Five “Speak Your Peace” community engagement sessions are scheduled for this week to help Eau Claire County prepare its strategic plan.
The 90-minute sessions will be held on today and Tuesday (Mar. 9 and 10) in Fall Creek, Altoona, the town of Washington and Eau Claire. They “are designed to gain a better sense of residents’ priorities of the services the county provides,” according to a press release from the county.
Today’s sessions will be held at 1 p.m. in the Fall Creek village hall, 122 E. Lincoln Ave., and 6 p.m. in the Altoona city hall, 1303 Lynn Ave. On Tuesday, the schedule will kick off with a 9 a.m. session in the Eau Claire River Room at RCU headquarters, 200 Riverfront Terr., Eau Claire.
The two final sessions on Tuesday are scheduled for 1 p.m. in the Town of Washington meeting room, 5750 Old Town Hall Rd., and 5 p.m. at the CVTC Business Education Center (Room 30A/B), 620 W. Clairemont Ave.
Advance registration is encouraged, though it isn’t required, and can be completed here.
Agendas
Each session will begin with welcome remarks and an overview of the strategic planning process by county officials and Rob Kawarth, the county’s “Speak Your Peace” and strategic plan consultant. That will be followed by small group discussions and reports by table captains about their group’s suggestions for strategic priorities.
The county is looking for residents to share ideas, concerns and comments “in an open, civil manner while engaging with their fellow community members,” according to its press release. “The goal is to build a solid civil foundation between all members of the community and begin to bring together ideas” to consider for the strategic plan.
Participants will be asked to consider their priorities for the county, any needs or expectations that are not being met and innovations and strategic initiatives they consider important to the county’s long-term success. They will also have an opportunity to suggest best practices or solutions that have worked elsewhere.
County residents who can’t attend one of these sessions can provide input by using an online comments card.
“Speak Your Peace: The Civility Project,” established in 2003 in Duluth, MN, was set up to promote civil discussion of matters on the public agenda.
Samantha Cole, an administrative specialist in the County Administrator’s office, can provide additional information or answer questions. She can be contacted by calling 715-839-5106 or via email at samantha.cole@co.eau-claire.wi.us.