Governor Dayton takes executive action to end nonsensical ban of umlauts
ST. PAUL, MN - Upon learning that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) had discontinued the use of umlauts on city limit signs in Lindström, Governor Mark Dayton will /governor/assets/EO_15-08.pdf_tcm1055-93206.pdfsign an Executive Order later today requiring MnDOT reinstate the use of umlauts on roadway signage, when appropriate.
Umlauts had been used on city limit signs in Lindström for more than two decades, until the signs were replaced following the most recent U.S. Census. When the signs were replaced, MnDOT omitted the use of umlauts because of new federal guidance known as, "Standard Alphabets for Traffic Control Devices."
"Nonsensical rules like this are exactly why people get frustrated with government," said Governor Dayton. "Even if I have to drive to Lindström, and paint the umlauts on the city limit signs myself, I'll do it."
Governor Dayton has instructed MnDOT to work with the City of Lindstrom to replace the city limit signs as soon as possible.
About Lindström
Incorporated in 1894, the City of Lindström was first settled by Daniel Lindström who left Sweden for America in 1853. Among the Swedish Emigrants was Erik Norelius, whose personal journals formed the basis of Vilhelm Moberg's novels of the Swedish Emigration to America. Moberg's fictional heroes, Karl-Oskar and Kristina Nilsson, are memorialized in statue at the west end of town as a tribute to the area's early Swedish immigrants. Today, more than 4,400 Minnesotans live in Lindström. The Lindström area draws an estimated 3,000 Swedish tourists annually.
About Umlauts
