Commission Goals

Goal 3 Provide excellent public services desired by the community within its financial means.

The City is committed to preserving and improving the quality of life for the citizens of the community by providing the highest level of public service that its resources will allow. The question has been asked as to which public services are the most important. The answer is that they are all important, they simply are provided in different kinds or types.

For example, core services such as the water and sewer system of a city could be viewed as a circulatory system in that water is cleaned and purified after it is taken from its source in the river, and once again before it is put back in the river downstream, after it is used. A lower level of commitment to this service or other services such as streets and sanitation could compromise public health and create environmental consequences. Another example is the service provided for public safety, offered through the Fire and Police Departments. These essential services allow people in a community to live and work safely and comfortably in close proximity with each other. Compromising the standards of either of the above services, or any other city services, could potentially harm the health of a community or hurt its economy by reducing its desirability as a place to do business.

The City also invests itself in the community through numerous amenities such as the beautiful parks and recreational features, the Fairgrounds, the Civic Center and convention facility, and the Public Library, a democratic symbol of our society. These services are equally as valuable to the health of a community as the many other essential public services. One set could perhaps exist without the other, but not without weakening the character, health and economic base of the community.

Finally, the City is involved in the growth and development of the community through planning, engineering, zoning, code enforcement, housing and redevelopment of areas at risk of decline. These services also are necessary for a healthy community with a sound economy.

People do not often think about the numerous City services or the value that they add to the quality of life. The Commission and the City staff regularly review all aspects of the public services offered to the community by the various departments. They try to offer the best services possible within what the community can afford. They research ways to ensure quality and to offer continuous improvement. Because the environment in which we live and operate constantly changes, so must the City and its services.