By Sara Quam
The Luverne City Council voted to reject bids for the Britz house at 219 West Main on the corner of Highway 75. The council also voted to move the house to the airport for a future manager to live in.
High bid for the house came in at $1,500 from Rich Dreckman, who would have had to move the home as part of a deal with the city.
In the final vote, Councilmen Jim Kirchhofer and Tom Martius voted to accept the high bid, and Hauge and Keith Erickson voted to deny. Gust broke the tie and voted to reject all bids.
The house cost the city $56,000 when it was purchased in 1999. At the time the house was for sale, and the city bought it with the intention of using the high-traffic corner for special downtown signage. It will probably be left up to the Chamber or City Visitors Bureau what to do with the space.
The council ultimately decided to turn down all bids because of the money already invested in it, and because of the use for it at the airport.
In the past, an airport manager lived in a home at the airport and was on hand for security and to help people with their planes at the airport.
The Airport Board sent a recommendation of denying the house bids to the council so the airport could use the 1,100 square foot home.
Councilman David Hauge serves on the Airport Board. He said establishing security would help curb vandalism and theft the airport has seen this year and would help make the airport more user-friendly, generating more use.
Ultimately the Board and the city want to expand the runway to be accessible to bigger planes, but a house and a manager are steps to that goal. Luverne's runway is the shortest in the state and business people often fly into Sioux Falls or Pipestone because they can't here.
"This has real potential to improve the airport," Hauge said.
If the Airport Board and the city had decided to build a new house, Mayor Glen Gust said it would cost more than moving the existing, and it would waste a city asset.
Dreckman said, "I want to voice my disappointment with the people up here. I feel like you had your minds made up before you got here. People might not be willing to bid on city property again."
In the past, the city has sold property and homes at prices lower than what Dreckman offered.
The council didnÕt have specific estimates for the cost of moving the home and building a new basement for it at the airport. But using city staff and equipment could reduce the cost.
"Here we have an opportunity to take property we own and use that," Erickson said.
Kirchhofer said, "I'm in favor of a new home instead, but I would like to see one at the airport."
Martius said, "I have no objection to moving a home out there," but he said he thinks a new home would be a better draw to future airport managers.
The existing home could use new windows, shingles and some interior remodeling and Martius said that by the time an old home is fixed and moved, it could be close to the price of a new home.
Kirchhofer also said that the vintage style of home with small bedrooms might not be appealing to all potential managers.
Hauge pointed out that personal styles vary and that some people may prefer to not live in a new home thatÕs built cheaply.
"We have the potential to move and move quickly," Hauge said.
Snow removal
The city reminds residents that fire hydrants need to be clear of snow in case they are needed, and people who live near them should shovel them out.
Also, it is illegal to shovel snow onto streets for the city to clear. All snow from residential property must be kept on that property or privately hauled away.
During this week's snow storm, city crews had to plow around as many as 90 cars parked in the street.
After much recent discussion on parking ordinances, the council thought it was unreasonable that people were parking in the streets when a foot of snow fell.
"If there's this much snow, they know that we're going to be cleaning the streets," Erickson said. "Maybe people are just ignoring what should be obvious."
City Administrator Matt Hylen said, "We tried to educate people - we certainly had plenty of time and lucked out with no snow for most of November."
Hauge said that ticketing and towing are likely the answer. "I think that if law enforcement enforces current ordinances, people will listen. Everyone knew this snow was coming for three days. That's just a lack of common sense."
People are allowed to park on streets unless a snow emergency is declared. That is broadcast on the radio and the local cable system. Generally, if snow has to be cleared from the streets, it is a snow emergency.
Plowing around parked cars causes extra hours for city workers who have to backtrack to spots where cars were. It is also harder on equipment when it has to go over hardened snow or ice. Cars also run the risk of being struck by a blade when parked on the street.
Law enforcement will be more diligent in ticketing and can tow any vehicle parked on the streets during a snow emergency.