By Sara Strong
Luverne utility customers could notice slightly higher charges for the first time in almost six years.
The basic charges are increasing $2 a month for residential customers and 1/10 ¢ per kilowatt hour over three years.
Commercial customers will pay an increase of 2 1/2 ¢ per kilowatt hour over three years.
The increase is based on a utility cost of service study. The city of Luverne is slightly higher than the state utility average charges.
The Luverne City Council discussed the rate study and proposed changes at its Tuesday meeting. It will vote on the rates at its next meeting, Monday, Dec. 23.
Kapperman site
The city had intended to work with Jerome Kapperman in cleaning up the burn site on Southeast Park Street, Luverne.
Part of working with him included allowing him time to move salvage material from that site to another he owns on Edgehill Street.
After Assistant City Attorney Jeffrey Haubrich considered the city’s plans, he shared the opinion that it isn’t legal to move the salvaged material from Southeast Park Street to Edgehill, because Edgehill is in a residential district and Kapperman’s use of the site doesn’t fit within the codes.
Kapperman would be expanding an already non-conforming use of the Edgehill property by storing and selling more refrigeration supplies.
The city cannot even grant a variance in this case because it isn’t allowable under restrictions a variance could impose either.
The city has the option of rezoning the Edgehill area to make the Kapperman use legal.