Genoa strategic plan sent

Approving Genoa's 10-year strategic plan became a matter of semantics Tuesday night when town board members postponed approval because of the way certain items had been written.

Board member Bill Donohoe said some of the plan's goals were outside the purview of the town, specifically a clause stating that the town would work in conjunction with the Greater Genoa Businees Association in establishing certain themes and events for the town.

"There is the Greater Genoa Business Association, and then there is the town," he said. "As a town, the services we provide are limited. I think the plan is overstepping what we are supposed to be doing."

Donohoe said he would like not only Greater Genoa Business Association's name removed from the plan but also verbiage like "develop and implement" events.

"Those words imply funding," he said.

Town Manager Sheryl Gonzales said the plan was developed during five different community workshops.

"The plan cannot be implemented without the help of community organizations," she said. "It's a community strategic plan, not just a Town of Genoa plan."

"But why is it necessary to call out the GGBA?" asked board chair Kitty DeSocio.

Assistant to Douglas County Manager Lisa Granahan said the language should show Genoa businesses that the town supports them.

"But that instills an expectation of receiving something," said Genoa resident Chris DeSocio, husband of Kitty DeSocio. "The strategic plan for the town should stand on its own, independent of any organization's influence."

Gonzales read the plan's tentative vision statement: "Genoa is a community of natural beauty, historic character and quaint charm with successful businesses that compliment its unique sense of place."

Kitty DeSocio questioned the use of the word "successful," whether it implied some expectation. Gonzales said "successful" was decided upon during the workshops after other words, such as "thriving," had been tried.

Board member Dave Whitgob said a strong business community complements Genoa, but that the strategic plan needs to be written in terms of general strategy, not specific tactics.

"The whole thing needs to be revised through the lenses of strategy," he said.

Gonzales was instructed to revise the plan and bring it back to July's meeting for approval.