City Council approves new comprehensive plan; hears from Leadership Taylor County
The City of Medford approved a new comprehensive plan during the regular meeting on Monday, June 23. The comprehensive plan was recommended by the planning committee members who voted to send it to the full board on June 18.
The purpose of the comprehensive plan is to identify issues, opportunities, needs and organize public policy to address them in a manner that makes the best use of city resources. The comprehensive plan also describes a desired future for the community over the next 20 years and establishes goals to move toward that future. The comprehensive plan was adopted in 2008 and updated in 2014. Comprehensive plans should be updated every 10 years.
The city took public input for the development of this comprehensive plan at the home and business expo in 2024, a community survey and stakeholder interviews both in 2025 and a plan review open house in February of this year.
The city partnered with Short Elliot Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH) for the development of this comprehensive plan. Some of the key things that the public identified the city should work on is road and sidewalk improvements, broadband and fiber optic expansion, redevelopment projects like the former K-mart property, cultural resources, new businesses, support for local farmers, affordable housing, medical services, school improvements and programs for youth, improved communication about events, and new city leadership.
In other business, the council:
• Observed a presentation by Leadership Taylor County who offered a suggestion for streamlining communication about events, one of the topics identified in the comprehensive plan. They created a public calendar which would be housed by the county and controlled by their IT department. The cost is free to use with multiple agencies given access to make additions and changes.
“There’s a lot more going on in the area than a lot of people know about,” said Leadership Taylor County member Autumn Kuske.
They also discussed different recreation opportunities within the city, specifically utilization of the old K-mart building on Highway 13. They’re looking to find a developer who would be interested in using that space for something family-oriented, such as a roller rink, arcade and mini golf center.
• Voted to call a special meeting for the Medford Curling Club as they did not get their liquor license complete in time to make the June 23 meeting which would affect their ability to serve alcohol during Grass on the Black. The curling club has agreed to pay the wages of the board to call a special meeting at $60 per member. The council offered to save the curling club some money by only gathering the five board members necessary for a quorum to pass the license, agreeing to meet on July 7.
• Approved sending $500 each to Wings of Hope, Northstar Search and Rescue and Christian Aid for assistance in a search and recovery effort last fall for a missing Medford man whose body was recovered from the Millpond after an apparent drowning.
• Voted to allow the Medford Kiwanis to stay in the park until midnight on July 3 as there are two bands performing that night for Music in the Park and Medford Boomfest celebration.
• Voted to approve the capital improvement schedule amendment in order to be eligible for the 50% matching grant from the Department of Transportation for a planned resurfacing and curb work on Billings Ave. with council member Mike Bub opposed.
“Three people called me, not one is a city of Medford taxpayer,” said Bub of those in favor of pickle ball courts over the Billings Ave. improvements.
