[Special guest author Laura Girty lives in Cherokee, Oklahoma, and works for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce in community development. She has kindly contributed articles she wrote for the ODOC Developer newsletter, and yes this article does refer to me, OkieJ (Jeanne Cole) and OkieK (Karen Payne). ]
Does your community buy into your community strategic plan? Does your average citizen even know it exists?
Waynoka Century Community member Jeanne Cole was determined that her community was not going to be able to say, “What plan?” With the help of former City Administrator, Becky McCray, she has designed a Waynoka Century Community website that features the community plan. McCray teaches web creation and design at High Plains Tech Center, Woodward.
The Waynoka site starts off with the community’s vision, as developed in their public planning sessions, and a positive call to action by local newspaper editor and publisher, Mark Carson.
The links take you back to Home or the humorously titled “What’s in it for ME?” This link tells of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce Century Community program benefits including a list of the modules available.
Next is The Plan with the history and explanation of the planning process and then the actual plan with its most current goals, objectives and action steps available for review.
One of the best things about the interactive website is the Community Comments section which has e-mail addresses of co-chairs Cole and Karen Payne as well as an invitation to leave comments in the Guest Book. Here, all citizens are invited to give input and feedback on the strategic plan.
What an innovative and all-inclusive way to involve the citizens of the community to be part of the ongoing planning process! Since a strategic plan is a living document, changing as goals are accomplished, needs are met or new ones arise, this is an exciting way to keep it alive and available for all the citizens in the community. Congratulations Waynoka!
To view Waynoka’s site go to:
http://www.freewebs.com
To learn more about the Century Community Program, visit okcommerce.gov and select Communities, Century Community Program.
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Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
Your post couldn’t be more relevant to me this week. I just finished the website for our town’s comprehensive plan.
Six thousand people call Hurley, NY home. We’re located in the Mid-Hudson valley, on the border of the Catskills. It’s beautiful countryside.
Our comprehensive planning committee finished its work this fall and wanted to ensure that it’s easily accessible for review and discussion during the adoption process. And we want developers to know what our priorities are.
Take a look and tell me what you think. It hasn’t been moved to the official town site yet. (That’s in transition).
http://www.fullcircleunlimited.com/hurley/
Thanks for the link, Ruth.
On the front page of your site, I really like all the explanation of your values, your process, etc.
I especially like the up front explanation of what is NOT included and why. That will answer lots of questions for people!
The organization is easy to follow, and I applaud the Recommendations at the bottom of each page.
Great job, Ruth, and the whole group!
Ruth, if you will also write up your experience and maybe even send us some pics, we would love to publish it! Email me!