By Sara Strong
After a second round of advertising, the Mounds View and Evergreen Apartments have just one potential buyer.
The Luverne Economic Development Authority owns the apartments and had two groups interested in their purchase. Monday was the deadline for submitted purchase proposals, which the LEDA received at its Tuesday meeting.
Doug Eisma, Dan Vis, Paul Vis and Bill Vis made the first offer as a group, but stepped back on the most recent chance to purchase, leaving Luverne’s Steve Perkins in the running.
To buy both apartments, Perkins offered $1.45 million and for just the Mounds View, offered $1.05 million.
Perkins’ offer was about $50,000 more than his previous. One of the points in his offer was to not increase rent for a year.
The LEDA will host a public hearing on the potential sale of the apartments at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25.
Other city buildings
The LEDA also discussed other buildings the city owns.
It received a change order request from Christensen Corporation (Virgil Christensen) to increase the contract amount it was paid for work on the recent Continental Western Group expansion.
The original agreement was for $40,000 but work was completed a month ahead of schedule and $80,000 under budget.
Christensen attributed the success of the project to city employee Darrell Huiskes, who served as the construction manager on the job, with no additional compensation.
Christensen requested an additional $10,000 be added to his contract payment, which he indicated he’d give Huiskes.
LEDA member Mike Engesser said, "I feel it’s warranted."
Christensen actually turned the request in to the city in November, but was being reviewed by the city attorney.
The city can approve change orders on any contract, and the receiving party can choose to do whatever it wants with the money.
Exsito building
The LEDA has a couple potential occupants for the 610 W. Hatting building, which formerly housed Exsito tomato products.
The LEDA approved the building committee to work with potential leasers and negotiate an agreement.
One potential business is Gold’n Plump, which needs some short-term extra space. The other company is out of Michigan, called Falcon Pallet Company. It is also interested in short-term use of the building, but may locate to Luverne and construct a new facility if it does.
For Falcon Pallet, another open building in Luverne could be suitable since it’s a short-term interest for now.
Tri-State
The portion of the former Continental Western Group campus that the city now owns is still for sale. It’s the building at 1 Roundwind Road.
The city is trying to recruit new businesses to the location and is facing the possibility that it will have to pay for some roof repair.
