Macomb’s city administrator said the city has a lot of things in the works, so they’ll be coming up with a plan to help guide city staff.
Macomb has budgeted $20,000 this fiscal year for strategic planning, and will hire a Galena-based firm to lead the process.
City Administrator Scott Coker said he will work with Mayor Mike Inman and the city council to come up with two or three major goals and objectives for each department.
“It seems like we bring up a lot of stuff and we try to do everything, but we can’t do everything with the amount of staff and time and effort we have. So this, I feel, will help focus our direction,” Coker said.
He said the planning will help the city decide how to improve economic development efforts and provide a better quality of life for Macomb residents.
The process will include a day-long meeting with city directors and city partners, scheduled for Sept. 4. There will also be a day-and-a-half session involving Coker, Inman, and the city council scheduled for Sept. 26 and 27.
Coker said the plan will create short-term goals. The city will then develop another strategic plan in two or three years.
“You come back and see where you are. You tweak your goals. You may have new goals to bring up. You may have different aldermen that want to have input. But it helps us keep our focus for that amount of time,” he said.
Coker said he’s not aware of Macomb ever having a strategic plan.
He said the strategic plan is different from a comprehensive plan, which is a larger community-involved process geared more toward land use, zoning, and economic development.
Coker said the city’s comprehensive plan is at least 13 years old, and he intends to have it updated during the current calendar year.
Leading the process
Eric Dregne, the owner of the firm next level, will lead the process and draft the strategic vision and goals for city leaders to review.
The Galena-based firm has worked with Freeport, Dubuque, the Stephenson County board, and other local governments. It has also worked with non-profits.
The firm’s fee for Macomb is $13,750, which includes all travel and materials.
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