Pool and fitness center construction nearly complete

Construction on the Luverne Aquatics and Fitness facility is reaching final stages, according to recent City Council discussion.
The council approved an $80,000 payment to Hoogendoorn Construction during its regular meeting March 8.
Work completed this pay period includes the final cleanup, painting, acoustical ceiling tile, splash pad equipment, HVAC work and electrical work.
Hoogendoorn Construction from Canton, South Dakota, submitted the low bid of $4,327,150 for the project in January 2021.
The city is financing the project with general obligation bonds in the amount of $5.2 million to be retired over a 20-year period.
Improvements to the facility included in the construction plans are:
•an outdoor splash pad on the south side of the pool.
•new locker rooms.
•four family changing rooms.
•flat space rooms for group aerobic exercise.
•new office space and staff area.
•larger rooms for both 24-hour weightlifting and aerobic exercise machines.
•new mechanical and heat, ventilation and air-conditioning for the facility.
City Administrator John Call told the council the project is at the stage where furniture will be delivered soon. The weight equipment will be delivered the week of March 14, and a final “punch list” of remaining items is being formulated.
The facility will be opened up for staff training and private community tours during the last couple of weeks in March, and a grand opening will be scheduled sometime in April.
 
Power plant update
In other business at the March 8 meeting, Call updated the council on progress at the city’s power plant.
He said contractors were doing a lot of excavating on the bridge side of the building, preparing to pour footings for future stacks, walls and radiator in the area that sits north of the generator room.
The control building was delivered earlier this month and is in place.
This week two new 3,100 kW generators at $1.5 million each were scheduled to be delivered with a large crane.
“Once the generators go in there, we’ll have something to look at, so we can take the council down there for a tour,” Call said.
In the area where the two generators will be installed, the north wall has been removed.
The improvements are part of an $11 million investment that will ensure Luverne’s backup generators keep the city’s lights on in the event of a power outage.
They will allow the city to provide increased backup power for Missouri River Energy Services, which contracts with Luverne for that energy.