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State Lawmakers Go Back to Work in New Environment by John Mueller Lawmakers and Constitutional Offi- Editor Cers Like Gov

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State Lawmakers Go Back to Work in New Environment by John Mueller Lawmakers and Constitutional Offi- Editor Cers Like Gov Hoopsters close out 2018 Looking back Panther boys, girls host holiday tourney on 2018: Year — Sports Page 1B in review — Pages 3, 8 The McLeod County hronicle $1.25 Glencoe, Minnesota Vol. 122, No. 1C www.glencoenews.com January 2, 2019 State lawmakers go back to work in new environment By John Mueller lawmakers and constitutional offi- Editor cers like Gov. Tim Walz will be When the Minnesota Legislature sworn into office. returns to St. Paul later this week, The session is primarily aimed at things won’t be quite the same for establishing a biennial budget for the area lawmakers now that the DFL state. Most of the significant work has taken control of the House of on budget and bills will begin later Representatives, a new governor will in the month, Newman said. take over and Republicans hold a Minnesota’s current two-year op- majority in the Senate by one vote. erating budget is about $39.6 billion. Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen, R-Glen- The state’s budget is about $71.3 bil- coe, and Sen. Scott Newman, R- lion when all other funds are added. Hutchinson, believe they can still ef- Gruenhagen and Newman believe fectively represent their constituents the state’s budget has been growing though they may have to work a lit- too fast. They want to see the growth tle harder to forge compromises on trimmed to inflationary levels, just key policy and spending decisions. over 2 percent. The two Republican Gruenhagen and Newman will be Chronicle photos by John Mueller back to work Tuesday, Jan. 8, when Legislature When it snows . the legislative session opens. New Turn to page 2 Glencoe residents finally re- ceived snow in the past week to play in and relocate from their sidewalks and driveways. Longtime mayors step (Above) Jim and Judy Madden spent a portion of Friday after- noon clearing snow from their down, reflect on service sidewalk and driveway on By John Mueller how well the various city councils North Newton Avenue. (Right) Editor worked together over the years. Isaiah Alsleben and Christian They sought elected office many Even when there were disagree- Reyes started down the sled- years ago for similar reasons and ments, Bebo believes councilors ding hill on the west side of now believe they leave having made consistently had Silver Lake’s best Hennepin Avenue. The boys, a positive impact. Two area mayors interests in mind and worked for the along with Leo Reyes (not pic- are stepping away from elected of- betterment of the city. The commit- tured) spent part of the morn- fice confident they made good on ment to the community helped con- efforts to give back to their commu- vince Lakes Gas to move its head- ing at the park Sunday, Dec. 30. nities. quarters to Silver Lake, Bebo said. Silver Lake Mayor Bruce Bebo He saw development on the east and Plato Mayor Bob Becker side of Silver Lake and the collabo- stepped away from elected office ration with civic groups and individ- GSL School Board members step this week. Bebo served on the Silver uals to build the aquatic center in Lake City Council for 18 years, 16 the early-2000s, a public-private as the community’s mayor. Becker partnership Bebo believes Silver away after many years of service served as Plato’s mayor for 22 Lake should be proud of. He’s By John Mueller meets later this month. They opted against re-election years. Reflecting on their tenure, the pleased the council supported Dollar Editor last November. Jonathan Lemke and Alicia Luckhardt two men are proud of the work they General moving to town and the They both won election to the Glencoe-Silver Lake will replace them. have done and satisfied that with the city’s efforts supporting the paving School Board at a time when the district was in need of “I have had a lifelong interest in public education. My help of their respective council of the Luce Line Trail. new and positive perspectives. This month, the board mother was an elementary teacher and my father was a members, their cities are better off “These may not seem like big will renew its work without two of its most experienced school administrator in the Waseca School District today than when they took office. things to others, but it took a lot of members. throughout my school age and college years,” Christian- Glencoe City Councilor Gary hard work by all the councils over Directors Anne Twiss and Clark Christianson complet- son said. “Schools are the center of a community.” Ziemer served his community for 12 the years to pull these things togeth- ed their service on the GSL School Board last month, He recalls 2006 as a tough time for the GSL School years on the city council. He de- er,” Bebo said. finishing a dozen years each helping oversee a school District. The moral and energy in the district was in need clined requests to discuss his tenure Becker is pleased with the state of district that worked its way out of the shadows of statu- of some optimism. Christianson credits the new superin- and service to the community. Plato as he looks around the com- tory operating debt and declining enrollment. They leave tendent, Chris Sonju hired in 2007 with sparking a Bebo served four years on Silver munity. It has grown a bit and has the board in the hands of experienced members and the Lake’s planning commission and district on far better financial standing than it was when two years as a city councilor before Mayors they arrived in 2007. Board members a successful bid for mayor in 2002. Turn to page 2 Twiss and Christianson won’t be on the board when it Turn to page 2 He is particularly pleased with County board OKs 2019 levy, unbalanced budget By Jakob Kounkel budget, as you know, are salaries for Staff writer the employees — personnel costs — At its last meeting before the new we have added six new positions, year, the McLeod County Board of and the increase in health insurance Commissioners unanimously ap- for 2019 as well as social services proved the final property tax levy rising costs in their programs.” (the total amount of money the county receives from property taxes) for 2019 at $22,614,592 — un- Salaries set changed from the preliminary levy The board also, on recommenda- — which amounts to 7.1 percent in- tion from its budget committee, crease over 2018. The increase will doled out 3 percent raises for amount to a $10 increase in property McLeod County elected officials — taxes on a $100,000 home in Glen- part of the personnel costs Ford coe. highlighted for impacts on the 2019 Also approved was an unbalanced budget. budget of an expected $54,062,931 The salaries for 2019 included: for Chronicle photo by John Mueller in expenditures and $52,217,102 in Holiday sing-along revenue. County board Cindy Ford stated to the commis- Students at Silver Lake Elementary School enjoyed a holiday sing-along Friday, Dec. 21, before sioners, “The impacts (on the) 2019 Turn to page 2 school let out for the holiday break. Teachers and guests provided musical accompaniment. Looking back: Just when you Dec. 27 33......30...52 Rn/.8 Sn Weather think winter will set in for a Dec. 28 27....6..... .3 Sn Chronicle News and spell, the weather become un- Dec. 29 17....3 ...... 0.10 seasonably mild. Go figure. Dec. 30 30....23 ...Tr Rn Advertising Deadlines Date Hi Lo Rn/Sn All news is due by 5 p.m., Monday, and all adver- Dec. 25 26......15.......... 0.00 Temperatures and precipitation compiled by Robert Thurn, Chronicle weather ob- tising is due by noon, Monday. News received after Wed., 1-2 Thur., 1-3 Fri., 1-4 Sat., 1-5 Sun., 1-6 Dec. 26 29......21......... 2.0 Sn H: 18°, L: 13° H: 34°, L: 23° H: 32°, L: 25° H: 33° L: 23° H: 29° L: 21° server. that deadline will be published as space allows. The McLeod County Chronicle, www.glencoenews.com, Wednesday, January 2, 2019, page 2 Legislature Continued from page 1 County board Continued from page 1 lawmakers know the demands forecast is expected in Febru- Senate, though slim, is solid. County Attorney Michael diem and mileage reimburse- it just not worth going after for funding will make control- ary. Gruenhagen said that Gruenhagen said Republicans Junge, a 3 percent raise in- ment remained unchanged. them?” Public Works Director ling the growth of the budget forecast is the number law- must look for portions in par- creased his salary to $121,970 The commissioners will re- John Brunkhorst answered, a challenge, especially since makers and the governor use ticular bills where they can — $3,552 more than last year. ceive $125 for a full day and saying that they try with let- the DFL-controlled House of when working to craft a bien- achieve compromise to curb The new auditor-treasurer, $75 for a half day. ters, but that he wasn’t sure Representatives is expecting nial budget. increases in spending and tax- Connie Kurtzweg, had her The last scheduled agenda how far that gets them. to support increases in fund- ation. He and Gruenhagen be- salary set at $85,000. Sheriff item for 2019 surfaced talks Commissioner Rich ing in human services and ed- lieve Minnesotans are over- Scott Rehmann will receive of litigation. The county hesi- Pohlmeier restated the ques- ucation funding, the largest In the minority taxed.
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