By Alec Keller

The October 20 meeting of the Village of Ada Council was chaired by Mayor Dave Retterer with all council members present. Local 1358 (workers at Wilson Sporting Goods) made a statement on contract negotiations; an update on the Village strategic plan was presented by Thrive Community Partners.

PUBLIC COMMENT
A group of workers from the Wilson Football Factory in Ada addressed the council regarding ongoing labor negotiations. Working under a 1-week contract extension, workers will vote on the company's final offer on Thursday, October 22.

STRATEGIC PLAN PROGRESS
Sarah Stephens Krupp and Renee Smith from Van Buren-based Thrive Community Partners briefed council members on the ongoing strategic planning process. Thrive was contracted by the village to gather local input and compile data to help establish future priorities, guide capital projects, and position Ada to compete more effectively for state and federal funding.

Over the past few months, Thrive has gathered community feedback through online surveys and in-person engagement sessions, including outreach during the Ada Harvest and Herb Festival. Stephens Krupp reported that 215 adults completed the community survey, while 188 students completed a youth survey.

“We asked the adults how Ada should be described in ten years,” Smith told council. “And then we asked the students what would excite them about Ada’s future. And the same ideas came up again and again. And those were: safe, friendly, walkable, a great place to raise a family, a downtown with no empty storefronts, well-kept homes and better sidewalks.”

The surveys show that 94% of participants described Ada as a good or excellent place to raise a family. Economic development/jobs and downtown revitalization tied for the top priority at 38%, followed closely by housing at 33%.

Only 29% of participants felt Ada is currently a good place to start a business, a sentiment echoed by youth respondents.

While 77% of student survey respondents indicated Ada has sufficient student housing, more than half noted a shortage of housing for families, young professionals, and senior citizens.

Smith also highlighted two ongoing county-wide efforts relevant to local housing: the Hardin County Housing Coalition and the Hardin County Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

While the finalized strategic plan is still being drafted, the representatives indicated it will be completed prior to the council’s next scheduled meeting on November 3.

ORDINANCES
Council approved a third and final reading amending portions of Chapter 147 of the Codified Ordinances of Ada, establishing a village tree commission and regulating the planting, care and removal of trees within village limits.

POLICE DEPARTMENT
Police Chief Alec Cooper said that since the last council meeting, the department has initiated or responded to 123 calls for service with 11 incident offense reports and 2 vehicle accident reports.  

EXECUTIVE SESSION
Council went into executive session to discuss terms of employment, with action that followed. Upon returning from executive session, council approved pay rate increases for Water Treatment Plant employee Alex Fields to $25.50 per hour, and Streets/Public Works Department employee Mike Steele to $26.00 per hour.