By Sara StrongA subcommittee of the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce met Tuesday to endorse a plan for a new image for the city."We just think this is a good place to start," Chamber Director Dave Smith said.The new image is lifted with permission from a Jim Brandenburg photo of prairie grasses.More than the image itself, is the theme, "Minnesota’s Prairie Playground" and accompanying signs and banners that provide a cohesive look to the city.Two signs are tentatively planned for the vacant lot on the corner of Highway 75 and Main Street, formerly known as the Britz property.The two signs will direct people from Highway 75 to Luverne’s downtown. If the plan goes through, the signs will be surrounded by native rocks and grasses and be a true bridge between Highway 75 and Main Street.Visitors typically drive past Main without knowing where the downtown business district is, and this will be a clear signal for them. Along with the signs, new banners with similar images will be placed along Highway 75 to tie in with the theme.The estimated cost of the signs and banners is about $8,000. The committee has met a few times recently to discuss a theme.Smith said, "Prairie just seemed like a natural one."Jamie Tofteland said the bison theme has served Luverne, but the city could do more to stand out. She said, "The only thing that we talked about with the buffalo, is that it’s not just Luverne that has them — the theme is all over South Dakota and a lot of places."Alex Frick said the new theme should expand on the bison mystique that the area has already established. "I do think the buffalo is still a valid concept. There’s been a lot of romance built up around them."Smith said the signs and theme are a good first step, but that all of Luverne should try to match the natural history that is already here. "As people redo their storefronts, it’d be nice to not put in ultra-modern signs and surfaces. We want to create community image," Smith said.
