Staff photo by Fritz Busch Minnesota Rep. Paul Torkelson, R-Hanska; and Sen. Nick Frentz, D-N. Mankato enjoy a light moment at a town hall meeting at the Farm-City Hub Club Farm Show at the New Ulm Civic Center Saturday.

NEW ULM — Rep. Paul Torkelson, R-Lake Hanska and Sen. Nick Frentz, D-N. Mankato covered a wide range of legislative topics at a public town hall meeting at the Farm-City Hub Club Farm Show at the New Ulm Civic Center Saturday.

“I will be on the ballot this fall, said Torkelson, in his 16th year at the Minnesota House. He is the current Republican Caucus Deputy, elections committee lead and serves on the rules and ethics committee.

Torkelson and Frentz said they oppose the North STAR Act that would prohibit state and local law enforcement form using state resources for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement.

“I’m worried. The North STAR Act proposal is serious,” Torkelson said.

A number of states have passed similar laws, allowing non-citizen residents to remain. Proponents say such a law allows non-citizen residents to positively contribute to local and state economies without fear of unnecessary harassment or detention.

Torkelson talked about ways for small cities to save money.

“I’m proposing small towns have two-year audits. Some of them spend much of their LGA (Local Government Assistance) money on audits each year. It makes sense and would save a significant amount of money,” said Torkelson.

While a number of Republican legislators disagree with how a new state flag and seal came about, Frentz said he voted for the new flag.

“But we took the public approval process out of it, which I didn’t like,” said Frentz.

Republican legislators recently rolled out bills to address public concern including removing Dakota language from the state seal and adding the year Minnesota was founded to it.

“The process was flawed. The commission got lots of submissions, but did their own thing,” Torkelson said.

“Replacing the state flag and seal is a reasonably large expense. I think the statehood date is important,” he added.

“With free speech, you and someone else will be offended. Get over it,” said a woman.

Sleepy Eye farmer Greg Bartz disagreed with electric car mandates.

“We should have slow charging stations, not fast ones, to reduce peak (electrical) use,” Bartz said.

“We don’t have to follow California clean energy laws, but we share some of their priorities. We want to go clean, but not at any price,” said Frentz.

Torkelson said electric vehicles make sense for some people but not for everyone.

He called the shortage of EMTs (emergency medical technicians) “a huge issue that is on top of my list.”

Frentz agreed and said he would be surprised if the legislature doesn’t allocate funding for it this year.

Torkelson said he enjoys his legislative work and urged people to “vote, vote, and vote.”

“It’s easier to vote now. Use the tools. If you don’t vote, your vote won’t count,” he added.

Frentz urged people to email his office because emails are counted to determine public opinion.

“I think state representatives get along pretty good. It’s not up to us to agree on everything, but it’s up to us to listen,” Frentz said.