Most chairs were filled yesterday evening at the Vineyard Church in 亚洲天堂 Lake as members of the community came out to participate in the village鈥檚 first Open Town Hall Meeting concerning last year鈥檚 spending and the upcoming 2013 capital budget.

The evening began with village councillors and Mayor Luke Strimbold  presenting on behalf of five village departments: Corporate Services, Public Works, the Fire Department, Development Service and Recreation.  Department managers were on hand for the evening to assist with explaining the details of last year鈥檚 budget and 2013 budget requests.

The second half of the evening had participants sitting down with mayor councillors in small 鈥榬oundtable鈥� discussion groups to focus on specific questions.  Village council was looking for input in shaping three areas with regard to the 2013 budget.  The three questions put to the public were, 鈥榃hat do you think are the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake鈥檚 core services?鈥�, 鈥榃hat do you think the village鈥檚 top three priorities should be?鈥� and 鈥業s the village headed in the right direction for 2013?鈥�

The round table discussions became a free form back and forth between councillors, mayor and citizens.  Regardless of the direction that councillors had in mind when they sat down with round table participants, the participants were free to follow whatever most concerned them regarding the 2013 budget.

Some common themes emerged.  Business leaders were concerned with the impact that the downtown revitalization project would have on storefront parking and access to their shops, and some expressed concern that the revitalization was proceeding without adequate consultation with downtown business owners.

Echoing councillor Susan Schienbein鈥檚 concerns about the 鈥榠nfrastructure deficit鈥� that the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake is facing, many area residents identified sewers, streets and water works as being high priorities for the village to focus on.  Road work to eighth avenue was identified as a priority, especially in light of the construction of a new hospital in 2013.

This public meeting with village council and residents was the first of its kind in 亚洲天堂 Lake.   Going into the event, Mayor Luke Strimbold was looking for tax payer鈥檚 priorities, but with in the context of the need for a balanced budget.

鈥淲e want people to understand that we have to create a balanced budget, which will result in decisions that reflect on needs versus wants,鈥� said Strimbold in an email weeks prior to the forum.  鈥淲e hope that there is a willingness to become engaged in the process.鈥�

Strimbold was happy with the turn out and resident participation.

鈥淚鈥檓 pleased with the turnout,鈥� said Strimbold.  鈥淲e will continue to provide follow-up information to the community to show that we use the information collected.鈥�