By Sara Strong
The airport expansion issue came to the Luverne City Council meeting Tuesday, but council members took no action.
Engineers from Bolton and Menk, Burnsville and Mankato offices, met with residents of the proposed expansion area and answered questions.
Airport Board members were also there and Pat Baustian, chairman, spoke on their behalf.
"At our next board meeting we were going to suggest a study of different locations. I think we owe that answer to people who live in that area," Baustian told council members.
At the public meeting, citizens had shown most interest in a new airport being built three to five miles south of the current location.
A township road south of the airport is supposed to be closed, according to the state, because of its proximity to the current airport and closure would still be recommended if the current expansion plans go through.
A study to look into more options for the airport will take about three to four months and will involve consideration of wetlands, flood plain, highway access and proximity to other federal facilities according to Federal Aviation Administration guidelines.
Another piece of the airport puzzle is the funding. Federal money will pay for 90 percent of the approximately $2 million project and there's $450,000 in a separate fund that will expire in September 2003. Much of the $450,000 would go toward land acquisition.
The FAA has input in all parts of the project, no matter what the location.
Wind power option
The City Council approved a new renewable energy offering through Missouri River Energy Services. The state requires that utilities offer customers choices in their energy consumption.
Luverne customers will be able to purchase blocks of their power usage from wind turbines. There is an added monthly expense of $9 to cover the capital cost of building turbines.
Residential, commercial or governmental customers can use the option, but just offering it is all the city is obligated to do.
A similar program in Moorhead quickly sold out available electricity from wind power.
Acknowledgements
City intern and high school student Serena Franken presented some of her work to the City Council and was given a city pin for her efforts.
During her time with the city, she reformatted and updated the newcomers' packet for new city residents. She also compiled information on street assessing practices of other cities. That study illustrates whether cities charge residents partially, not at all or fully for street projects.
The Council also acknowledged Luverne High School seniors for their work during Senior Skip Day. The students painted and cleaned up various city properties in the morning Friday in order to earn their afternoon off from school.