PERHAM, CITY OF

What PERHAM, CITY OF does

The City of Perham is a statutory Plan B municipal government in Minnesota, incorporated in 1881 and operating today as the administrative authority for approximately 3,000 residents of Perham and surrounding Otter Tail County. It delivers a vertically integrated portfolio of municipal services, the most material of which are utility enterprises: Perham Natural Gas (distribution since 1960, serving 3,000+ customers), a municipal water system drawing on seven wells (80–105 feet deep) with two storage towers totaling 1.5 million gallons and 21+ miles of distribution mains, and a wastewater system comprising 21 miles of sewer lines, eight lift stations, and a six-pond treatment system with irrigation discharge. Supporting infrastructure includes a 3,000+ customer gas network, a 4,100-foot municipal airport runway with fuel and hangar services, a city-owned liquor store (Landmark Liquors at 913 Market Street), single-sort curbside recycling, and public works functions spanning streets, parks, storm-water, and cemetery maintenance.

Underlying technology is conventional municipal infrastructure with no proprietary software or AI component. Service delivery is supported by an online utility billing platform (OurCommunityConnect), a 2025-launched redesigned city website, and field operations through the Public Works Department. The city is governed by an elected mayor (Timothy Meehl) and four council members, with Jonathan Smith serving as City Manager. Operational departments are led by directors covering Public Works (Jeremie Schossow), Economic Development (Nick Murdock), Finance (Patti Stokke), Police (James Gritz), Fire (Matt Johnson), Building (Ben Riewer), and Liquor (Chris Arvidson).

Revenue is generated through a hybrid municipal model: recurring utility service fees (gas, water, wastewater, recycling, garbage billed monthly), transactional fees (building permits, liquor licenses, rental housing registration), Landmark Liquors retail sales, municipal airport fuel and hangar income, state and federal grant funding (e.g., Opportunity Grants, DNR Trail Grants), and property taxes supporting general operations. The customer base spans residential ratepayers, local businesses, industrial gas customers, general aviation airport users, and rental property owners. Key institutional partnerships include the Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Rural Water Association, East Otter Tail SWCD, the Salvation Army HeatShare Program, and the Perham Economic Development Authority.

Name

PERHAM, CITY OF

Legal name

City of Perham

Website

https://cityofperham.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1881

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The City of Perham is a Minnesota statutory municipality delivering natural gas, water, wastewater, public safety, airport, recycling, and municipal liquor services to approximately 3,000 residents and surrounding Otter Tail County customers under a regulated monopoly franchise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Materials Recovery Facilities (56292), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950), Natural Gas Distribution (4924), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIACAA

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government Administration

SECONDARYBPAIALAD

Public Works Departments (Streets, Bridges, Stormwater, Fleet, Maintenance)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Transportation & Infrastructure Agencies (Roads, Transit, Public Works)

SECONDARYBPAIACAF

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government Administration

SECONDARYEUAIAAAF

Public Works / In-House Municipal Collection Operations

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Services (Waste Management, Recycling & Remediation)/Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Collection & Hauling

Keywords

• Municipal utility services
• Natural gas distribution
• Water and wastewater services
• Public works operations
• Municipal government administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Perham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Taxes: Property tax revenue supporting general city operations and services
2. Utility Service Fees: Revenue from natural gas, water, and wastewater services provided to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Natural gas serves over 3,000 customers in and around the City of Perham.
3. Permits and Licenses: Fees collected for building permits, rental housing registration, liquor licenses, and other municipal permits and licenses
4. Landmark Liquors Store: Municipal liquor store generating revenue with profits reinvested into the community
5. Grant Funding: State and federal grants supporting city projects including Opportunity Grants, DNR Trail Grants, and various infrastructure funding
6. Airport Services: Revenue from fuel sales, hanger rentals, and tie-down fees at Perham Municipal Airport

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The City of Perham administers municipal government and delivers essential public services to roughly 3,000 residents. Core offerings include Perham Natural Gas (serving 3,000+ customers since 1960), municipal water distribution (seven wells, two water towers, 21+ miles of mains), wastewater collection and treatment (eight lift stations and six-pond lagoon), single-sort curbside recycling, the Perham Municipal Airport, the city-owned Landmark Liquors retail store, public safety (police and fire), public works, building inspection and permitting, and economic development programs.

Product overview

The City of Perham provides a comprehensive portfolio of municipal services to its residents and businesses. The city's offerings center on essential utility services including Perham Natural Gas (serving over 3,000 customers since 1960), a municipal water system with seven wells and two storage towers, and a wastewater treatment system with eight lift stations. Supporting environmental sustainability, the city offers single-sort curbside recycling and an Energy Conservation Rebate Program for natural gas customers. Additional municipal services include the Perham Municipal Airport (with 4,100-foot runway, fuel, and hangar rentals), the city-owned Landmark Liquors retail store, and general Public Works infrastructure management. The city also participates in the HeatShare assistance program for residents needing help with heating costs. The city recently launched a new website design to improve service delivery and citizen engagement. These services work together to provide comprehensive municipal infrastructure, utility management, and community support for the approximately 3,000 residents of Perham, Minnesota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Perham Natural Gas Municipal natural gas distribution service providing reliable, clean, and safe gas delivery to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Has been serving the community since 1960 and currently serves over 3,000 customers in and around the City of Perham.
• Municipal Water System Municipal water distribution system drawing from seven wells (80–105 feet deep) with two storage towers holding a combined 1,500,000 gallons, and over 21 miles of water mains ranging from 2-inch to 12-inch. Provides treated drinking water with chlorine and fluoride to city residents and is supported by an adopted Wellhead Protection Plan.
• Wastewater System Municipal wastewater collection and treatment system with eight lift stations, 21 miles of sanitary sewer lines, and a six-pond treatment system. Treated wastewater is discharged via irrigation to crop sites.
• Single Sort Recycling Curbside single-sort recycling pickup for residential customers using city-provided totes, collected every other Thursday (south side) or Friday (north side), with yard waste pickup offered April through October.
• Perham Municipal Airport Municipal general aviation airport providing 100LL fuel, tie-downs, hangar rentals, arrival/departure facilities, a courtesy car, and computer weather. Features a 4,100-foot by 75-foot hard surface runway with REILs, VASI, beacon, and PCL lights.
• Landmark Liquors City-owned municipal liquor store at 913 Market Street offering a curated selection of wines, spirits, and beer, described as having the largest beer selection in Otter Tail County. Profits are reinvested into the community.
• Public Works Services Comprehensive municipal public works including street maintenance, parks maintenance, water system, wastewater system, storm-water system, gas system, airport, cemetery, and other municipal infrastructure management, including LED street lighting upgrades.
• Building Permits and Inspections Building permit issuance, plan review, and inspection services enforcing Minnesota State Building Code for new construction, renovations, and additions within the City of Perham.
• Energy Conservation Rebate Program City-funded rebate program offering rebates for natural gas furnaces/boilers, water heaters, and insulation, provided on a first-come, first-served basis to encourage energy efficiency among utility customers.
• HeatShare Program City-partnered financial assistance program with The Salvation Army providing help with heating costs for elderly residents, people with disabilities, and those facing unexpected crises, covering natural gas, oil, propane, wood, and electricity expenses.
• Online Utility Bill Payment Online payment platform (powered by OurCommunityConnect) allowing utility customers to pay utility bills 24/7 via e-check or credit card.
• Rental Housing Registration and Inspection Annual registration of all rental housing units within the city with triennial inspections to enforce housing code standards, supported by a city rental housing registration fee.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Minnesota Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with the Department of Health on water quality monitoring, wellhead protection planning, and compliance with Safe Drinking Water Standards. Department performs independent testing of water supplies periodically to verify city results.
• Minnesota Rural Water AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with in developing the comprehensive Wellhead Protection Plan. Association provides well protection resources and technical assistance.
• Minnesota Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with MDA on reviewing nitrate data collected from individual wells in Perham's water supply. MDA staff participates in local team meetings to develop strategies for reducing nitrogen levels in groundwater.
• East Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorked closely with SWCD in developing the Wellhead Protection Plan. Staff from SWCD included in ongoing collaboration to protect groundwater quality in the area.
• The Salvation Army HeatShare ProgramcoreOthersHeatShare is a voluntary nongovernmental program of The Salvation Army (since 1982) that provides financial assistance for heating costs to elderly, people with disabilities, and those facing crisis situations. Program covers natural gas, oil, propane, wood, and electricity.
• Re-Use-it Thrift StoreminorOthersNonprofit thrift store receiving Opportunity Grant from city and EDA. Store's efforts support the local Boys and Girls Club through its operations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association: Industry association representing municipal utilities in Minnesota. Relevant as the institutional peer that supports and represents municipal utility operators like Perham Natural Gas.
• Missouri River Energy Services: Wholesale power supplier to municipal utilities across the Upper Midwest. Relevant peer as an organization that supports the energy procurement needs of small municipal utilities.
• Great River Energy: Wholesale electric cooperative serving many Minnesota municipal utilities, including those in similar small cities. Comparable as a key supplier/partner to municipal utility operations.

Direct peers

• City of Detroit Lakes: Small Minnesota statutory city in the same lake-country region that operates a comparable portfolio of municipal utilities, public works, and community services. Most directly comparable by size, geography, and service mix.
• City of Wadena: Small Minnesota city with municipal water, wastewater, and public works operations. Comparable as a Plan B statutory city of similar size and service scope.
• City of Fergus Falls: Nearby Otter Tail County regional center with municipal utilities, public works, and community development functions. Comparable as a small Minnesota city providing integrated municipal services.

Regional players

• City of Pelican Rapids: Small neighboring Minnesota city with municipal utilities and public works. Comparable in scale and service mix but serves a different immediate geography.
• Otter Tail County: County government that encompasses Perham and provides overlapping public administration, infrastructure, and environmental services. Comparable as a regional public-sector entity.
• City of Staples: Small Minnesota city offering municipal utilities and public works. Comparable in size and service portfolio, located in a different region of the state.

Broad incumbents

• CenterPoint Energy: Large investor-owned natural gas utility operating across Minnesota. Comparable as a natural gas distribution operator, though at much greater scale and serving broader geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PERHAM56573
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/perham-city-of

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PERHAM, CITY OF