By Sara StrongThe City of Luverne is forming a Comprehensive Plan Task Force that will work with consultants in writing the new plan.Luverne’s 10-year-old plan has gaps, inadequacies and outdated information that the city will change in about a year.Until the final changes are made, citizens have a chance to share their opinions with the Task Force. The Task Force will have 10 members, plus city staff. The members will include representatives from the public at large, City Council, Luverne Economic Development Authority, Chamber of Commerce and Planning Commission.Council members David Hauge and Pat Baustian are serving as Council representatives on the Task Force, which still has room for citizen representatives.Hauge said he hopes the entire process of the Comprehensive Plan is educational for the community. "I want people to understand that this plan will be the basis of all zoning in the city. … And when it’s done I hope decisions from the city follow the plan, because it hasn’t in the past," Hauge said.The process of redoing the Comprehensive Plan could take up to a year, and will start soon with public hearings.Hauge said he hopes that people speak their minds during the public hearings even if they don’t want to be a part of the Task Force.In other business Tuesday, the council:oLearned that it has all the applications for the city administrator job. The city received 41 by the application deadline.The finalists from the application pool will be interviewed in July.oDecided to reopen bids for selling the Britz house, which will be moved from the southeast corner of Highway 75 and Main Street.oTabled a vote that would allow alcohol to be served until 2 a.m. in the city. The Council will discuss it with the county, and the later closing’s possible impact on Rock County Law Enforcement.oAdopted a resolution that adds a new section to the personnel policy prohibiting city employees from carrying a firearm while on duty for the city. The resolution is in response to the new Conceal and Carry law that makes obtaining a concealed handgun permit easier.
