Citizen input wanted on Plan

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Issues such as preservation agricultural lands, preservation of quality of life assets, providing for economic development, providing housing for children and senior citizens should be important to all residents.

Ordinary citizens often feel that the government is in charge of such issues, thus creating a sense of frustration and lack of control. They are concerned about these issues, but they do not feel that they have a way of expressing their opinions or that their opinions will be heard. Well, now is the time to be heard.

The Putnam County Commissioners have authorized the revision of the county's Comprehensive Plan, zoning ordinances and subdivision regulations. This is a huge undertaking but the existing ordinance are not sufficient to deal with the type of growth that he county is beginning to experience as the Indianapolis metropolitan area expands to the west.

Formulating a new comprehensive plan and ordinances is not up to board members nor commissioners to decide, it is the job or ordinary citizens.

During the next year, a series of public meetings will be conducted at which people will have the opportunity to speak out on what they hope for the future of the county. The meetings will consist of small groups of eight to 10 people with each group having a facilitator to raise topics and channel the discussion. There is no such thing as a silly comment and everyone will be welcome to come and speak his or her mind.

The last meeting was conducted Oct. 3, during which the participants came to consensus on the major strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing the county. The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 at the fairground's community building. The meeting will be about two hours long and refreshments will be served.

The theme for this meeting is, "Needs, Dreams and a Vision for Putnam County." This meeting is the opportunity for participants to determine what the county's long term future should be. This vision will be the framework for many of the decisions, strategies and policies for growth and land use decisions will into the future.

Those interested in learning more about the plan or speaking about it to neighbors and friends are encouraged to attend the meetings. What comes out of all of this will only be as good as what is willingly put in.

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