Speak about public facilities at conference

(Editor’s note: This is the second article in a series which will highlight the different sessions to be held during the “State of the Community” County-Wide Conference on March 14. The Conference is sponsored by the Richland County Planner Office, City/County Planning Board and the Richland County Health Department.)

As the county continues to change, almost daily, it is important to keep in mind what public facilities are available and what future developments will be needed. The public facilities are places available for public use and to benefit from them. The “State of the Community” County-Wide Conference is a way for the community members to come together and discuss what future developments would be needed in order to ensure the facilities continue to meet the needs of the communities within Richland County.

The public facilities morning session will focus on the long-term needs which have been identified through the assessment process, which are listed in the 2006 Richland County Growth Policy and the Quality of Life Profile.

The topics open for discussion during the morning session include: plan and design for long-term public facilities development and eventual upgrades; address and assess needed improvements to water and sewer systems; and improving cell phone services and high speed internet access throughout the county.

The public facilities afternoon session will focus on road, traffic and safety needs that were identified in the assessment process. Topics to be discussed during this session include: addressing unsafe drivers and road safety; work with Yellowstone Valley Railroad to address railroad crossings; identify methods to establish traffic control at Holly and Central; assess bypass routes; and assess safety and impacts of “strip-development” and a changing economic base.

Each session will be conducted by a Conference Facilitator, providing ample opportunity for everyone to share their thoughts and goals for Richland County.

For more information on the “State of the Community” County-Wide Conference, these topics, or to register for the conference, please contact Stacey Schmitt at the County Planner’s Office at 433-6975 or sschmitt@richland.org. You may also register by visiting the Web site at http://www.richland.org/planning.