|
Nicole Weigand
Economic director hits the ground running  Share
Mayor outlines city initiatives, goals Newly hired Economic Development Director Nicole Weigand has embraced the mission of her new position in whirlwind fashion. After only eight days in town, Weigand presented her first report to the Casey City Council, which included projects in the works. She listed her top priorities as business retention and expansion. ''That's what any good economic development is about,'' she told the council Monday night. She is developing a questionnaire for businesses and is planning a Dec. 17 meeting with local business owners to discuss needs and courses of action. Weigand is collaborating with the Chamber of Commerce to construct a local business digital database with online linking capabilities. She's looking at grants for the wastewater plant construction and developing a timeline for a comprehensive plan.
In cooperation with Casey Industries, she is also working on development of business attraction packets. On Friday, Weigand will be in Springfield for a meeting with the Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) about the revolving program. ''In my first week here, I've met with a lot of people,'' Weigand said. Those contacts include Mayor Scott Elkins, Casey Industries, the chamber, local business owners, Rotary, Casey In Action and those associated with the Casey Senior Social Center. Prior to Weigand's report, Mayor Elkins outlined the initiatives developed during the council's July retreat. Top three goals set by the administration are economic development, fiscal responsibility and city cleanup. ''We made a lot of progress in the last six months,'' Elkins said. He also mentioned protocol, current projects involving construction of a new wastewater treatment plant, swimming pool construction or renovation, and city hall remodeling to make it more efficient in terms of heating and cooling and use of space. Objectives for 2010 were listed as development of a comphrensive plan, creation of a zoning committee, National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliancy, creation of a local business plan and creation of an online city employee database to move payroll to a time-efficient electronic process. Elkins said he hopes to get zoning on the 2011 ballot as a referendum, but wants the public to understand the necessity of zoning as primarily a way to regulate land usage. ''It will take a lot of educating,'' Elkins said. ''It's about protecting and developing the community.'' Utilities Superintendent Shelby Biggs told the council a new sewer lift station at I-70 is needed. The current station, built in 1972, had recent mechanical problems. He said it is ''antiquated and obsolete'' and estimates a new lift station to cost around $50,000 and will take two to three months for delivery. The public utility committee will review the issue at a 6 p.m. meeting, Monday, Nov. 23. In other matters, the council: o Heard work has started at the water plant to extend well 13 an additional 10 feet and test well drilling will start soon. o Heard from Biggs the city expects to receive first installment of a $47,672.25 refund from Tennessee Gas Pipeline. The refund is to cover an overcharge collected to aid in a PCB cleanup. o Heard from City Attorney Sarah Holsapple-Miller the lawsuit to address property at 409 E. Adams was heard in court Monday and that the judge has taken it into advisement. Holsapple-Miller said she expects to hear the judge's conclusion soon. o Received $3,276 from Amy Perie and April Hagen of Casey In Action's Playground Action Committee to purchase a square transfer point from Miracle Recreation Equipment Co., which will make the large playground equipment at the west entrance of the Fairview Park playground more accessible. PAC also reports they have found assistance in grant writing to further their goal of poured rubber surfaces around all park playground equipment. o Heard a progress report on Christmas in the Park from Debbie Hutton, park recreation director. o Heard Police Chief Mark Jenkins request a park committee meeting to discuss surveillance equipment for the park. The group will meet at 5 p.m. Nov. 19. o Approved policies for utility billing accounts, developed by Collector Randi Parr. o Heard the CIA report from Howard Loftis, facilitator, that included plans for Chief Jenkins to attend the Thursday meeting to discuss a neighborhood watch program. o Heard Mayor Elkins appoint committees. o Heard concerns of aldermen with topics including leaf vacuuming, weight limits or designated truck routes for city streets, camping signs for the park and city employee uniform expense. o Approved payment of bills and minutes of the previous meeting. The council meets next at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7. Marcy Shonk is a staff reporter for the Casey Reporter.
|
This Week's Front Page »
Related Stories »
|
