(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake city council met in special session late Tuesday to adopt a list of goals and priorities.
Longer term goals for the next six to seven years include continued beautification; quality growth; more youth opportunities; improvements to parks; community partnerships; economic development; more recreational opportunities; work toward Spirit Lake becoming a regional center; better public relations; encourage more community development; fiscal stability; an emphasis on a clean community and nuisance abatement; an effective system of trails and sidewalks; and adequate city offices.
Priorities the council plans to carry out in the next 18 to 24 months include improvements to Highway nine; completing Lake Street; improvements to Gilbert Park; making improvements to the older portions of the city; implementing the South Hill Avenue project; continuing the city’s housing program; and revitalization of the downtown.
A number of issues that have charged the atmosphere at recent council meetings were also put on the table at Tuesday evening’s meeting, including the forthcoming state audit, the city’s involvement in excavation work, and several others.
The session was facilitated by Tim Shields, a consultant that’s worked with Spirit Lake in the past and other cities. He urged the council to establish a procedure to try to initially deal with questions on issues prior to council meetings; and that the channels of communication be opened between all council members, and between the council and city staff.
Tuesday evening’s session went on for slightly more than four hours.
