Silver Lake Leader - The McLeod County Chronicle

Page 2 — Silver Lake Leader, Thursday, September 5, 2013Upcoming EventsWild West Day at TruhavenOn Saturday, Sept. 14, Truhaven Ranch in Winsted ishosting a Wild Wild West Day full of cowboys, outlaws,bullwhips, guns and adventure and reenactments by TheRegulators. The gates open at 10 a.m. and reenactmentsbegin at noon. There is an admisison. There will be opportunitiesfor photos with outlaws, chuckwagon meals, shopping,and pony and mule rides. Profits go to the TruhavenRanch equine rescue and youth programs. The ranch is locatedat 23677 Cable Ave. in Winsted. For more information,visit www.truhavenranch.org.Hutchinson Auxiliary to meetThe regular monthly meeting of the Hutchinson AuxiliaryUnit 96 will be Monday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., at theHutchinson American Legion Post 96. Standing rules, thegeneral budget, membership and poppy budget will be discussed.Seniors club meets Sept. 9The Silver Lake Senior Citizens Club will meet Monday,Sept. 9, at 1 p.m., in the Silver Lake Auditorium.Member Adam Kaspryzk has moved and his address is625 Central Ave., Room 212, Osseo, MN 55369.Degree of Honor to meetSilver Lake Degree of Honor No. 182 will meet Tuesday,Sept. 10, at 5 p.m., in the Silver Lake Auditorium.Theater activities to beginHomeward Bound Theatre Company will offer “Dr.Seuss and Me,” on Tuesdays beginning Sept. 10 throughSept. 24, from 3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the Panther FieldHouse in Glencoe. Kindergarten through second graderswill act out their favorite Dr. Seuss stories like “The Catin the Hat” or “Green Eggs and Ham” and share it withfamily and friends. The participants’ experience will includewarm-up games, theater exercises and movement.For more information and/or cost of registration call GlencoeCommunity Education at 320-864-2690.Senior dining birthday partyOn Wednesday, Sept. 18, the Silver Lake senior diningsite will host its September birthday party. The menu includesbaked chicken, potato salad, mixed vegetables,bread with margarine, and fresh melon cubes. There willbe music and bingo. To order a meal, call Pearl Brandenat 320-327-2621 or at 320-327-2536.Legion monthly meeting setThe Silver Lake American Legion will hold its monthlymeeting Monday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m., at the Silver LakeLegion Post 141.Silver Lake Auxiliary meetsThe Silver Lake American Legion Auxiliary will resumeits monthly meetings Monday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m., atthe Silver Lake Legion Post 141.Levy Continued from page 1residential property even ifthere is a levy increase, thatmay not be the case on farmland,and Commissioner RonShimanski said he is concernedabout that.Cindy Schultz said it’s difficultto come up with possibleimpacts on farmland becausethere are so many classifications.“What I’m hearing you sayis that we should continuethese workshops and, hopefully,we’ll have a little bit betteridea of how this would hitfarmland,” Nies said to Shimanski.Commissioner Jon Christensencast the dissenting vote.First, Christensen said, thecounty will be getting about$450,000 more in county programaid (CPA) from the statein 2014, and the county will besaving about $160,000 annuallyby not having to pay salestax on its purchases.“But the bottom line here isthat we still are looking atspending $1 million in reserves,”said Nies.But Christensen also felt theCounty Board did not putenough effort in finding waysto save when it reviewed theline items in the budget.“Do we really need a brandnewpayloader?” Christensencited as an example.After the discussion, Wrightcalled the motion, whichpassed 4-1.The County Board willadopt its final levy in December,after the annual truth-intaxationhearing.Silver Lake City CouncilSpecial MeetingSept. 5, 20137 p.m.AgendaCall to order:Approve AgendaOld business:1. Review 2014 preliminary budget and levy.New business:2. One-day gambling and on-sale 3.2 beer license forHoly Family Catholic Church.Open discussion:New licensed staff introducedNew licensed staff at Glencoe-Silver Lake were introducedto the rest of the staff on Monday morning, Aug. 26, duringthe annual staff back-to-school breakfast in the highschool cafeteria. The new staff members include, fromleft, Claire Bergman, fifth-grade teacher; Shawn Fettig,high school math teacher; Kori McKibben, third-gradeteacher; Bertina Miller, first-grade teacher; BeckySchwartz, first-grade teacher; Alissa Vasek, sixth-gradeBy Lori CoplerStaff WriterThe McLeod County Boardof Commissioners has notvoted for a property tax increasein the past few years,opting instead to dip into its reservesto cover increases in expenses.At a workshop Wednesdaymorning, Aug. 28, CountyBoard Chair Paul Wright suggestedthat this may be thetime to propose a 3 percentlevy increase.Information provided byCounty Auditor/TreasurerCindy Schultz indicated thateven if the county adopted a 3percent levy increase, the totaltax rate would still drop by5.72 percent, primarily becauseof the increase in thevalue of farmland. If theCounty Board continues itszero-increase practice, the taxrate would drop by 7.81 percent.The Minnesota Legislaturehas set a 3 percent levy increasefor all counties, andcities with populations greaterthan 2,500.The proposed 2014 budget,if kept at zero-percent levy increase,would require usingabout $1.4 million in reserveto balance expenditures withrevenues.Although using the $1.4million would still leave thecounty with adequate reserves— about six to eight monthsworth of expenditures —Wright said the County Boardshould consider the 3 percentincrease.“If we don’t do somethingbesides zero, some day we’regoing to have a number that’sa lot bigger than zero,” saidWright.While property valuationsare high for farmland, that maynot always be the case, Wrightsaid, which would severelyimpact the county’s taxing capacity.“If farmland crashes — theday that goes flat or negative— that is going to crash us,too,” said Wright.Wright said the countyneeds to cover operating costsand a potential bond paymentas it pursues long-range goals,including security and jail improvements,and needs to “justprepare for the what-ifs,”Wright added.Commissioner Sheldon Niessaid that several years ago, theCounty Board was in a similarposition, and agreed to startticking up the levy.“We decided, ‘let’s do this inincrements to get ahead,’” saidNies.Schultz said she agreed withWright that at some point, thecounty would need to stop relyingon its reserves to balanceits budget. And she noted thateven with a 3 percent levy increase,the overall tax rate willstill drop.Commissioner Jon Christensenpointed out that anoverall tax rate decrease willnot necessarily mean a decreasein an individual’s propertytaxes.“That is true,” said Schultz.“If your valuation went up,you may see an increase.”She also said that farms andcommercial properties haveseen increases in values, whileresidential values remain flat.With a 3 percent levy increase,the county could levy$18.7 million in 2014. With noincrease, the levy would be$18.3 million, the same as2013.The County Board mustadopt its 2014 preliminarybudget and levy in September,said Schultz. Once the preliminarylevy is set, the CountyBoard can still lower before itsfinal adoption in December,but cannot increase it.Business & Professional DirectoryCOKATOEYE CENTER115 Olsen Blvd., Cokato320-286-5695 or 888-286-5695OPTOMETRISTS*Paul G. Eklof, O.D.*Katie N. Tancabel, O.D.Kid’s Glasses $ 98.00Evening and Saturdayappts. availableThis great page will remind everyoneof the great places to shop close-by.Your business will have a full-color 2x3 (3.575” x 3”)ad on the page in the Glencoe Advertiser on Sept. 15,online on our Web site, and on promotional posters.You will also be given the opportunity to have your customers register within your business forCHANHASSEN DINNER THEATRES TICKETS, provided at no additional cost to you.We will also be running reminders to stop andshop at the participating locations in all ofour issues and on the web throughout the fall months.Call today to reserve advertising space in this fall promotion!Deadline: Monday, Sept. 9Chronicle/AdvertiserCall 320-864-5518Fax 320-864-5510Ask for Karin Ramige Cornwell, karinr@glencoenews.com;Brenda Fogarty, brendaf@glencoenews.comSue Keenan, suek@glencoenews.comor contact: Sibley ShopperArlington ENTERPRISE507-964-5547 • Fax 507-964-2423Ashley Reetz, AshleyR@ArlingtonMNnews.com• 5” Seamless Gutters• 6” Seamless Gutters• K-Guard Leaf-FreeGutter System(lifetime clog free guarantee)PHIL GOETTL612-655-1379888-864-5979www.mngutter.comFor All Your Insurance needsHome, Auto, Farm, CommercialCall an Agent todayCITIZENS INSURANCEAGENCY OF HUTCHINSON, LLCfallFun SpotsClose to HomeK7eowAaCitizens Bank BuildingP.O. Box 339 – 102 Main St. S, Hutchinson, MN 55350Toll-Free: (888) 234-2910 www.ciahutch.com Fax: (320) 587-1174The Business and Professional Directory is provided each week for quick reference to businesses andprofessionals in the Silver Lake area — their locations, phone numbers and office hours.Call the Silver Lake Leader, (320-327-2216), or McLeod County Chronicle, (320-864-5518)offices for details on how you can be included in this directory.M29tfnCLESAjSilver Lake Leader photo by Rich Glennieteacher; Taylor Melius, seventh-grade English teacher;Kirsten Thisius, kindergarten through second-gradephysical education teacher with adaptive certification;Jamie Fredericksen, high school special educationteacher; Susan Kubasch, Lakeside special educationteacher; Andrea Kuenzel, school nurse; and Liz Tromborg,high school paraprofessional. Missing was MarinaRoberts, long-term Early Childhood substitute teacher.County Board debates levy hike in workshopOpticianGerry’s VisionShoppe, Inc.“Your Complete Optical Store”(with In-House Lab)Call for Appointment864-61111234 Greeley Ave.,GlencoeHIRSCHROOFING• New Roofing • Tear Offs• Roof RepairCALL JOHN FOR YOURFREE ESTIMATEWinsted, MN 55395(320) 485-2518Wk 1Silver Lake LeaderEstablished Dec. 20, 1901 by W.O. MerrillPostmaster send address changes to:Silver Lake Leader,P.O. Box 343, 104B Lake Ave., Silver Lake, MN 55381Phone 320-327-2216 FAX 320-327-2530Email slleader@embarqmail.comHours: Mon. 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Tues. 8 a.m.-Noon,Wed. Closed, Thurs. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Fri. Closed.Published Every Thursday at Silver Lake, MN 55381.Periodicals paid at Silver Lake, MN.Subscription Rates: McLeod County and Cokato, MN– $30.00 per year. Elsewhere in MN – $34.00 per year.Outside of state – $38.00.StaffBill and Joyce Ramige, Publishers;Rich Glennie, Editor; Brenda Fogarty,Sales; Alyssa Schauer, Staff Writer/Office.LettersThe Silver Lake Leader welcomes lettersfrom readers expressing theiropinions. All letters, however, must besigned. Private thanks, solicitationsand potentially libelous letters will notbe published. We reserve the right toedit any letter.A guest column is also available to anywriter who would like to present anopinion in a more expanded format. Ifinterested, contact the editor,richg@glencoenews.com.EthicsThe editorial staff of the Silver LakeLeader strives to present the news in afair and accurate manner. We appreciateerrors being brought to our attention.Please bring any grievancesagainst the Silver Lake Leader to theattention of the editor. Should differencescontinue, readers are encouragedto take their grievances to theMinnesota News Council, an organizationdedicated to protecting the publicfrom press inaccuracy andunfairness. The News Council can becontacted at 12 South Sixth St., Suite940, Minneapolis, MN 55402, or(612) 341-9357.Press FreedomFreedom of the press is guaranteedunder the First Amendment to the U.S.Constitution:“Congress shall make no law respectingan establishment of religion,or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;or abridging the freedom of speech, orthe press…”Ben Franklin wrote in the PennsylvaniaGazette in 1731: “If printers weredetermined not to print anything tillthey were sure it would offend nobodythere would be very little printed.”Deadline for news and advertisingin the Silver Lake Leader is noon,Tuesday. Deadline for advertising inThe Galaxy is noon Wednesday.