Planning for Our Today and Our Children’s tomorrow.

Late 2007 I received an invitation on behalf of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury to participate in a task force compiled of a cross section of our community. Each member brought a different discipline, talent, and view point, but a common objective to effectively plan for the future development of Calcasieu Parish.

 Our task was to take an in depth look at Calcasieu Parish as it fits into the Southwest Louisiana economic, physical, environmental, and social infrastructure. Study our Parish, identify the strengths and weaknesses while attempting to project where we think we will be in 20 years. Help formulate a blueprint to take us there successfully.

The Police Jury knew issues in the infrastructure of our Parish exist that require serious funds to correct. How do you go about correcting these issues in a way that is logical, while planning to meet tomorrow’s needs as well as covering today’s issues. How do we accomplish a pleasing, consistent design with a purpose? How do we maintain green belts while constructing the strong infrastructure needed to provide for the anticipated growth in housing, schools, industry, and commerce?

We started by engaging the professional services of a firm that has made a career of assisting many cities and communities with this massive task. Planning Works of Kansas City and Melbourne City, Florida has been instrumental in guiding us through this daunting task. They knew the correct questions to ask and had the experience to direct us in finding answers that fit our community’s wishes.

Through several lengthy work sessions followed by open community break out sessions, the Task Force has accomplished a monumental task. We have completed a 65 page document that outlines what we believe to be the wishes of the majority of those who participated in the process.

Citizens participated either through attendance to the break out sessions or by logging in on the website and taking the survey and/or reading the draft form and posting their opinions. We greatly appreciated all participants that took their time to voice their opinion. With their help, we were able to pin point the most important issues and then place these issues in suggested order of priorities to prepare our area for what we anticipate to be the greatest economic and physical growth period we have ever experienced.

Life will be very exciting in Calcasieu in the next 20 years. It has been my privilege to view into the future and glimpse what we can be with the fore thought and planning to take us in the right direction. I have been allowed to assist with the planning for our children and grandchildren, a true task of love.

Soon the final unveiling will take place. This has been postponed by two hurricanes that have hit our area in the last month. Gustav was a near miss and Ike which has been far more devastating, has taken much of the Police Jury’s time for the present.

Given a few weeks to get Calcasieu Parish back on its feet, they will again look to the future and move forward. Keep your eyes on the future for our area. We are going to be moving forward fast. There are GREAT things to come. Learn more at the official website.