PENDLETON — Pendleton area residents will have a chance to share their ideas about the future of Madison County during a public workshop today, Thursday, Dec. 20, at Gallery 119 in downtown Pendleton.
Madison County Council of Governments (MCCOG) is seeking input as community leaders and elected officials update a countywide comprehensive plan called “Forward Madison County.”
The goal is for the updated plan to serve as a guide for Madison County through 2035.
“(The workshop) is an opportunity for people to take a look at what’s being discussed and weigh in on what they’d like to see happen as you move forward,” Pendleton Town Council President Bob Jones said.
MCCOG is a regional planning organization funded in part by Pendleton, Anderson, Alexandria, Anderson, Daleville and Elwood, as well as Madison County.
Its main goal, outlined on its website (see related box on Page 3), is “to increase communication, cooperation, and coordination among local governments in planning and implementing programs to meet mutual challenges and problems.”
Jones said he’ll be at today’s workshop. He said having a say on the plan is particularly important for Pendleton, which sits at the crossroads of several major thoroughfares and is seeing growth advancing from Marion and Hamilton counties.
“Its good to be part of the county plans, so you can weigh in” on a wide range of issues, such as economic development and protection of green space, Jones said.
He said there’s usually a good turnout of Pendleton residents for such events, and he expects the same in this case.
All members of the public, including children and youth, are welcome to attend and can stop in between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. for as long as they want. Light refreshments will be provided.
The council host a series of meetings and workshops throughout the county to share their thoughts and ideas.
At the Pendleton workshop, there will be many interactive stations where people will be able to share general input and opinion on the issues, amenities, opportunities and concerns.
Future workshops will focus on specific areas, such as economic development and employment, transportation options, traffic patterns, housing and redevelopment, tourism and historic preservation, the environment and farmland preservation, as well as educational opportunity, utilities, infrastructure, local governance, beautification, and community pride.
For more details about the master plan, visit forwardmadisoncounty.com.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About MCCOG” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The prime purpose of the Council of Governments is to increase communication, cooperation, and coordination among local governments in planning and implementing programs to meet mutual challenges and problems. Each local government has the opportunity for involvement in policy making and programming of MCCOG.
The Council of Governments is advisory in nature and lacks the normal governmental powers of taxation, regulation, and operation of public facilities. Instead, its purpose is to provide a forum for dialogue and joint decision-making within a regional context. MCCOG has no direct power to implement these decisions. We must rely on the representatives of local governments to see that these decisions become a reality.
Source:www.mccog.net
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