LUVERNE – The Rock County Board of Supervisors continued its discussion of a possible acquisition of the former Luverne Armory building during its meeting Tuesday morning.

The building, located on South Freeman Avenue near downtown, has been largely vacant since the new Minnesota National Guard Readiness Center opened last year on Luverne’s west side.

The state of Minnesota has offered to transfer the building to the county under a Department of Defense law that allows disused military property to be transferred to local government without paying the county any money.

Following Tuesday’s board meeting, commissioners toured the 1,858-square-foot space and inspected all three floors, which include several meeting and storage rooms as well as a large gymnasium and kitchen.

Discussion about possible ideas for the space began in July.

“Right now we’re kind of testing it out and seeing what we can do with (the armory),” said City Administrator Kyle Oldre.

Oldre said the county is leaning toward using the front half of the building primarily as a Land Management Office, as the county currently leases space for those offices. Eric Hartman, director of the Rock County LMO, took the tour with the commissioners on Tuesday.

Other possible uses for the space include a community gathering place or a place for police training. Another big idea the board is pushing is storing seasonal municipal maintenance equipment in the garage area.

Nothing is set in stone. Commissioners got a feel for the flow of the space and determined that minimal renovations would be needed.

Oldre said commissioners will speak with Hartman in more detail about his thoughts on using the armory and what to do next during the next board meeting on Aug. 20.

Hope Moural has been the Globe’s community editor since May 2024. Born and raised in Nebraska, Hope holds dual bachelor’s degrees in journalism and communications from Concordia University, Nebraska, and previously worked as a general assignment reporter.