Scott Scott County Town Tigers to Host County Taxes Likely Regional Games Going Up This Weekend Fair Page 9 Page 19 Results Pages 7, 17 ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTIETH YEAR BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, AUGUST 3, 2011 75¢ SINGLE COPY NUMBER 31 Scott-Carver Threshers City Council Discusses Impact of Festival Gets Cranking Friday Loss LGA on Public Works Facility by Dan Ruud staff to make “an offer” for the on Monday suggested that per- The 48th running of the Scott- It came as “no big surprise” purchase of the Valley Business haps the city should seek out Carver Threshers Old-Time Park building on Diversifi ed some less costly alternatives for Harvest Steam and Gas En- but Belle Plaine City Admin- istrator David Murphy told the Drive south of Highway 169. public works space needs. The gine Festival will take place That offer, for which the amount city is currently leasing some this Friday through Sunday on city council Monday night that he has received offi cial notice was not disclosed, was rejected 5,000 square feet of the Valley the Threshers grounds located by owners Paul Creighton and Business Park building, which adjacent to the Scott County from the state (dated July 29) that Belle Plaine will again re- Erik Johnson. is currently half empty, and if Fairgrounds in St. Lawrence purchased, would provide the Township. ceive nearly $300,000 less in The building, which was con- local government aid (LGA) in structed in 2004, had a market city with a long-term solution Festival hours are 7 a.m. to 10 2012 than in other years. value of $1,390,000 in 2010. p.m. Friday and Saturday and 7 City Council For a second straight year, In light of the LGA hits, Coop a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admis- (continued on page 3) sion for people ages 12 years Belle Plaine, due to state bud- and up is $8 for the entire week- get cuts, will get $54,473 rather end. Children under 12 are ad- than $352,218 in LGA. Townships’ Attorney Yet to mitted free. Primitive camping Murphy said Tuesday that the is available on the grounds. loss LGA was expected and city File Lawsuit Against City Daily events include a pancake staff has been bracing for it. breakfast from 7-11 a.m., craft “The last two years we’ve In his report to the Belle Plaine ney involving the issue for sev- and fl ea market throughout the operating blacksmith shop, State Open Class (10:30 a.m.) been kind of weaning ourselves City Council Monday night, eral months. day, parade at 1 p.m. and dyno operating printing press/print and MN State Small Plow (2 off (LGA) because we knew City Administrator David Mur- “We have not received a re- testing in the tractor area. This shop, 1962 round roof barn with p.m.). On Sunday the sched- it wouldn’t be coming. The phy stated that the city has yet to sponse (as of Monday) from year's featured tractor is Minne- animals, old East Union Store, ule includes Garden Tractor worst-case scenario was that receive a response from the law the plaintiff’s attorney, and at apolis-Moline. an 1888 one-room school house Plowing (9 a.m.) and Antique we would get none and we had fi rm of Meshbesher & Spence this point, no lawsuits have Special events include a and Memorial Garden. Class (10:30 a.m.). An awards planned for that in the budget, regarding the ambulance fund been fi led with district court,” chicken dinner (5 p.m. Friday), ceremony will follow the daily too,” said Murphy, adding that lawsuit against the city by area Murphy reported. There will also be numerous the $300,000 reduction in LGA pork chop dinner (5 p.m. Satur- parade on Sunday. township leaders. Following a closed session demonstrations throughout the represents about 8 percent of day), silent auction (ends 3 p.m. In June, the city received on March 21, the city council weekend, including an operat- The Scott-Carver Threshers the city’s 2011 general fund Sunday), raffl e drawing (4 p.m. notice from Meshbesher & turned down a pair of settle- ing lath and shingle mill, plow- Association is a non-profi t or- balance. Sunday) and Bingo (10 a.m. ing with antique tractors, corn ganization dedicated to pre- Spence that it has become the ment options submitted by area Saturday and Sunday). shredding, threshing with steam serving the area's agricultural At the request of Council legal representative for the area township offi cials in an attempt There will be a sanctioned engines, log sawing with steam and industrial history. Its pur- Member Cary Coop, the coun- townships’ quest to see to it that to resolve the dispute. In turn, kiddie tractor pull for ages 4- engines and gas engine demos, pose is to present an annual cil briefl y addressed the impact their disagreement with the city the townships rejected the city’s 11 at 2 p.m. Sunday. There will leather crafting, broom mak- steam and gas engine festival the loss of LGA may have on over the use of funds from the proposal to resolve the issue, be live music in the pavilion ing, potato digging, quilting, to preserve the past and to edu- city’s proposal to purchase or former ambulance 201 fund is which centers around $613,786 throughout most of the festival operating rug loom, stationary cate the present and future gen- build a new public works facil- resolved. that was left in the local am- and food and beverages will be steam engines and Worthington erations. Proceeds are used for ity in the near future. Meshbesher and Spence took bulance fund when Ridgeview sold from opening to closing all vacuum pump. new buildings and maintenance The council held a closed ses- over the case from Bob Ruppe, Medical Center took over the three days. Also taking place this week- of existing buildings and equip- sion on July 18 and authorized who was the townships’ attor- Belle Plaine Ambulance Ser- Some of the site attractions in- end will be the 2011 State Plow- ment. If you are looking for a vice in January of 2008. clude vintage farm equipment, ing Matches. Saturday’s com- fun and exciting volunteer op- cars and trucks, mule team petitions include Carver County portunity in the organization, wagon rides, 1850 log house, Local Plowmen (9 a.m.), MN call 952-492-2062. At County Fair, Heat, Humidity Take A Bite Out of Attendance Scott County OKs City’s Request When the demolition derby “It’s like we get all dressed up the show. was completed Saturday eve- and nobody shows up,” Luce But despite the slight drop in ning at the Scott County Fair, said. “Everybody talked about attendance, the fair still turned for Mn/DOT Speed Studies Jim Luce, the fair’s manager, the heat and humidity. It just a profi t. He said the fair covered watched a steady stream of peo- never got to what a normal its costs “comfortably,” but he by John Mueller wants speeds reduced to 30 cent of the drivers on the road, ple head for the air-conditioned crowd should be.” would have liked to take in Although the results may be mph until past Orchard Street and other factors. comfort of their vehicles. The fair drew about 27,500 more to fund more upkeep and several months off, Tuesday the and reduce speed to 45 mph un- “They have a method for the It was that kind of week at the people this year – just off of capital improvements around Scott County Board approved til past 240th Street. studies,” Vermillion said. annual Scott County Fair. last year’s estimate of 30,000 the grounds. Belle Plaine’s request to ask ■ Laredo Avenue (County Data from the studies and the Billed as the Five Best Days fair patrons, Luce said. The highlight of this year’s the Minnesota Department Road 5) from the southern city commissioner’s decision keeps of Summer, fair-goers endured It was never more evident than fair was Friday’s performance of Transportation (Mn/DOT) limits to South Street. The city the speeds from being set ar- more heat and humidity than Sunday afternoon during the by GB Leighton band at the to perform studies on speed wants the speed limits speed bitrarily, Vermillion said. The Luce and his team of workers, draft horse show. Seating in the and safety conditions on three limit reduced from 50 mph to county is not aware of any im- cared for. Weather defi nitely shade, usually long gone before County Fair county roads in the city. 40 mph. mediate problems on the three took a bite out of the fair’s at- the show, was available during (continued on page 3) The request addresses: Respecting the city’s request, stretches of roadway, she said. tendance this year. ■ Eastbound Main Street Commissioner Joe Wagner un- But the Minnesota Depart- (County Road 64) from High- derstands the council’s concerns ment of Transportation faces a way 169 to the eastern city lim- for safety. Wagner said the fi nal backlog of requests for speed its. The council wants the speed decision rests with the commis- studies. The commissioner’s limit reduced from 55 mph sioner of Transportation. decision on speed could be a to 40 mph until after Hickory Lezlie Vermillion, the county’s year away. Boulevard. director of public works, said “They don’t have a lot of peo- ■ Meridian Street (County the studies will look at an array ple with the technical expertise Road 3) from the southern city of factors including crash data, to perform the studies,” she limits to Highway 169.