relevant question: "Why do city of Luverne taxpayers pay for 60 percent of dispatch and jail expenses through a ‘special premium tax’ which is part of the current agreement?" (7/15/04) Maybe it is because the city of Luverne takes up over 60% of the department’s time. How are deputies supposed to get to calls in Luverne without dispatchers? Who is expected to answer the 911 calls for medical, fire, or law assistance without dispatchers? What does the city of Luverne expect the county to do with people they arrest within Luverne? Set them free? The city pays more because they use more. I suppose the city could decide to start up the police department again. However, the city administrator, himself, has said, "No one here has complained about services in the sheriff’s department, and, as I’ve said time and again, we have no intention of creating our own department." (7/8/04) On this point, I agree with the city administrator. The Sheriff’s Department has been doing a good job. Reverting back to two separate law enforcement agencies will be disruptive to employees, more expensive for taxpayers, and likely will result in a reduction of services. As a city and county taxpayer the amount the county is requesting from the city is "fair". If the city uses more of a service, then they should be expected to pay for more of that service. Likewise, if the county uses more, then they should pay more. It’s as simple as that. It’s time to move on past the number’s war. What used to be a cordial relationship between the city and county has turned into a tantrum only a two-year-old could be proud of. I can’t help but notice that our city administrator seems to be at the heart of the many controversies that have surfaced lately. I commend his goals in saving the taxpayers’ dollars, but at what cost? Do we end up saving anything when our governmental bodies waste time and energy arguing back-and-forth with each other? Maybe the city administrator can put some more sage advice to use…namely, "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." Troy Thone Luverne

Deposit charges for beverage cans and bottles seemed like a good idea at first. Of course, the same might have been said about the Hindenburg, the Ford Edsel and New Coke. The plan in Iowa was to reduce unsightly roadside litter and make the state a little more like Kevin Costner’s idea of heaven in "Field of Dreams." Entire sections of people’s garages became bottle and can collection centers, where containers were dutifully drained, sorted and stored. Periodically the containers were carted off to local stores for their five-cent refunds. Loading up the car trunk with bottles and cans and driving to the store may seem like a lot of work for something like $2.10, but it’s a small price to pay to keep a state beautiful and attractive. Most of us probably know very little about the container deposit systems in the other states with names abbreviated on the tops of our soda cans — CA, MI, OR, NY, CT, MA, VT and ME. For all we know, their container refund systems may be perfect. But the beverage container deposit system in Iowa has become so outrageously complicated that a person in another state, such as Rhode Island or Idaho, should think twice before driving there and making a small fortune in deposit money. When the system was first put in place, bottle and can returnees were treated graciously and with open arms at liquor and grocery stores. The only rules were that the containers had to be clean, not crushed, and they couldn’t be transported in plastic bags. An honor system was in place and if the store employees knew you by name, they would simply smile and ask, "How many cans do you have today?" Because of apparent criminal tendencies in the population, store employees eventually had to count the bottles and cans as they emptied cardboard boxes and paper bags into other cardboard boxes and paper bags. It was all right, though, because it was the law and it was keeping the state beautiful. And then more local rules were added. Customers, now disdainfully treated like lowly pond scum, have to line up their own bottles and cans in cardboard flats for counting purposes and pray that they and their containers will appear refund-worthy. Some stores impose a limit of 50 returned containers for each trip. Implications are made by other businesses that returns should be accompanied by additional purchases. Iowa may be more scenic, but the container deposit plan is now pitting store employees against customers and shopping experiences seem much less pleasant. In only a matter of time, customers hoping to receive their bottle and can refunds will be required to conform to certain dress codes, speak obscure languages and undergo lie detector tests. "Tell us the truth, did you pay deposits on these cans, or did you find them in some roadside ditch? Are you trying to make a fast dime?" It’s time to decriminalize the act of returning bottles and cans for deposits. If it’s a state law, businesses should comply. If they don’t want the hassle of handling bottles and cans and returning deposit money which rightfully belongs to their customers, they should stop selling the beverages. Profit losses aside, it would be a simple answer.