Council Members Rebecca Adams, left, and Sharon Rancourt review a handout about the strategic planning process from MACOG. InkFreeNews photo by Madison Hart.

By Madison Hart
InkFreeNews

SIDNEY — Sidney Town Council approved a motion to apply for a grant for a strategic plan at a meeting Monday, Oct. 14.

Guest speaker Zach Dripps, who is the director of operations and community development at Michiana Area Council of Government, presented a proposal for a strategic plan for economic growth. He provided a handout that outlined a seven-month process to create and finalize a plan for the town.

After Dripps shared about MACOG’s experiences with other towns’ strategic plans, he asked questions to learn about what the council hopes to get out of the plan. Council President Gavin Parrett discussed getting the community involved and having a plan for the next leaders. Council member Sharon Rancourt shared her goal of economic growth, supporting businesses, creating walkable spaces and having parks or other amenities that could attract young people to Sidney.

Rancourt stated, “I think over the years, a lot of the residents have become disenchanted because things weren’t moving and it was just the same old stuff. Participation and interest has fallen off. But this could be something that could revitalize the community and really start to pull people together. I can think of several people who would like to participate in something like this, as long as they felt like something was going to happen and they weren’t investing in something for nothing.”

Rancourt made a motion to go apply for a grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, which has a deadline of Nov. 1. Parrett seconded it, and the motion was approved. The goal is that the Community Foundation will fund a portion of the strategic plan, which Dripps estimated will cost $10,000 to $13,000.

The next steps will be that the council will draft a proposal for a grant, and Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe will help Sidney Clerk Treasurer Lisa Parrett fill out the grant application. If the Community Foundation approves the grant application, the council could move forward with MACOG’s strategic plan in January.

In other business, the council:

• Stated the clean-up day was completed successfully Oct. 12.
• Provided the update that the fiber connection should be completed this week.
• Set trick-or-treat times as 5-7 p.m. on Halloween, Oct. 31.

The next council meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11 at Jackson Township Fire Station.