Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

BY DAAYIAH LATHAM

The upcoming year is the year for rebuilding what was lost in 2020 and Luverne Mayor Ed Beasley has big plans for 2021.

Protection is key, he said.

The city will be receiving new police cars in January or February, Beasley said. The City Council approved a lease program that will provide new police cars to be paid for over the next few years.

These cars will replace the existing cars that have become a liability to the police department’s budget due to high repair bills, the mayor said.

The new additions just keep coming, including a new fast-food restaurant. Jack’s Family Restaurant will open in the future in Luverne. Crews are currently working on demolishing the old Bonus Super Center to make way for the new restaurant.

The city has been awarded a grant from ADECA to fund a splash pad a Turner Park.

The state is currently awaiting approval of its budget by the National Parks Service.

“This grant will provide 50 percent of the funds required to construct this exciting new water attraction.  The City hopes to raise the remaining 50 percent from local contributions.  We have always been very blessed to have such generous industrial partners.   And we believe that this project will further highlight the community as a place to not only work but live,” said Michelle Royals, City of Luverne engineer.

An application has been submitted for a Community Development Block Grant to replace the sewerage lines under Jeffcoat Street from Woodford Avenue to just west of Franklin Avenue. If the city is granted the award, this project would replace older sewerage lines.

By the end of 2021, all city of Luverne customers will have brand-new water and electric smart meters. The new meters will allow those employees to perform other much-needed tasks to maintain the infrastructure that is transporting the water and electricity to homes and businesses.

“The smart meter project will most likely be the most difficult because it will require an extreme amount of labor intensive work and a very high level of communication to properly replace all 3,300 meters throughout the city,” Beasley said.