Marthasville city leaders are getting ready to launch the first stage of preparations for development of a comprehensive plan that will help guide the community as it looks ahead to its future. During the July 18 meeting, aldermen unanimously gave the go-ahead for Mayor Jason Schantz and City Clerk Carla Heggemann to start putting together a bid packet for planning consultants to help the community think through where it would like the town to go and how to get there. “I hope to have the project completed in 18 months from when we start,” said Schantz. “This will allow us ample time to be thorough with research and community involvement, as well as spreading the cost over two budget years.” The board earlier passed the city’s 2012-13 budget, which included $9,200 in expenses for the plan in this fiscal year. “The goal is to plan for the future — to determine where and how residents would like the city to direct its efforts and its investment,” said Schantz. “We’d like to be more proactive, and prepared for issues that arise as opposed to being reactive with limited options. Whenever you can plan ahead for an expense, as opposed to emergency spending, you have more options, more control, and typically lower costs.” Change is inevitable, Schantz notes, and it can be good or bad. “The bottom line is whether citizens want to be bystanders to change, or whether they want a say in how their community develops,” he said. “That is the purpose of a comprehensive plan.” The mayor said community engagement in the process of developing a vision for Marthasville is critical. “We need to sit down as a community and decide what we want our future to look like and map out ways to achieve this,” he said. Schantz notes that comprehensive plans have long been a tool for local governments, and likens the need for such a process to business plans that are essential in guiding private sector business development and investment, and to household budgets for families seeking to make wise use of their income. “A municipal government is the same, and especially in tough economic times, it behooves local governments to involve citizens in an open discussion of how and where the city should invest its resources,” said Schantz. “We want to make sure we are using taxpayers’ money wisely, and that they have a say in how we invest in this community.” The plan and input from the community also will help give city leaders direction that Schantz underscores is significant in decision-making. “Goals tend to be more achievable when they are articulated, agreed upon, and action is planned,” he said. “Spelling out goals and having a plan can also aid with finding tools and funds necessary to achieve them.” Schantz says he often hears residents say they like things just the way they are, but notes that it takes planning and effort to protect and maintain the things to be preserved, too.