Historic OPU Power Plant To Serve New Purpose | News

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- The aftermath was overwhelming for many and the images of the 2010 Owatonna flood are hard to forget.

Its destructive path left homes damaged and the city's power plant decommissioned. But a year and a half later, OPU says it won't let the historic building go to waste.

"It's a building that everyone recognizes," said Tom Kuntz, mayor of Owatonna.

It's an iconic building, a sight hard to miss in downtown Owatonna.

"The large 'PU' sign is the beacon of our community," said Shawn Pelot, supervisor of metering services at OPU.

When floodwaters rushed through the city in September of 2010, the future of this landmark became a question mark.

The basement flooded, destroying thousands of pieces of equipment.

"I knew we were in trouble when I saw water shooting out of these conduits...the water was coming up a step a minute," said Pelot.

Workers were left displaced, including Pelot. He and his team still work out of a storage unit across the street.

Not for long. Its been decided, the building and its employees will stay. General Manager Mark Fritsch said it's a cheaper and more convenient option than building a new site.

"We're looking forward to keeping this site up and running," said Fritsch.

"I was pleased to see the commission decided to put it to use," said Kuntz.

There is major work ahead. All the equipment inside will go and offices and storage space will be put in.

So what if the power plant floods again? OPU knows that's a concern and so they're taking extra steps to make sure severe damage doesn't happen again."

"We won't have anything in the basement, so that area will be allowed to flood," said Fritsch.

Also, critical equipment is now housed on the roof.

Its been difficult at times, Pelot said, working out of a small space. But he's excited about the future.

"I think the public will enjoy the fact that in these hard times we're not abandoning it," said Pelot.

Most of the project will be complete by the end of 2013 with a projected $17-$20 million pricetag. Nearly 5 million dollars from FEMA will help.

OPU doesn't plan to raise customer rates to fund the project.