Letter: Citizens, join the conversation

To the Editor:

Red Wing City Council members, staff and citizens recently embarked on an exciting initiative with the purpose of balancing our long-term vision with short-term decisions. To that end, a series of public strategic planning meetings took place with the spotlight on how to make certain the decisions we make today remain in sync with our vision over time.

With differing economic cycles and changes in local leadership, this can be a challenge. Our discussions centered on what we believe are the most critical issues facing Red Wing during the next five years.

Four strategies emerged from those discussions as part of our recently completed Strategic Plan. Those strategies will serve as the foundation for the City Council to allocate resources toward our community vision. With this plan as our guide, we hope to ensure that we maintain continuity and consistency in our policies and priorities.

The next step in this initiative is to bring the draft Strategic Plan to Red Wing citizens for input. City Council members will present the plan and its four strategies to boards and commissions, business and civic groups, focus groups, the School Board and County Board.

On Tuesday Aug. 9 at 7 p.m., the City Council will host a public meeting at City Hall in the Council Chambers.

Copies of the complete plan are available on our Web site at www.red-wing.org and handouts will be available at the meetings.

Please join the conversation and attend the Aug. 9 meeting to share your thoughts and ideas on Red Wing’s future.

Dennis Egan

Ralph Rauterkus

Dennis Egan is mayor of Red Wing. Ralph Rauterkus is City Council president.

Tags: opinion, updates, letters