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STAFF - From left: Dean Morgan, Chris Devetter, Carter Fischer, and Breanna Karsten. Star Eagle photo by Melanie Piltingsrud
By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Staff Writer
Dean Morgan is far from retiring after selling Morgan's Meat Market in New Richland to Dan and Bud Lewer. Instead, he purchased Lau's Meat Market in Waseca, and in so doing, has come full circle.
“This was where I started working,” says Morgan as he sits in the break room of what will now be the new home of Morgan's Meat Market. Bob Lau opened Lou's Meat Market in Waseca in 1983. “I started working here in '86.”
Morgan attended school in Pipestone to learn meat cutting in the mid '80s. He learned butchering, per Morgan, “pretty much on the job,” from Gerald Hullopeter, who bought the New Richland meat locker in '68. The New Richland meat locker exchanged hands a few times and was finally closed when Morgan bought it and opened Morgan's Meat Market in 2003. Now, with over 120 awards under his belt for his meat products, Morgan's business was thriving.
“We didn't even have it for sale,” says Morgan. “[The Lewers] approached us at the end of February. Honestly, it was a real tough decision. The store becomes a part of you, and it's like a child; you nurse it up from infancy, and you just see it growing. Every year, you just saw that store grow.
“Dan and Bud are probably two of the only people I ever would have sold it to,” Morgan continues. “They know what it takes to make a business successful. They know it's going to be a seven-day-a-week job, going in at midnight, [or] 2 in the morning to empty the smoke house out. Just like any business, you have to have a passion for what you do, and they definitely do.”
According to Morgan, once the decision was made, the transaction went down really fast. “In March we made the deal, and by the time we got done with all the paperwork [...], we signed the deal on May 3.”
The sale was contingent upon Morgan being able to purchase Lau's Meat Market in Waseca. Morgan approached Bruce Barrie, the owner of Lau's Meat Market, to ask if he were interested in selling. He was, and Morgan is the proud new owner of the Waseca based meat market.
Barrie will be helping with the franchise until the end of the year. “He's making quite a few programs for us on the computer that's going to make running the shop a lot easier,” says Morgan.
“When we sold our shop, [the Lewers] took over that day, and I was out,” says Morgan. “I still stop in there once a week. They're awesome guys.
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
The New Richland City Council rescinded a five year contract made with Coordinated Business Solutions at the previous council meeting in favor of a new contract agreement with Metro Sales of Owatonna, saving taxpayers roughly $15,000 during its regular meeting July 26, 2021.
Metro Sales Contract
The new contract the city agreed to will cost roughly $191 per month, compared to the $451 per month they would have been paying with Coordinated Business Solutions. The new contract will cover all the needs that were expected to be covered by the Coordinated contract, the only exception being that Coordinated will continue to provide support for the city’s Global Search Now archiving software. Metro Sales is an employee owned printer and copier business operating since 1969, which also provides service to the State Bank of New Richland and NRHEG High School.
NR Care Center
New administrator David Dunn presented the care center report. As of July 26, the census was at 41 care center residents with 48 other beds available. The month of July included nine new admissions and seven discharges.
Administrator Dunn told the council that staffing isn’t a major concern compared to other facilities he’s worked at before. The main concern is finding more certified nursing assistants (CNA).
Financials
June wasn’t a good month for the care center, but they are still operating very close to their budget. “We’ll recover,” Administrator Dunn said. “There’s some dollars sitting out there that we can get back.”
Dunn discussed temporary 12-hour shifts for nursing assistants, including a temporary two dollar an hour raise. Doing so will help curb significant overtime bonuses. Consultant fees with Advanced Health Institute (AHI) are also expected to decrease because the care center no longer needs to employ an interim administrator through AHI.
The temporary director and AHI began working with the care center on a comprehensive strategic plan to reorganize the departments to operate optimally.
“There are good processes in place,” Administrator Dunn said. “They just need some tweaking here and there.
“I think the folks that are ready for the change are willing to do what it takes to have that facility run the way it should,” Dunn explained. “The residents’ care comes first. [...] We make the residents happy, makes the staff happy, (and) everything just kind of falls into place. It’s a good building, with good people.”
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By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
In response to a letter to the editor printed in last week’s issue of the Star Eagle regarding an ongoing apartment building project, the Ellendale City Council agreed to distribute more detailed information about the project during its second meeting of the month on Thursday, July 22. The letter, while successful in prompting the council to take further action, did not contain completely accurate information. The issues addressed in the letter have been discussed at previous council meetings as well as a public hearing earlier this month.
“We need to step up communication,” said Mayor Matt Bartsch, who will reach out to the EDA – who originally recommended the project to the council – as well as other official parties involved with the project to gather information to be released to the public.
Councilperson Steph Kibler pointed out that information regarding the project is available to the public in the form of council meetings, meeting minutes, which are posted on the city website, and the ability to contact city hall during business hours with questions or concerns.
One point made in the letter regarding the possibility of low-income housing was also addressed by Bartsch, who stated that low-income individuals and families exist in most communities, and Ellendale should provide housing opportunities to all citizens regardless of wealth or income.
Fire Department
Several individuals with the Ellendale Fire Department were present to provide updates on another ongoing project in town: a new fire hall for the department. Total costs for the project are estimated at about $507,000, though the department is eligible for a grant of up to $450,000. A request by the department for the city to agree to provide the remaining roughly $60,000 for the project was approved by the council, to the relief and appreciation of the department.
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By REED WALLER
Staff Writer
New Superintendent Michael Meihak addressed the NRHEG school board during its regular meeting, and his first with the district, July 19, 2021. All members were present except Board Chair Rick Schultz; acting in his stead was Vice Chair Dan Schmidt.
Meihak reported on the secondary building gym update: Curtain has been removed, support beam plaster removed and painted. A quote is being prepared on how much it will cost to repaint the walls.
Ford Metro is assessing the gym lobby entrance reconstruction, and they are working up some quotes regarding the demolition and the new construction, and the job may happen this fall, but probably around spring break.
Comments
Meihak also informed the board that the rules for Public Comments during the board meeting have been somewhat broadened to include not only “residents,” but family members of open enrolled students.
Donations
Donations were received from:
Compeer Financial, $3,000 for Ag Department; Central Farm Service Foundation, $500 FFA Grant; Land O’Lakes $500 FFA Grant; Delores Hemingway Family, $125 Ellendale Voluntary Readers and $400 Ellendale Readers program. Total: $4,625.00.
Workforce
Contract renewal was approved for Naomi Elmhorst, Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant. We share Ms. Elmhorst’s service 50/50 with JWP.
Also approved for another year was Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Sue Kulseth.
A new hire was approved for Solveig Sundblad, 6th grade teacher at beginning wages.
K-3 Literacy Plan
The K-3 Literacy Plan is required by the State of Minnesota, and the board approved the terms of the K-3 Literacy Plan for 2021-22. The plan requires that all students are provided reading instruction that is scientifically based, that parents are notified of student progress at least annually. In K-2 students are assessed using the STARS program. Students not reading at grade level are given intervention-based practices to improve. The results are reported annually to the Minnesota Department of Education.
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By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
The Ellendale Community Action Group has been working for many months to raise money for a digital sign to be set up along Highway 30 near the NRHEG bus garage. The sign, which will cost in the vicinity of $20,000, is being funded by ECAG fundraisers, especially community bingo games. The organization is well on its way toward meeting its goals, and has even been working with the same company which will be installing the new school district sign in New Richland.
“The sign will be for any civic organizations which want to share information,” says Allison Muilenburg, ECAG president. “We also expect to be able to include announcements about special events at the school.”
In addition to regularly scheduled bingo nights, the organization sponsors seasonal versions for holidays such as Halloween and Christmas. More special events, including an October “designer purse” bingo game, are scheduled in the next months with the goal of meeting the financial needs for the project. In the meantime, work moves forward with planning and choosing the features of the sign which, rather than being overhead, will be just above ground level.
Once the sign is in place, the organization will control what content is displayed. Anyone interested in more information—or in contributing to the sign—can contact the ECAG at its email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..