[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]A question for the citizens of Walton County, [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]What do you want Walton County to look like in the next ten years? [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]This is a simple question with many complex answers. I wonder do we have a means of communicating our hopes, wishes, and desires. We all contact our elected officials, but is there a method of creating and maintaining a long term plan for achieving our vision of our future.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]I understand that The County has undertaken a project of amending the comprehensive plan, but I have no idea what is changing. Did I miss something? How can I voice my hopes for my county over the next generation? The planning department has been bogged down in addressing development but has done very little as far a planning for the future. I?m a little disgusted with how a relative few people both inside government and in the public have been able to produce a larger game plan for our next generation. I admit that I will not be affected that much by the actions over the next ten years. However, I don?t want my property values to be reduced because someone put a high rise next door to me or did not assist a company relocate and add jobs to the area. These are extreme examples but could happen without a solid grip on what Walton County wants to encourage or discourage.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]We need an avenue to address our futures. Many issues will require our attention the coming months. How can we voice our opinions? In the past I have been able to take part in some forms of public meetings to address issues, Walton County has to this point been very reluctant to hold such meetings, why?[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]May cities and towns have held visioning meetings to gain some feel about the citizens wishes. Walton County should consider some thing of this type of program. We need to ask the citizens to participate in creating a shared view and creating a guide for ourselves and our government. Do we have such a thing in Walton County? Don?t we deserve the opportunity to determine our futures? If not, why? [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]I would urge everyone to contact your representative and to ask for a formalized process to create a shared vision for Walton County and our communities.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]
