The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on April 10, 1958.
City May Rent South Air Strip
Luverne’s airport committee was authorized to negotiate for a lease of the landing strip south of the city on U.S. Highway No. 75 by the City Council Tuesday night.
Benjamin Vander Kooi, representing the city’s airport committee, appeared before the council and urged the city to rent the eight-acre airstrip from the landowner, Tallak Vegge. Boyd Rolph, of Minneapolis, has been leasing the strip, but Mr. Vander Kooi said the lease expired April 1.
Gentleman’s Agreement
Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Vander Kooi said there was a “gentleman’s agreement” between the committee and Mr. Vegge on rental of the airport. Negotiations were not completed, however, and neither party had signed an agreement.
A factor for the city to consider will be the amount of liability that the city would incur if they were to rent the airstrip. City Attorney Rodger Jensen is to study that. If insurance costs are not prohibitive, and the airport committee works out a satisfactory agreement with Mr. Vegge there is a good chance Luverne will have an airstrip.
Vander Kooi told the council he understood Mr. Vegge would rent the land for one year and give the city an option to rent it another year.
Members of the airport committee, besides Vander Kooi, include D. M. Lippi, Larry Brinkman, William Mohr and Glenn Jensen.
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