New committee addresses planning

By MIKE RICHESON

Bigfork Eagle

The new group, chaired by Edd Blackler, will frequently hold public meetings to discuss the Bigfork area’s growth and planning issues. The Long Range Planning Committee will report directly to the BSC.

“This is the recognition of the fact that we’ve come to a point in the growth of the Bigfork area that it’s time to think down the road 10 to 20 years from now,” Blackler said. “The BSC felt like it would be important to write down some ideas that people may have - thinking outside the box.”

The motion to create the new subcommittee came after Blackler shared his report of a meeting concerning the use of Potoczny Field as a new site for a library. The challenges due to growth called for serious long-range planning.

“At this point, we’re soliciting input from all sources of any interested party, whether by individuals or organizations,” Blackler said. “Any consideration of what would be good for the Village is welcome, from sidewalks to community centers.”

Blackler is in the process of selecting meeting dates for the new committee and said that two meetings a month - probably on Thursday evenings - should be sufficient.

“My position will be more of a facilitator more than anything else,” he said.

Former BSC chairman Don Loranger also made a motion that the BSC designate the first Thursday of each month as the Bigfork Coordination meeting for the purpose of providing service organizations the opportunity to present a brief report on their plans and challenges and to receive feedback from the participants. The motion passed.

The BSC meets each Thursday at noon at the Bethany Lutheran Church. Anyone who would like to attend is welcome.