Evolution ::
Strategic Plan :: Who is TM?
:: Focus Group :: Contact
TM Chair
Each person in the Mahaska Community is a member of several governmental
entities such as school districts, county, hospitals and, in many
cases, cities. Each entity meets regularly on its own to discuss
spending, finances, priorities, needs and dreams focused primarily
on their service area. Additionally, other entities such as William
Penn University, the Oskaloosa Area Chamber & Development Group,
Ag and Rural Development, Mahaska Community Recreation Foundation
and others in the private sector meet regularly focusing on specific
areas of interest or service. At one time, Mahaska FutureView, Mahaska
Alliance, the community/government roundtable and Team Mahaska were
all meeting, where many similar issues were being discussed by many
of the same people.
By October and November of 1999, members of all these groups discussed
using their time more effectively and reducing duplication of efforts.
After consideration, Mahaska Alliance and Team Mahaska agreed to
merge and meet as Team Mahaska. Representatives from Mahaska cities,
governmental entities and interest groups realized sharing information
and exploring the possibilities of working together can and will
affect the positive change in the Mahaska Community for which each
individually strives.
Fifty focus groups, performed by Team Mahaska members, with more
than 700 people attending, made it clear they want to see cooperative
efforts among the county's governmental entities. They also want
to know background information about proposed projects. The initial
goals of Team Mahaska are to work with the governmental members
of the Mahaska Community - cities, county and school districts -
to identify the project needs of each partner. From this, a prioritization
can be established. From that list, a joint plan can be developed
to allow the taxpayers of the Mahaska Community to evaluate plans
and methods of funding from a full-picture perspective.
How do residents get the information that they need?Team Mahaska
provides this web site and newsletter for easy access to the facts
and figures we need to make informed decisions. Think of the Team
Mahaska newsletter and web site as tools. Look for a wide range
of upcoming meetings, drafts of plans, cost estimates, budgets,
and more that will be posted as available.
For more information
on Team Mahaska or meeting schedules, or to play an active role,
please contact the Team Mahaska Chair, Diane
Crookham-Johnson, or Team Mahaska Secretary, Debbie
Stevens.
- Debbie Stevens |
