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Perry council unveils five‑point strategic plan focused on downtown, housing and infrastructure
Summary
Mayor Lawrence Worthen presented a council‑endorsed strategic plan that targets downtown revitalization, better communication, I‑35 corridor development, housing growth and infrastructure upgrades including sidewalks and water projects.
Mayor Lawrence Worthen presented the City of Perry’s new strategic plan to the council and the public on Nov. 18, laying out five priorities the city will pursue over the next several years.
“We’ve identified five areas that this council feels that we wanna take on,” Worthen said during the presentation, listing quality of life and downtown revitalization, communication, tax base and I‑35 corridor development, housing, and infrastructure as the plan’s pillars. The document is intended to guide the council and city administration and provide direction for department work plans and grant applications.
Why it matters: Council members said the plan is designed to attract outside dollars and jobs while improving services for residents. Councilors noted the city already has grant momentum: staff reported more than $10 million in grants pursued or awarded in the past year. The plan includes both near‑term actions — such as developing a downtown marketing packet and tracking project metrics online — and long‑range goals like pursuing an I‑35 overpass or a rail “quiet zone” to reduce train whistle noise in historic neighborhoods.
Implementation and timing: The council agreed to have the city manager and department heads develop measurable metrics and a five‑year capital improvements plan. The manager said some projects are already in design or environmental review with ODOT and that sidewalk and street projects will proceed as grant and permitting steps are completed. Worthen and staff said ODOT interviews for engineering firms are complete and the first street project has a design in hand and is awaiting environmental clearance.
Council reactions: Several council members urged stronger, ongoing public communication about projects and grants so residents can see progress. One councilor recommended posting a regularly updated project page showing funding sources, status and completed items so citizens can track progress and celebrate milestones.
Next steps: Councilors asked staff to return with more detailed implementation schedules and budget implications at future meetings, and accepted quarterly check‑ins on progress. The mayor encouraged residents to get involved, saying the council will seek community partners and volunteers as work moves forward.
