|
|
previous |
view all |
next
COUNCIL CORNER
I`m feeling very encouraged by the progress we`re making on council. Specifically, we`ve created a "Council Priorities List" that will be available on the village website. It`s a new way of working that allows council to focus on what is most important and urgent while not losing sight of other significant items. It`s also helping us assign ownership and dividing the load more efficiently so we can make steady progress. Using this list is already keeping our conversations grounded and making it easier to put our time and energy where it matters most.
I encourage everyone to take a look at our priorities list. If you`d like to provide input, reach out directly to the owner or send a message to any member of council sharing your views. If something is missing, let us know. The list will also give you a better understanding of when or where we will be working on these items. We are now meeting twice a month and we highly encourage citizen participation. The additional monthly meeting enables us to be more transparent, pass legislation more quickly, dive deeper on complex topics and devote more time to citizen participation. Hearing from you helps us make better decisions and keeps us connected to what the community cares about most.
I also want to recognize the hard work my fellow council members and the mayor have been putting in. Updating the Rules of Council was no small task and completing the newly required training has taken real diligence. These seemingly simple steps are setting us up for long term success. Recently a few of us attended a full day of training for newly elected officials. It`s the kind of behind the scenes effort that doesn`t always get noticed, but it makes a big difference in how effectively we can serve the village.
One of the next big subjects of importance to us is improving how we communicate with residents. I keep hearing "residents first" from my fellow council members. We know that keeping you informed and part of the conversation will produce the best outcomes. Over the next few months, you`ll see new efforts to share updates more consistently and opportunities for residents to engage more easily and directly. We want more feedback as we weigh decisions that impact our village. One example of improving communication is this monthly letter. We are also working on a permanent community events sign and posting video recordings of each meeting. Help us make it easier for you; we`d love to hear your ideas on how to keep you informed.
It feels good to see things moving in a positive direction. It`s true: "It takes a village" and I`m grateful for everyone who stays engaged and cares about what happens here.
|