Letter to the editor: Dear Mantorville Community

Dear Mantorville Community,

In 2008 strengths and weaknesses of the community were put into a Comprehensive Plan for Mantorville. 36 strengths were identified and 19 challenges were shared. These were put into the comprehensive plan and some items were addressed since then, others are still being looked at.
The future will be affected by this feedback. The EDA, Park Board, City Council, and other organizations in the community can use this feedback to set priorities for the future.
Please consider giving feedback to the city by stopping by the City Office or emailing your comments to Let your city leaders know, (1) what makes Mantorville a great place to live and (2) what are the challenges you hope can be addressed.
If you wish to see the draft comprehensive plan look at the mantorville.com website under Agendas and Minutes and City Council Packets 2011 or contact the City Office.

Thank you,
Andrew Galbus
Mantorville, MN

COMMUNITY STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES
The purpose of discussions was to establish a series of goals, policies, and initiatives to assist in addressing challenges identified in previous activities, and to support and reinforce the identified community strengths. Below Is a list of the community assets and challenges, compiled by the Comprehensive Planning Committee, at the October 5,2006 meeting.

Community Strengths:
"What makes Mantorville a great place to live?"

Responses:
1. Convenient to Rochester
2. Close to large city amenities
3. Access to I-90 & 52
4. Safe
5. Pretty
6. Quality schools
7. Midwest values
8. Dining
9. Theater
10. County seat
11. Proximity to Twin Cities
12. Zumbro River
13. Character
14. Not "cookie cutter"
15. Downtown on National Register
16. Lack of franchised businesses
17. Eco-tourism
18. Camping
19. Not on rail line (DM & E)
20. Friendly
21. Small town feel
22. Historic charm
23. Postmaster
24. Affordable price of real estate
25. Low taxes
26. Golfing
27. Trail
28. Oxbow Park
29. Artists
30. Farmers' market
31. Community festivals
32. Picturesque
33. Antiques and crafts
34. Museums
35. Not a dry county
36. Consensus on planned growth

Community Challenges:

Responses:
1. No grocery
2. Poor infrastructure
3. Lack of planning
4. High utility rates
5. High taxes
6. Flooding/drainage problems
7. Shoreline in the park
8. Leadership
9. Lack of local employment
10. Lack of conveniences (shopping)
11. Lack of affordable rental housing
12. Poor quality of existing affordable housing
13. Limited senior housing
14. At risk of losing school
15. Over-crowded school
16. School facility
17. Governmental ownership of prime real estate
18. Need for underground utilities in the downtown
19. Need for streetscaping

At the conclusion of the strengths/challenges discussion, committee members indicated the topics they felt needed to be addressed within the plan. As a part of this process, a survey was sent to each of the committee members, asking them to rank each topic as to importance. Determined through that process the following topics to be addressed were (not in any order of priority):

1. Future Infrastructure Improvements - Identification of future improvements required in Mantorville. (water system, sanitary/storm sewer transportation, community facilities)
2. Land Use - An examination of existing land use and the preparation of a future land use map to guide the future development of Mantorville.
3. Annexation Plan - An examination of growth patterns and the identification of property will likely require annexation in the next 10 to 15 years.
4. Financial Impacts - Discuss the cost and impacts of new initiatives included in the comprehensive plan to tax and rate payers.
5. Downtown -Review existing conditions and establish goals for the Central Business District (CBD) including land use, economic development, preservation, infrastructure, etc.
6. Historic Preservation - Discuss past practices and accomplishments of local preservation efforts, and establish future goals.
7. Parks & Recreation - Parks, trails, recreation facilities, etc.
8. Coordination with Kasson - Establish specific plans for community growth coordinated with Kasson's future planning,
9. Community Identity - Establish a community identity, for the purpose of guiding future growth and economic development activities.