County staff and community volunteers briefed the Gates County Board of Commissioners on early work for a countywide strategic plan and asked for board support to move into the external-engagement phase.

What was presented
Project leads described two internal meetings and an instructional session at the UNC School of Government. Staff said the working group had identified priority themes — infrastructure, affordable housing, food access, employment and strong schools — and proposed draft vision and mission statements. Terry Riddick summarized the draft vision as "a united, thriving Gates County that preserves its rural charm while embracing progress for every family and community," and the draft mission as work "strengthening families, support community values, and guide growth that honors our rural roots and shared future." (Terry Riddick)

Board request and timeline
Staff asked commissioners to: authorize an external engagement plan (including four engagement sessions and a survey), add a Gatesville town-council representative to the team, direct staff to produce a property-action memo on foreclosed and abandoned parcels, and adopt a success-matrix framework and 90-day work plan that assigns owners and milestones. The working-group organizers described a one-year timeline to gather input and draft a final strategic plan and asked for board support within the next 60 days to move to external engagement.

Why it matters: The plan is intended to provide shared priorities for capital projects, economic development, housing and other county goals and to create a consistent public record of near- and mid-term actions that can be used in grant-seeking and legislative outreach.

Board response
Commissioners generally welcomed the effort but raised process questions about timing and the appropriate level of elected-official involvement early in the staff-led process. Several commissioners said they want to be sure elected leaders provide clear priorities and that the public-engagement design reach a broad cross-section of residents.

Next steps
Staff said they will finalize the external-engagement schedule and provide the board with the proposed survey and meeting plan for review and adoption. The presenters said they will return with a short engagement report summarizing public input and proposed edits to goals and targets.

Ending: The board did not vote on a formal authorization at the meeting but instructed staff to return with a proposed adoption item and the engagement plan within the requested 60‑day window.