A state loan is being obtained to help pay for designing a new lab building at the Fort Dodge wastewater treatment plant.

Technicians at the plant are always collecting samples to check on the treatment process. Those samples are analyzed in a small lab at the plant near the intersection of Avenue O and Avenue B.

In a report to the council, City Engineer Tony Trotter wrote that the current lab measures less than 800 square feet. Professional standards recommend a lab of 2,400 square feet for a plant like the one in Fort Dodge, he wrote.

Also, the plant’s office is in the same room as the electrical motor control center.

To remedy these shortcomings, a new lab building is proposed.

To design the facility, the City Council on Monday voted to accept a $450,000 loan from a state revolving loan fund.

In other business, the council purchased a house at 308 N. Eighth St. from the Betty Johnson Estate for $40,000. The house will eventually be demolished to make way for future development.

Also on Monday, the council bought emergency lights, in-car camera systems and other electronics for three new police vehicles to be delivered in July. The equipment was purchased from Keltek Inc., of Baxter, for $66,024.80.