City Council and staff hold strategic planning meetings

The biggest issue and the biggest headache was water. Winslow has enough water for now, but drought and growth combine to draw down the well supply faster than it is being replenished. Winslow will need to move to conserve, and to utilize the water from Clear Creek for domestic supply. The first requires a lot of education about the issue and the methods and the second will be expensive. Clear Creek water will require an additional system of pipes and filters.

Another major issue remains city cleanup. Although various things are being done (and see page 4) there is a lot more to do. Some of the city plans are slowed down or stopped because of federal regulations. The problem of absentee owners also persists.

Many issues were brought up and actions for them worked out. One of the striking features of the two-day retreat was the willingness of both staff and council to speak up about their concerns. This shows a degree of respect and cooperation which has grown over the last several years. The facilitator, who came up from the Valley, said several times she was impressed with this.

Staff and Council left the planning meeting with a new set of priorities that much resembled last year's, but was moved forward another notch. In some areas the facilitator said the important thing was to take that next step, since many items need several years.

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