Councilors discuss 2014 goals
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
GOAL WORKSHOP — Presque Isle City Council met Feb. 13 at Governor’s Restaurant to discuss what they’d like to see accomplished in 2014. Using adhesive dots, councilors chose from a list of goals posted on the wall. Selecting their preferred goals are, from left: Councilor Pete Hallowell, Dick Engels, Randy Smith (partially hidden) and Craig Green.
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — City officials began working on their goals for 2014, exchanging ideas and making recommendations during a Feb. 13 meeting at Governor’s Restaurant.
City Manager Jim Bennett told councilors this was an opportunity to share suggested outcomes and to recap the last four years.
“There’s been a lot of change in four years — some good, some not good,” said Bennett, as he handed out a list of about 40 proposed goals to be considered for the coming year. “At the end, we’ll come up with a consensus of what to work on.”
Councilors reviewed the list, then, using colored adhesive dots, selected preferred goals from lists mounted on the wall.
Topping the list with five dots each were:
• A realtor summit to meet with area real estate agents to learn more about their perspective on residential buyers in Presque Isle vs. other communities, using the information to work to develop informational/promotional strategies to make improvements;
• Continue with joint work with Caribou and other communities; and
• Review existing grant-writing capabilities — including in-house — to determine if a better alternative exists.
Three councilors voted for improving overall wellness opportunities for employees — continuing to foster wellness education for employees and trying to develop affordable workout opportunities for employees and their dependents.
The remainder of the listed items received random support, with only one or two councilors expressing interest in many of the other topics, while other items were of no interest as 2014 goals.
Bennett and his staff will tally the information, with councilors scheduled to review the material at Monday night’s regular March meeting at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
More information about the list can be obtained at City Hall.
Council meetings are open to the public and participation is encouraged.
