The Luverne City Council is considering more than $3.1 million in capital purchases next year, according to estimates from city department heads.
In 2015 the budget was $2.5 million and in 2018 it’s anticipated city capital expenses will be $4.7 million.
The council met with city department heads to review upcoming spending in the areas of fire, government buildings, parks and recreation, streets, airport, pool and fitness center, the Luverne Loop, water, sewer, storm sewer, refuse, electric, liquor store and others.
The capital improvement plan allows city leaders to prepare for future expenses, but purchases are often delayed or expedited, depending on needs.
Following is the 2017 expense list, which includes items with an expected life of more than one year and a value of more than $5,000.
•The fire department plans to spend $100,000 next year on a three-stall garage for equipment storage on city property south of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
The garage to the north of the fire hall would house items such as the rescue boat, lights, washer and dryer and other equipment, and would free up space inside the fire hall for training.
Also on 2017’s budget is $50,000 to replace the current 1988 air supply truck that refills individual air tanks at fire calls.
The next major expense in the fire department will be in 2019 when a $500,000 heavy rescue vehicle may be needed.
A $400,000 platform truck had been budgeted for 2018, but that item was purchased late in 2015 when the fire chief found a used one for sale that met his specifications.
It’s a 2010 Rosenbauer 101-foot platform truck that cost $550,000, and the 2015 budget was amended to accommodate it. A new one costs more than $1 million.
Luverne’s 1985 unit was valued at $60,000 and was sold to the Miller Fire Department for $30,000.
•Parks and recreation plans to spend $117,000 next year. That includes $67,000 for a new 11-foot mower.
This one is in addition to the 11-foot mower currently in the fleet because of all the new mowing areas the city has taken on (Loop, Rotary Park, Flag Park, Lake area, EDA empty lots, etc.)
The city also owns a 16-foot mower and a smaller 6-foot mower for downtown.
The Parks and Rec Department will also spend $5,000 to trade up on a new track skidloader. According to Public Works Supervisor John Stoffel, with the city’s municipal discount, it pays to trade yearly for $5,000 rather than pay for repairs and parts.
The other two costs for next year include $35,000 for a small play structure in Hawkinson Park by the trail and $10,000 to bore a waterline to the main city park restrooms (current ones are leaking).
•The street department is planning to spend $240,500 in 2017.
That includes $180,000 (the price after $60,000 trade-in) for a used road grader, which is used for windrowing snow downtown and moving snow at the airport. It’s also used for some gravel grading.
Street Department purchases in 2017 also include $37,000 to replace street signs in Luverne. The new signs will have Luverne’s logo and will be a couple of inches taller and wider, according to code. The old signs are 30 years old and many are fading. The new ones will be reflective.
Other Street Department costs next year are $16,000 to trade for a new payloader (the city trades this equipment every two years to save on maintenance costs) and $7,500 to buy a plow for the skidloader.
•The airport is planning to spend $65,000 next year to relocate the automated weather observing system. The airport capital budget for 2018 includes $470,000 for a corporate hangar building.
•The pool and fitness center is planning to spend its annual $10,000 for new exercise equipment (to keep it new and working well), and $12,000 for an ultraviolet light system for sanitation.
The city is considering a major addition and or expansion to the facility, but those expenses are not factored in regular budgeted capital expenses.
•There are no major street projects planned for 2017, but in 2018 there are plans for $1.5 million in street, sidewalk and parking lot improvements.
•Luverne Loop expenses next year will be an estimated $775,000. This includes $60,000 to establish parking at the Lake, $20,000 for wayfinding signs and $695,000 for Phase 2 work on the trail.
•The water department plans to spend $722,000 next year for capital improvements.
This includes $400,000 to paint the downtown water tower, which was originally scheduled for this year. (City officials deemed they would get better bid results this winter for 2017 work.)
Other 2017 water expenses include $167,000 for an underground waterline project on Luverne Street from Blue Mound Avenue to Cedar Street, $40,000 for a pickup replacement, $25,000 for a conservation system at the city park (drawing from the Rock River to water grass), $10,000 for one-third of a backhoe (to be shared with street and electric departments) $40,000 for annual water main looping and $40,000 for annual system upgrades.
Looking ahead to 2018, $750,000 will be needed to bring water service to the industrial park.
•Sewer department expenses are expected to come to $305,000 next year. That includes $50,000 for annual sewer line replacement, $10,000 for one third of the new backhoe cost, $90,000 for the Luverne Street utility project (from Blue Mound to Cedar Street), $100,000 to replace the septic system at the city park with a sanitary sewer line, $40,000 to upsize three effluent pumps and controls and $15,000 for annual new equipment costs.
Looking ahead to 2018, $750,000 will be needed to bring sanitary sewer service to the industrial park.
•The electric department is anticipating $701,000 in capital expenses next year. That includes $100,000 for a community solar project (see related story), $20,000 for substation improvements, $50,000 to replace streetlight poles, fixtures and banners, $106,000 for a refurbished bucket truck, $140,000 for breaker replacement, $100,000 for improvements at the power plant (tuck pointing, windows, roof), $25,000 annual expense for transformers, $150,000 for annual distribution upgrades, and $10,000 for one-third of the shared backhoe.
•Expenses for storm sewer services next year are $30,000 to clean out creeks throughout the city and $10,000 for a flail mower.
These expenses are considered as part of the overall five-year capital improvement plan for Luverne and are taken into account when the city approves a proposed levy in September.