T.B. Scott Free Library Adult Department announces the continuation of the Building Merrill Together Program Series with an evening of discussion that will focus on community and economic growth and guide residents and governmental officials of Merrill and Lincoln County as they work toward creating a vibrant cultural and economic environment that will help sustain and attract others to the area.
During the Fall of 2018, the Building Merrill Together Series conducted two community focus groups and a public deliberation regarding Merrill’s economic development with area residents, the City Common Council and various Lincoln County Board members to explore community sector and governmental collaboration, marketing themes, and other city-enhancement strategies. Four approaches to helping Merrill enhance community and economic growth were deliberated upon:
1) Preserving our cultural heritage,
2) Promoting economic development,
3) Being open to new people and ideas, and
4) Discovering our community identity.
As a result of these citizen engagement activities, a public Community and Economic Growth Action Planning Meeting will be held at the Lincoln County Services Center Building on Jan. 10, 2019 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. to conduct a community and economic visioning process for the City of Merrill. City staff and common council members will review the city’s current Strategic Plan to explain what goals have been accomplished and what goals are still in progress. Citizens will be asked to prioritize potential goals that could then become a part of the next Strategic Plan which is scheduled to be completed in July of 2019.
Consideration will also be given to creating an Aware and Active Citizens Community and Economic Growth Action Committee that would establish an on-going meeting schedule and report committee progress to the City Common Council, the Lincoln County Board, the Aware and Active Citizens Group, and other entities as needed. Please plan to attend this important meeting – and bring a friend who is also interested in defining the cultural identity of Merrill for now and the future.
For more information, please contact Laurie Ollhoff, Assistant Director, at 715-536-7191, [email protected] or John Greenwood at 715-218-0284, [email protected].
Refreshments will be provided compliments of local area businesses.