Council envisions Peabody's future
Peabody City Council met Monday to discuss the future of Peabody.
Becky Wolfe, executive director of Leadership Butler County, facilitated the workshop by assisting the council in creating a vision for the future.
Four primary issues were determined. Look for a temporary solution for a city shop building, meet with all entities involved, identify possible locations for relocation and/or use by emergency medical services, fire and police departments, and create a design plan and funding sources.
In addition to a vision, problems were identified, a list of needs and priorities was made, and steps required to attain goals.
Discussion followed regarding consensus and collaboration among the community.
Wolfe reviewed a summary of a previous workshop. Reinforcement of volunteers, being proactive instead reactive, organize a core group to get the process started, and identify a goal were in the summary.
Problems faced by the city were identified as core volunteer group was getting older and smaller in number, increase in utility rates, low average income, local businesses not meeting the needs of consumers which leads to residents shopping out-of-town, and no future prospects for industrial growth.
Specific goals discussed were direction for a new city shop building, new emergency services building, and a new city hall. Steps were discussed in obtaining the specified goals.
A status report will be given at the next council meeting on Sept. 13.
