Sheridan Town Council approves Capital Improvement Plan, Growth Policy
Plans used to shape projects, secure funding moving forward
On May 10, the Sheridan Town Council unanimously voted to approve both the Town’s Capital Improvement Plan and the Growth Policy.
The Growth Policy was reviewed and recommended by the Madison County Planning Board in March after a public hearing was held. Members of the public at the meeting were concerned about the capacity of the town’s water system and a new subdivision, whose developer submitted a preapplication to the planning board just days before the meeting. Scott Payne, owner of Northern Rockies Engineering who authored the Growth Policy, presented to attendees that 20-50 lots could be added to the Town of Sheridan on the existing water system and the wastewater system has the capacity for 50% more use, viable until approximately 2040.
While putting together the Growth Policy—which essentially identifies a wish list of items the town wants to see improved or maintained—the town surveyed residents, looking for what Sheridan residents wanted or did not want in town. Big takeaways from that survey included that residents wanted the pace and way of life in Sheridan to remain the same, and during the planning board public hearing it was identified that many were opposed to zoning policies.
“There’s been so much misinformation and worry and concern over things, it’s been hard to dispel,” Mike Walters, Sheridan Town Council President, said and noted many in the community were concerned that the town was looking to annex out-of-town properties. “We just have to think outside of city limits a little bit, not because we’re wanting to annex or grow outside of that,” Walters said, but just to keep it on the radar.
Moving forward, both the plan and the policy will be used as a loose playbook, along with public input, as far as what the town should focus its money and energy on, ranging from parks, roads and water and sewer.
“It basically takes just groups and individuals to get together and get a lot of things done because there’s just really not money in the budget to do the stuff that we’d like to do,” Walters said.
On Monday, Walters was working on fixing a problem in the cemetery and Sheridan Mayor Bob Stump, along with other community members, were helping with a park cleanup project. Having both the Capital Improvement Plan and the Growth Policy in place and approved will now make applying for grants, a Community Block Development Grant (CDBG) Grant, for example, easier.
Walters appreciated comments from members of the community who attended the council meeting. The best thing is when people attend the meetings and inspire ideas that the council might not have thought of before, he said.
“It takes the whole town to voice their concerns and opinions and you kind of find something that works best for as many people as possible,” Walters said.