NEWS RELEASE

Conference Room Dedicated in Honor of

Commissioner Liz Prebich

The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners will dedicate a meeting space in the Northland Office Center, Virginia, in honor of late 6th District Commissioner Liz Prebich, tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 12:30 PM. The Northland Office Center, located at 307 South First Street in Virginia, Minnesota, is the location for Public Health and Social Services for 6th District residents. A ribbon cutting and refreshments will be open to the public.

The meeting space will be dedicated the "Liz Prebich Conference Room" in honor of Prebich’s lifetime work in human services. Commissioner Liz Prebich was a third generation Iron Ranger, born and schooled in Hibbing, MN. She received an Associate’ s Degree from Hibbing Community College, a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work at St. Catherine’s College in St. Paul. She was the wife of Thomas Butorac, and the mother of Sarah and Mark.

Commissioner Liz Prebich was a pioneer in social work in rural populations, developing concepts and practices that have become commonplace throughout the State of Minnesota. She was initially elected St. Louis County Commissioner in 1986, bringing her experience in human services to the St. Louis County Board.

Commissioner Prebich played a crucial part in development of the Mesabi Trail and Iron Range Youth In Action, and helped establish St. Louis County as an Urban County, thereby making the area eligible for millions of dollars annually in Community Development Block Grant Funding. She was elected four times and served as Chair of the St. Louis County Board in 1990 and 1996, and Vice Chair of the Board in 1989 and 1995, as well as many other regional, statewide, and national policy committees. Liz Prebich died in 2001.

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