Only minor changes were made to Logansport’s new comprehensive plan before it received a unanimous seal of approval from the City Council on Monday.
Kevin Gardiner, the consultant who has worked with the city on the plan since June, said several recommended changes were incorporated following planning commission and council committee meetings last week.
“The main changes we made were to do with the implementation of the plan and items to do with economic development that were suggested by the Chamber of Commerce,” Gardiner said.
Brian Shafer, president of the Logansport Chamber of Commerce, said that while the chamber was happy with the overall plan, it requested greater clarification on its implementation process.
“When we looked at the implementation matrix, we decided to weigh in on the priorities of the plan that were outlined in the matrix,” Shafer said. “The reason we did that was that we felt it would help with accomplishing and defining the outcome of the comprehensive plan.”
Gardiner presented the updated implementation matrix, which included 12 separate goals identified by the plan and categorized by their difficulty to implement.
Arts promotion, a Go Higher educational campaign, increased tourism, marketing and city Web site improvements were deemed as relatively easy and inexpensive goals to complete. Others identified as requiring funding included a strategic economic development plan, wayfinding signage and an arts center. Addressing the one-way system in the city was identified as requiring further study.
He said that by working from these basic tasks and holding regular update meetings the plan will remain an important guiding document as the city looks to the future and not simply be cast aside.
“They need to start with something small and keep at it,” Gardiner said.
Council member Kerry Worthington was concerned about how the council was seemingly pushing the comprehensive plan through without giving it due consideration.
Planning director Stan Williams told the council the city is obliged to meet a state deadline of June 1 to submit the plan and qualify for a $50,000 state grant.
He said that as a working document the plan could be amended whenever the council wished, but to avoid missing out on the grant to pay the consulting fees, the council had to pass it that night.
Williams added a monthly and quarterly task force of citizens will be appointed by the mayor and the council to review the plan.
Gardiner said the ability to change the plan is crucial to keep it relevant and useable. If it is used correctly the plan could play a major part in shaping the city over the next 20 years, he said.
“A lot of things can change in 20 years,” Gardiner said. “Things play out in so many different ways that there maybe things that the plan addresses now that may not be relevant in 20 years time. The comprehensive plan sets the stage, tone and direction for the community to follow. 20 years from now we will see what direction the community did take and will be able to judge its success.”
• Kevin Smith is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at (574) 732-5148 or kevin.smith@pharostribune.com
Local News
City rubber stamps comprehensive plan
Minor changes approved by city council
- Local News
-
-
Principal: Lewis Cass student attacked with piece of wood
A Lewis Cass Junior-Senior High School freshman remained hospitalized Friday after being attacked by a classmate with a piece of wood, the school’s principal said.
-
Dancing with dad: 185 fathers and daughters take to dance floor
Robert Kesling remembers eight years ago when he swooped his daughter Anna off her feet and swayed on the dance floor with the young lady that makes his heart melt.
-
Woman suing Cass Area Transit
A woman is suing Cass Area Transit and one of its employees for “erratic” driving she says left her with a broken arm.
-
Delays in cases of clerk-treasurer, man accused of attempted murder
The defendants in two notable court cases had hearings Thursday, but issues in both required them to be pushed back two months.
-
Former police chief to run for coroner
Former Logansport Police Chief Randy Rozzi filed to run for Cass County coroner Thursday as a Democrat.
- Daddy/Daughter Valentine Dance
-
Victory worth celebrating: United Way raises more than $600,000 for area organizations
Joe Johnson stood at the front of the room where a “small army” of community leaders had just been recognized for their work in raising more than $600,000 for United Way of Cass County. “Woah,” said the incoming campaign chairman. “This is scary.”
-
Accused rapist charged with felony in Arizona
A Logansport man out on bail on multiple sex-related charges was arrested last week in Arizona after police say he tried to attack his dad with a pair of kitchen knives.
-
Jurors: Galveston man not guilty of molest
A jury took only an hour Wednesday to decide that a Galveston man was not guilty of molesting a 9-year-old girl a decade ago.
-
Sen. Head to run for re-election
State Sen. Randy Head announced Wednesday he will seek re-election.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Principal: Lewis Cass student attacked with piece of wood








