Luverne approves fire contracts with townships

Luverne’s City Council approved fire protection contracts with area townships at their meeting Tuesday, April 26.
Townships included in the contract with Luverne Fire Department are Luverne, Magnolia, Kanaranzi, Clinton, Mound, Vienna and Springwater townships, which have all returned signed contracts.
There are 111.47 sections included in the 2016 contract at $645.8897 per section for a total of $71,998.44 for all of the township sections that are covered.
According to discussion at Tuesday’s meeting, this comes to roughly $1 per acre.
This also includes the $21,723.44 equipment reserve charge that covers the debt service on the new rural tanker, which was purchased for $182,600 and financed over 10 years at 5 percent interest. The final payment is due Dec. 31, 2019.
Personnel ($17,750), supplies ($19,001), Fire Relief Association ($2,000) and “other services and charges” ($11,524) round out the rest of the annual expenses paid by townships.
The 2015 contract was for $606.9116 per section for a total of $67,652.44, which is $5,346 less than the 2016 contract.
According to discussion at the City Council meeting, the fire contract amount with townships hasn't varied more than $10 more or less over the past years.
 
Department activities
In other business at the April 26 meeting, City Administrator John Call reported on various activities in city departments:
•Flowering crab trees that were damaged in the ice storm have been removed and replaced with new ones. He said city public works employees were planting 100 trees in boulevards.
•Mowing is in full force with three public works employees mowing full time right now.
•Evergreen trees have been transplanted along Highway 75 and city workers are “dressing up” boulevards that need attention.
•Landscape work will soon be done at the base of the crossing lights on Highway 75 by the school.
•Banners will be hung on light poles on Main and Highway 75 this week.
•Windows are being replaced in the city power house.
•The city of Luverne now meets federal emissions requirements on all its generators and electrical equipment.
 
In other business at the April 26 meeting:
•The council approved a resolution designating the lot at 104 W. Barck for the public purpose of housing. The city recently demolished the structure that had been there, and to comply with state law, the city needs to formally state the purpose for the parcel is for housing or economic development.
The lot, which has a 15-year tax exemption, has adequate space for a house to be built on. Council members discussed that the space could possibly be used for a Habitat for Humanity home.
•The council approved the final payment for the $325,000 south water line project, which put a water main under I-90 on the west edge of town. In the past there was just one water line under the interstate (in the underpass area), and the new line makes water service more reliable to areas south of the interstate.