Overview

WMSRDC annually assists a few selected communities in preparing their land use plans, recreation plans, comprehensive master plans, GIS mapping, other locally based plans, and special projects

One role of WMSRDC is to support the planning responsibilites of local governments, especially those that do not have professional staff or the necessary resources to hire assistance from private sector consultants. WMSRDC annually assists a few selected communities in preparing their land use plans, recreation plans, comprehensive master plans, GIS mapping, other locally based plans, and special projects. Go here:  https://wmsrdc.org/publications to find examples of completed projects.

Services

Plan Writing

Few local governments in the WMSRDC region have paid planning staff, and many communities lack resources necessary to hire a private consultant. Such conditions can inhibit local ability to maintain planning documents, whether required or desired. Although writing plans, such as master and recreation plans, constitutes a fraction of the overall WMSRDC work program and budget, this service is central to our mission of supporting and coordinating planning functions of local governments.

As a policy, WMSRDC does not wish to compete with private consultants, and therefore, does not respond to requests for proposals issued by local governments. We are careful to only provide this service when local communities cannot afford to, or choose not to, enlist services from the private sector.

GIS & Mapping 

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a powerful computer system that enables visualization, analysis, and communication of large quantities of spatial data (i.e., data displayed on a map). GIS is an essential planning tool for WMSRDC, supporting various program areas and aiding community development within the region. This service is offered to local governments and community organizations at cost, and includes creating new maps, digitizing old maps, and developing spatial solution applications for planning and management purposes.

Contact

For more information regarding Local Gov’t Services, please contact:

Stephen Carlson
Program Manager

(231) 722-7878 ext. 110