By Sara StrongThe first meeting for the new Comprehensive Plan for the city of Luverne is Wednesday, Aug. 13, in the Luverne Elementary School Commons.Even though a cross-section of local representatives sit on a Comprehensive Task Force, the general public is asked to take part.Rusty Fifield is Luverne’s lead consultant for this project. He said, "Luverne residents are really local planning experts. Everyone carries beliefs, concerns and aspirations for the community."The Hoisington Koegler Group is contracted with the city to do the Comprehensive Plan, as it did in 1994. It is a Minneapolis-based planning and urban design firm, specializing in community planning.The Plan involves more than a guide for land use. It also provides a blueprint for public actions and investments, such as adequate streets and utilities, parks and trails, and the city’s role in attracting new businesses.Some of the questions the Comprehensive Plan will address are:oWhat should Luverne be like in 10 years?oHow important is the creation of new jobs to the future?oWhat steps are important to preserving the quality of existing neighborhoods?oWhat things define the quality of life in Luverne?oHow can the community realize the most benefits from the construction of a new hospital and the redevelopment of the existing hospital site?Comprehensive Plans are supposed be used in daily decisions at City Hall, which is why an effective Plan could make for a better city.The local Comprehensive Plan Task Force will be at the meetings to steer the planning process. They won’t write the actual plan, but will review and evaluate information prepared by the consultants. Fifield urges people to not be complacent or believe that their thoughts do not matter."The public workshops provide a way to listen and learn about the community," Fifield said. "Unless people help us to understand what they want for the future, we have to use our own judgment."The Task Force will try to ensure that the Plan meets the needs of Luverne.Members of the Task Force are:oBruce BaartmanoPatrick BaustianoKaris GustoJim HarneroDavid HaugeoWilliam KetterlingoWayne RobinsonoPat SaumoDavid SmithoBart ThielbaroAmy VerSteegThe plan will be completed in the next six months.
