Batesville RDC opens strategic-plan workshop, staff to compile members' input

Presenter (speaker 3) opened the session by describing the meeting as a landscape-building workshop rather than a prioritization meeting and asked members to speak broadly about roles and projects. "This isn't my plan. It's not Bill's plan. It's not John's plan. This is everybody to be involved, everybody to speak up and say what they want," the Presenter said, emphasizing that staff will synthesize input for a later prioritization session.

The Presenter outlined an approach that separates initial idea-gathering from a later financial review and ranking of projects. She told the commission she would compile members' suggestions into categories and return with a spreadsheet that models five-year revenues and committed payments to help commissioners place projects in short-, medium- and long-term horizons. Members agreed the next meeting should focus on prioritization and financial guardrails.

Commissioners raised questions about the RDC's scope—whether it should act as an investor, matching partner, or matchmaker for projects—and asked for clearer definitions and funding limits. The Presenter said staff will send a list of questions and a draft categorization of topics ahead of the next meeting so members can rank priorities. The commission ended with a motion to adjourn; staff will circulate the compiled notes and the five-year projection before the next session.