News from the week of December 22, 1999Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880
Minge says White House may push new ag initiatives
• Congressman urges state to fully match CREP funds
Congressman David Minge says that the Clinton administration appears "interested in making some major new initiatives on agriculture."
Minge, speaking in Tracy Dec. 11, said he spoke extensively with a Clinton aide at the White House recently. The Congressman had an appointment to meet with the official for only a half hour, but the two ended up talking much longer. "I wanted to talk about a couple of fairly modest things. I was surprised that all this guy wanted to do was talk about the big picture (in agriculture)."
Minge looks for some changes in the farm program. "The question is whether we are going to get it in time for the next crop year."
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Minge said he'd welcome changes.
"The biggest problem facing the region continues to be our low farm income. We've got the cheapest, safest and most dependable supply of food in the world and the people in the city just don't get it," Minge lamented.
The four-term Democrat from Montevideo feels a big hurdle to improved farm prices is the strong U.S. dollar on foreign currency exchanges.
"When we have a dollar that is 50% stronger than the Canadian dollar, foreign countries are going to buy food where it is the least expensive."
To boost farm income, Minge said, federal ag programs must take into consideration the currency program. He said he is consulting with an economics expert at the University of Minnesota to come up with a solution.
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The State of Minnesota can help the region's ag economy by providing full matching funding for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Minge said. The program is designed to enhance up to 100,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land in the Minnesota River basin watershed. Landowners who voluntarily enroll eligible land in a conservation easement receive annual payments and a one-time bonus payment.
The federal government has authorized up to $163 million for the Minnesota River watershed program. To utilize all of the federal dollars, the State of Minnesota must provide $70 million in matching funds by the year 2002
To date, the state has authorized $10 million for CREP, most of which has already been spent. The Ventura administration has proposed state funding of $18 million for the next biennium.
"The money is sitting on the table. But we have to have the state match. It would be a sin not to pick up that federal money and invest it in our region," Minge said.
If Minnesota does not match the federal CREP dollars, the Congressman added, it will hurt the state's credibility in asking for other federal funding.
Ouch! TAMC writes off $76,000
The write-off of $76,000 in bad debt hurt the bottom line for Tracy Area Medical Services last month.
The bad debt left TAMS with a net loss for November of $76,696. Through the first seven months of TAMS's 1999-00 fiscal year, the clinic and hospital show a net operating loss of $121,963. The figures were reviewed at the monthly meeting of the TAMS community advisory board last week.
Interim Administrator John Olson explained that some of the written off bad debts dated from 1996 and 1997. It is hoped that some of these accounts will eventually be recovered through collection efforts.
The bad debt write-off occurred during the first month that the Sioux Valley Health Systems Central Business Office in Sioux Falls assumed TAMS's accounts receivable billing. The change took place Nov. 1. Board members have been told that Sioux Valley will be more aggressive in collecting accounts receivable.
December finances look improved, Olson told the board. So far in December, both the hospital and clinic have been busy.
Staff Accountant Stacy Barstad noted that economy measures are also helping finances. In November, TAMS salary expenses were down by nearly $9,000 compared with the previous month. Olson commended staff for performing well in "a difficult situation." Director of Nursing Jeri Schons said that patient care has not been impacted by recent budget cuts, since budget cuts were limited to areas not directly affecting patients. Schons said that surveys still show excellent patient satisfaction.
Total hospital and clinic revenues were up, rising to $350,856, up from $326,415 in October.
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A financial report on the resources controlled by the TAMS advisory board and the Tracy City Council showed current assets of $1,340,516, and property and equipment of $869,870. Total liabilities were listed at $350,247. The community board (the city) shows a net income in November of $8,309, and a year-to-date income over five months of $24,389.
Sioux Valley leases the hospital and clinic from the City of Tracy, assuming responsibility for any financial losses, and rights to 90% of any profits. The city, through the community board, is paid a lease payment. The community board also generates revenue from the interest income of the city's cash assets.
State lawmakers unhappy about governor's vetoes
Among local legislators, Governor Jesse Ventura isn't the most popular guy in St. Paul.
Speaking at the annual meeting of Area 2 of the Minnesota River Basin Project in Tracy, lawmakers expressed displeasure with the governor's veto of rural projects in the state bonding bill. The legislators were: Rep. Marty Seifert (Republican-Marshall), Senator Arlene Lesewski (Republican-Marshall) and Senator Jim Vickerman (DFL-Tracy).
"I felt betrayed," said Seifert, describing his reaction, after hearing the governor had vetoed the $2 million Lazarus Creek dry dam flood retention project. Seifert felt the governor went back on his word, since he, and other lawmakers, had voted for projects in the bonding bill that they didn't support, such as light rail in the Twin Cities, in order to get rural appropriations in the bill.
"The governor vetoed our projects," said Lesewski. "Almost 100% of the projects he vetoed were in rural areas. I want you to remember this."
Vickerman felt the governor "broke trust with the legislature" with his vetoes. He criticized Ventura for vetoing items "without giving anyone a chance to debate or argue their case. At least with (former governor) Arne Carlson, he would let people know where he stood and then allow people to make their cases."
Both Seifert and Lesewski took jabs at the governor.
Seifert joked: "What's the difference between God and Jesse Ventura?...God doesn't think he's Jesse Ventura."
Lesewski dismissed the governor's proposal for a unicameral legislature as a "simple idea" from a "simple-minded person."
Vickerman struck a more conciliatory note.
"I respect the governor. He is the governor. We need to work with the governor and not get into a shouting match."
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In other remarks, lawmakers offered insights into their goals for next year's legislative session.
Vickerman wants to "continue to ratchet down property taxes." The Senator said he would like to see the state "pick up more of the school costs...to take the pressure off of the ag lands."
The Tracy lawmaker will propose a bill asking for $300 to $400 million to upgrade substandard sewer systems in rural areas.
Vickerman said he'd prefer using the state's budget surplus to improve the state, rather than issue another round of tax rebates. Vickerman felt it didn't make sense this past year, for the state to be sending out rebate checks, while at the same time his home school district was borrowing money to meet expenses.
The Senator said he does not favor the governor's unicameral legislative proposal.
Currie searches for way to keep Mill Street Merchantile open
What does it take these days to keep a grocery store operating in a small town?
That's the question the board of directors of Currie's Mill Street Mercantile has been puzzling over in recent months. The business, they say, isn't generating enough income to be self-sustaining, and the store may be forced to close its doors.
Three months ago the store was put up for sale and staff cut to one paid employee who works two days a week, with volunteers covering the rest of the hours. The situation is disappointing for the store's supporters who believe that a grocery store is vital in the life of a community.
Mill Street Mercantile opened its doors with high hopes in April of 1996 following community efforts to remodel and refurbish the historic building that houses it. The community had been without a grocery store since December of 1995, and over 80 stockholders, each investing $1,000, banded together in support of the endeavor.
“We had no trouble raising the funds,” remembers Romane Dold, who is the president of Currie Area Restoration Enterprise Inc.
A brick facade on the building was removed, revealing the original wood siding of the building which was constructed in 1875 by Neil Currie and his father Archibald. Insulation was added along with new sheet rock. Other improvements were made to satisfy state codes, all the while keeping the historic integrity of the building intact -- one of the store's most redeeming features is its wooden floors.
Business was good the first year the store was open, says Dold, and remains strong during the summer months when cabin owners and campers spend time at nearby Lake Shetek.
“The store does a good business during the summer months. But a grocery store can't operate on a seasonal basis,” he points out.
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In an effort to shed light on the grocery shopping habits of area residents, CARE's board of directors mailed a questionnaire earlier this fall to 175 families. Twenty-two of 44 respondents who returned the survey indicated that they'd be “extremely inconvenienced” if the store closed, fourteen said they would be somewhat inconvenienced, but could manage relatively easily. Eight said they wouldn't be inconvenienced at all if the store closed.
While the survey results were inconclusive, says Dold, the 44 respondents provided a few clues for CARE's directors. Patrons aren't dissatisfied with the service they receive or the cleanliness of the store — both received high marks. The bottom line, it seems, is that a small-town store has trouble competing with the selection and specials of larger supermarkets. Nearly three quarters of respondents said they preferred to do the majority of their grocery shopping at stores in Slayton, Tracy, Worthington and Marshall. They cited a number of reasons; chief among them were the greater selection and shopping incentives offered by larger stores.
Several who returned the survey mentioned the lack of a meat counter at Mill Street Mercantile. No doubt, admit directors, not selling fresh meat has hurt the store's business, but the expense of installing stainless steel counters and other equipment mandated by state codes simply couldn't be justified by its stockholders when the store was refurbished. Mill Street Mercantile does sell frozen meats, however.
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CARE's directors are meeting monthly with stockholders to assess the store's prospects. The store is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and from 9 a.m. to noon on Sundays.
Dold said they've had a few inquiries to date from potential buyers, but that nothing has come of them so far.
“It would help if a second business could operate in the same building to offset some of the overhead costs,” he noted. “There's potential here for the right buyer.”
Holiday spirit abounds in Tracy area
A pictoral display of the Elemtary and High School programs and concerts, area nativity displays and programs
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Calico Ribbon Plus
Calico Ribbon looks like Santa's Workshop these days
Tracy's Calico Ribbon Plus, the ceramic business co-owned by Joan Lanoue and Janice Heern, looks a lot like Santa's workshop as Christmas approaches — busy, busy, busy.
Personalized ceramic snowmen are ready to roll out the door of the shop. Finishing touches are being painted on Christmas villages and nativity sets.
Lanoue and Heern also create one-of-a-kind items — this month's special requests included a green piggy bank and a teapot adorned with chili peppers.
Heern handles much of the pouring while Lanoue does the carving of the greenware.
“It takes a lot of practice to do a clean cut,” explains Lanoue who has been in the ceramic business for nearly 25 years. “The carving is done before the piece is fired, so it can break real easily if you're not careful.”
Lanoue estimates that she's personalized over a thousand snowmen and pumpkins for customers in the last five years alone.
With Christmas just a few days away, the owners of Calico Ribbon Plus figure they'll have Santa's special orders all set to go in time for the holidays.
Fortunately, adds Joan, she has until January to finish the ceramic piece she's bringing to her daughter's family in Montana.
“If I have to, I'll take the paints along and do it in the car,” she quips.
Spoken like one of Santa's true elves.