By Sara QuamPlumbers who want to work in the city of Luverne have until the end of 2007 to get plumbers licenses. Now, they just need a permit. The City Council’s vote Tuesday extended the time initially discussed in order to give plumbers time to pass the state test, which is offered just twice a year.Unlicensed plumber Mark Kurtz said, "It’s not an easy test; they make it quite tough."He and two other plumbers who do work in Luverne would be affected by this change.Kurtz said he does many small plumbing jobs and the test has a lot of commercial and large-scale plumbing questions. To change faucets or install new toilets, he said, doesn’t warrant needing a state license.In order to qualify to take the test for licensure, plumbers have to work for five years as a plumber and be bonded through that time.Cities with populations of more than 5,000 have to require plumbers’ licenses. At about 4,800 people, Luverne is less than 200 people from hitting that population threshold and is starting to transition into requiring the state license with the expectation that the populaion will reach 5,000.Also, there is talk of the state law changing, requiring all plumbers to have a license. In the case of the state changing standards, there wouldn’t be any transition time.The state already requires even non-licensed plumbers to comply with state plumbing codes, which are upheld by Luverne Zoning Administrator Dan Delgehausen.Plumbers are already required to be insured and bonded to legally work anywhere in the state.Administrator contractCity Administrator Greg LaFond’s employment contract was approved Tuesday, with a salary of $85,841.The original agreement had changed, and a new contract was drafted to reflect those in one concise document.The new contract calls for six months severance pay if LaFond is terminated without cause. The initial employment agreement allowed for six months severance pay during the first two years with declining amounts in subsequent years.If LaFond is terminated with cause, or if he resigns, there is no severance package.To terminate LaFond without cause requires three council votes. To terminate with cause, three votes by signature are required. LaFond must give 60 days notice to resign. That is increased from 30.Pool contractThe Council passed a Pool and Fitness Center joint powers agreement extension until March 31, 2005, or three months after it expires.Rock County still has to pass it, but is expected to agree.The county proposed the extension in order to buy time to renegotiate a joint powers agreement. It will pay one-quarter of its annual contribution to the facility, or $14,210.The city and county will negotiate how capital purchases of $11,000 will be handled in the meantime.The city asked that those be paid as a condition on the extension initially. Tuesday, council members said they thought it was fair to remove that condition for negotiations to continue.