Strategic Planning Committee begins brainstorming for new plan for White Bluff

The members of White Bluff’s new Strategic Planning Committee spent their first meeting Monday night brainstorming on the town’s strengths and weaknesses. Formed to provide input in building on the town’s current five-year plan, the group plans to develop a proposal for improvements and services but also to identify sources of revenue to fund the plan. The 18-member committee consists of elected officials, residents and businesspeople who all have an interest in guiding White Bluff’s future. Former Councilman Allen Johnson, who called for the new committee, chaired the opening meeting Monday and laid the foundation for the committee’s goal to “devise a plan that is attainable.” But he emphasized that whatever proposals the committee comes up with, “we want to do our darndest to recommend a source of funding.” Mayor Linda Hayes echoed the challenge by saying the town hopes to come up with different ways to increase revenue “without hurting people or raising taxes.” The committee spent a two-hour meeting discussing the town’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, what is known as a SWOT analysis in the business world. The committee plans to continue working on the plan at its next meeting at 7 pm Monday, Jan. 7, in White Bluff Town Hall.