The Luverne City Council officially welcomed Kip Smith as a new councilman on Monday night.

“I’m glad to be here and hope to serve the public well,” said Smith, who replaces Al Snellgrove in District 2.

City Engineer Morris Tate reported that the city still has yet to receive bids on its downtown revitalization project, which was scheduled to start at the beginning of September, but has been pushed back because of lack of interest from contractors. Tate said he was told by grant consultant Kathy McHugh would need to show proof of advertisement for bids before it entered into negotiations with any contractors for the project.

Tate said the city could receive up to a 120-day extension on the grant funding it receives from ADECA for the project, expected to cost up to $600,000.