Public Utilities Commission
- By Mike Cox and Evan Verbrugge, LuverneOctober 07, 2026To the editor: A recent social media post advocating for a Municipal Utilities Commission in Luverne relied on figures from 2019 through 2022 to argue that electric utility funds are being over-transferred. However, a closer look at these numbers — and what was left out — reveals a misleading narrative. First, the time frame selected (2019-2022) reflects a period under a different city…
By Nicole RonchettiSeptember 23, 2026Luverne voters will be asked in the Nov. 3 general election if they support an amendment to their city’s government charter regarding public utilities. If adopted, it would transfer municipal utilities powers and responsibilities from the city council to a “Municipal Services Commission.” On Sept. 15 the Luverne Area Chamber hosted a public forum in a crowded Palace Theatre to address questions…- By Dennis Pike, LuverneSeptember 23, 2026To the editor: After attending and considering arguments from both sides in the public meeting on a proposed charter amendment in Luverne tonight, I’m leaning in favor of a commission based on the city’s policy of contributing to entities unrelated to utilities. While many of these entities such as the ice arena serve a great purpose, many of us don’t benefit from this, or other entities of…
- By Jesse Booker, LuverneSeptember 23, 2026To the editor: Many of us attended the town hall at the Palace on Tuesday, Sept. 15, regarding the proposed amendment to our town charter to establish a utilities commission. For those who could not attend, I encourage you to watch the Star Media recording on YouTube or directly from the Star Herald's website. It seemed to me that the committee representing the proposal for the amendment failed…
September 16, 2026Join moderator Scott Marquardt, Executive Director of the Southwest Initiative Foundation, as he leads a forum on the proposed public utilities commission charter amendment. This forum was held Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at the Palace Theatre in Luverne, Minnesota, with Isaac DeBoer, Lori Hallstrom and Sheryl Staeffler representing the Charter Amendment Committee and Barb Berghorst, Mert…
By Lori SorensonSeptember 16, 2026Luverne voters will be asked in the Nov. 3 general election if they support an amendment to change their city’s government charter. If adopted, it would change the structure and governance of Luverne’s municipal utilities, transferring powers and responsibilities from the city council to a “Municipal Services Commission.” Since the ballot question was approved this summer, the proposal has…
By Lori SorensonSeptember 09, 2026Luverne voters will be asked in the Nov. 3 general election if they support an amendment to change their city’s government charter. If adopted, it would change the structure and governance of Luverne's municipal utilities, transferring powers and responsibilities from the city council to a “Municipal Services Commission.” Since the ballot question was approved this summer, the proposal has…
By Lori SorensonAugust 19, 2026Luverne voters will be asked in the Nov. 3 general election if they support an amendment to change their city’s government charter. If adopted by voters, it would change the structure and governance of Luverne’s municipal utilities, transferring powers and responsibilities from the city council to a “Municipal Services Commission.” This five-member commission (three elected, two appointed…
By Lori SorensonAugust 05, 2026An amendment to Luverne’s government charter appears to be headed for the Nov. 3 general election ballot. If adopted by voters, it would change the structure and governance of Luverne’s municipal utilities, transferring powers and responsibilities from the city council to a "Municipal Services Commission.” This five-member commission (three elected, two appointed) would take over the city’s…
Council approves resolution to advance charter amendment but disapproves of process in getting thereBy Lori SorensonAugust 05, 2026Luverne City Council members took action at their July 28 meeting to advance the charter amendment question to the Nov. 3 general election ballot. They unanimously approved the resolution under statutory obligation, but they unanimously — and vocally — disapproved of the process by which they’d arrived at the point. Just ahead of casting their votes, each council member voiced disappointment…
By Lori SorensonJuly 08, 2026Citizen petitioners for a proposed Luverne Charter amendment appear to have gathered enough signatures in their second attempt to advance the measure to voters this fall. City Clerk Jessica Mead acknowledged receiving the signatures by the July 7 deadline and now has until June 14 to make a determination about certifying the petition. The proposed utilities commission, made up of three elected…- By Mayor Pat BaustianJuly 08, 2026A five-person citizen group has submitted a petition for a ballot question about amending Luverne’s City Charter to create a Municipal Services Commission. The proposed amendment shifts supervision, management, employment and all financial oversight of the city utilities to a separate governing commission. The petitioners, spearheaded by Isaac DeBoer, said they drafted their charter amendment…
- July 01, 2026To the editor: As members of the Petition Committee we are writing to provide key context regarding the Proposed City Charter Amendment to establish a Municipal Services Commission. The Petition Committee did not approach the process in an unorganized or uninformed manner, quite the opposite in fact. The committee had several discussions with community members about the concept and also…
- By Mike and Cheryl Cox, LuverneJuly 01, 2026To the editor: The purpose of this letter is to express our concern with the petition regarding having a separate Municipal Services Utility Commission proposed by a group of citizens. We have seen the proposal and believe it is unwarranted for a public vote. There will be additional costs in operating a new commission. Having a city council and a utility commission seems to be additional…
- By Mavis FodnessMay 22, 2024State public utility commissioners granted approval for the proposed 1,500-acre Elk Creek Solar Farm to be constructed north of Magnolia. In a press release dated Friday, May 17, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) issued the certificate of need to National Grid Renewables (NGR) of Bloomington for the 160 megawatt (MW) solar farm to be built in portions of Magnolia and Vienna…
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