By Sara Quam
Prairie Expo, what was supposed to be southwest Minnesota's tourism center, is greeting tourists with locked doors since last Friday.
According to a statement released Friday, the reason for the shutdown is too few visitors to support operations.
The Southwest Regional Development Commission, Prairie Expo's owner, has also transferred operations to what it calls a "Blue Ribbon Task Force" made up of area business leaders and public officials. No one from Rock County has been named to that group.
The city of Luverne and Rock County each gave a one-time contribution of $5,000 - far less than some area cities and counties. The state financed most of the $7 million facility.
Prairie Expo (or the SRDC? has been spending general fund reserves on the operation in Worthington since at least March in addition to what is already allocated for Expo's budget.
Rock County Commissioners Tuesday said they weren't exactly surprised by Expo's situation. On the agenda Tuesday was Jay Truste, new director of the SRDC.
County Administrator Kyle Oldre spoke for the board to Truste, "Communication needs to be enhanced so we know the status of what's going on. All we received was a press release," Oldre said. "We need open communication and to be forthcoming so that we can share information with the people that this board answers to."
Tuesday was Truste's first day on the job, and he said to the board, "I'm planning on spending the first six months touching base with everyone, trying to re-establish relationships that have gone away in the past two years."
He has experience in southwest Minnesota. He was previously employed by Mid-Minnesota Development Commission in Willmar and Public Health for Lincoln, Lyon, Murray and Pipestone counties.
Truste said he enjoys a challenge and will try to bring the SRDC's focus back to the entire region. "You'll see more of me."
Dave Smith, director of the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce, is concerned about Expo's operations as well.
Before the announcement of closing, another fund-raising effort across the region was in the works. Smith said some counties gave money to the center as recently as two weeks ago, and the same people who asked for money made the decision to lock the doors.
Commissioner Bob Jarchow said, "There seems to be an openness missing."
"There's been a lot wrong, even from the beginning," Smith said.
While Worthington may be nervous about losing an attraction, local concern has centered on keeping SRDC funds where they belong - in all of southwest Minnesota, not just the city of Worthington.
The SRDC includes programs like Community Housing and Economic Development, Environment and Land Use, Transportation and the Area Agency on Aging.
No date has been projected for Expo's reopening, although the committee now heading its operations intends to study marketing strategies.