By Sara QuamThe city of Luverne is exploring yet another option for a new fire hall.The city already looked at using part of the hospital and clinic space in the center of town when they are vacated by Sioux Valley this summer.Luverne leaders also have early-stage drawings of an expansion at the current fire hall that was a favored option.The newest option involves using industrial park land the city owns south of the ice arena.The city has now invited Rock County to include its proposed new Law Enforcement Center in its fire hall plans on Gabrielson Road. County Administrator Kyle Oldre said, "The bulk of the fire calls are south and it’s an industrial area with chemical issues, so it might make sense. It’s just nice to be invited to the table."Commissioner Bob Jarchow said, "This seems like a logical thing, to at least sit down and talk."The Luverne Fire Department’s equipment is scattered and the current fire hall can’t even house the biggest ladder truck, so a new or improved location is seen as necessary by city leaders.The county has a hazardous materials vehicle and a communication trailer that would be a natural addition to a joint "emergency building." If the two were built together, there would be some savings in construction costs and other expenses such as the bidding process and architect fees. However, commissioners have already started negotiations with an architect to complete their Law Enforcement Center in 2006. They don’t want to start over with a new architect when Paulsen Architects has already been paid for preliminary work. Also, putting off their project means inflationary hikes on their construction estimate.The board said that if a contract with Paulsen had been ready for county commissioners Tuesday, the board would have signed it to get the LEC project moving.The county’s current plans have a $2,122,252 LEC being constructed on county land between the Family Services and Highway Department buildings. Commissioners said the telecommunication lines already in use in those county buildings are adequate for an LEC to share. They wondered whether adding those features to the Gabrielson Road option would add extra costs to the project.The board hasn’t formally voted on the LEC project yet, but has laid all the groundwork. County and city representatives met Tuesday to discuss the issue of a shared building for fire hall and law enforcement services.
