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Committee hears update on Northwest Regional Planning contract, schedule and language concerns over 'growth'
Summary
Staff reported that Northwest Regional Planning cannot bill until a signed contract is returned and that the first steering committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for August; members also debated replacing the word 'growth' in the consultant scope with terms such as 'sustainability' or 'constructive development.'
Ashland County staff told the planning committee on June 17 that Northwest Regional Planning will begin substantive steering committee work after the county finalizes a contract and completes CDBG pre‑agreement paperwork.
County staff said the consultant has prepared a draft final agreement but can’t log billable hours until the contract is fully executed. "We have a couple of minor details going back and forth. We should be able to finalize that by tomorrow," Erica (staff member) reported, but added the contract must still pass through several Decker/financial reviews. Staff noted Northwest Regional Planning had initially planned Month 4 of its schedule (anticipated August) for the first steering committee meeting.
Committee members raised a substantive drafting concern over the consultant scope's phrase that the plan will "guide growth and development over the next 20 years." Several members urged rephrasing to emphasize sustainability or "constructive development." "Maybe what we ought to be thinking about is constructive development and sustainability and not just growth per se," said a committee member, arguing the county needs guidance that stresses quality and environmental limits rather than expansion at any cost.
Economic development questions and constraints: The committee had a broad discussion about economic development and demographics. Members described long‑term job losses in the county's industrial base and asked how the plan should address attracting businesses versus attracting residents. One member summarized: businesses ask "where's the people"; others stressed quality‑of‑life approaches to draw residents. Members also noted shifting agricultural patterns and aging population trends as important inputs for the update.
Consultant role and next steps: Staff said Northwest Regional Planning provided a detailed scope and timeline based on its Burnett County template; the committee asked staff to invite the consultant to the next meeting so members could discuss the sequence of public meetings and how many public touchpoints the consultant anticipates. Staff said the contract cannot be signed yet but that the consultant expects to begin work in line with the timeline once paperwork is complete.
What's unresolved: contract signature timing, exact consultant start date and whether the committee or consultant will consolidate staged meetings or run distinct meetings for each planning stage. Members also asked staff to confirm grant match and budget details; committee discussion included but did not confirm suggested figures for grant awards and county match.
