What’s Morden’s vision for the future? Find out in its strategic plan – PembinaValleyOnline.com

What will Morden’s future look like? 

This question was at the forefront of the city’s open house at Access Event Centre on March 3rd when it unveiled its strategic plan to the community.

The plan includes addressing some familiar concerns as well as some new ones. 

Four key areas 

According to Mayor Nancy Penner, the city organized its plan into four areas of development, which were presented to the community on storyboards set up around the Access Event Centre. As attendees browsed the boards, Mayor Penner spoke about the plan and its components.  

Community members read the storyboards that explain Morden’s strategic plan. 

“We looked at quality of life, our municipal services and infrastructure, economic growth and development, and then leadership, partnership, and collaboration as sort of the four pillars,” she says. “Those four pillars are the areas we want to focus on as we go forward laying out the future for the community.” 

Familiar concerns 

As for how the community responded to the four areas, a few concerns cropped up, including wastewater and the fate of an illuminated sign the city is considering for the highway outside of Morden.

She says there’s a divide in the community concerning the latter.

“I think having a road map going forward is important. [It’s also important] to go back and be accountable and ask, ‘Does this fit into our strategic plan? Are we going down the right road?’”

-Mayor Nancy Penner on Morden’s strategic plan. 

“We had a bit of feedback. Some people liked it, some people didn’t,” she says. “There were some comments that maybe we could get something at a little more reasonable cost. I think we have to maybe go back to the drawing board and have a look at what is available.” 

Mayor Nancy Penner addresses that attendees of the city’s strategic planning open house.

Mayor Penner says the sign may have to be “put on the back burner until next year,” but it is on the city’s radar as it decides which projects to prioritize. 

The mayor says that in addition to some concerns from citizens, the city also received positive words about Morden’s progress.  

‘Having a road map going forward is important’ 

In Mayor Penner’s view, just as hearing the citizens’ voices is an indispensable component of the city’s future, so too is Morden’s strategic plan.  

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“I think having a road map going forward is important. [It’s also important] to go back and be accountable and ask, ‘Does this fit into our strategic plan? Are we going down the right road?’” she says.  

“When we have ideas, we look at budget [and if] it fits into our strategic plan. Water security, wastewater, bringing in post-secondary education — that all fits into our strategic plan, so as we move forward, [we ask ourselves], are we meeting our goals? Are we doing the best for our community that we possibly can?”  

‘We don’t get a big uptake on that, and I’m not sure how to take it’ 

As Mayor Penner asks the big questions about the city’s future, she also reminds the public that there is plenty of opportunity to discuss the city’s trajectory with her and Morden Council through appointments.  

She says this service is not often used. She doesn’t quite know why. 

“We don’t get a big uptake on that, and I’m not sure how to take it,” she says. “Is that because we’re doing such a good job? Or are people busy?” 

For those who would prefer other forms of communication, Mayor Penner says there is also the option of emailing her through Morden’s website or attending events in the city that connect local governance with the citizens. The strategic plan open house was designed to be one such event.  

Mayor Nancy Penner addresses the crowd. 

Prioritizing communication 

Mayor Penner says opening a channel of two-way communication between the groups is another city priority — it’s something the city has been actively addressing.  

Especially when it comes to providing information to the public.  

“Communication is a big concern of Council,” she says. “The website has been updated and revamped, so we’re trying to get information to the public as quickly as we can.” 

She adds that she understands that not everyone prefers to access information digitally, which is another reason the strategic planning was unveiled with an open house event. 

“We have to find different ways to get that information out, and we’re continually working on that,” she says.  

Click here to see the City of Morden’s strategic plan. 

With files from Robyn Wiebe