In the late 1990’s the City, with the assistance of Bucher, Willis & Ratliff, revised Sikeston’s Comprehensive Plan.  Many residents will recall participating in town planning workshops.   The Comprehensive Plan and the VISION Strategic Plan are two totally different documents with different purposes. Like building blocks, each has its own function, yet together they build a foundation for proper municipal management and community growth. 

The Bucher, Willis & Ratliff Comprehensive Plan identifies and targets proper land use within the City.  In Chapter 1 of this plan the stated goals are to guide City growth in a manner that provides a balanced and orderly expansion of the City’s tax base; coordinate development policies and land use with the transportation network; strengthen and enhance the quality of Sikeston’s neighborhoods by protecting them through land use policies and prohibiting low quality, unwarranted or harmfully conflicting uses; encourage strategic development of undesirable land uses to the betterment of the community and establish land use policies to foster a diversity of safe and attractive development throughout the City. 

SIKESTON VISION, on the other hand, is a strategic planning process.  It allows residents to develop a future vision for the community by assessing current realities and trends (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats), establishing goals in key performance areas, then implementing measures to accomplish the agreed upon goals. 

Yes!  You need to be involved.  A cross section of our population must participate to create a balanced plan that addresses the future wants, needs and desires of our citizens.

Sikeston was one of ten Missouri communities awarded the State’s DREAM City designation in 2007. DREAM is a State sponsored revitalization program targeted exclusively on the enhancement of downtown districts in medium and small communities.  An economic development tool, the DREAM Initiative assists communities with identifying needs within their Downtown District and makes available appropriate funding mechanisms from within the Missouri Department of Economic Development, Missouri Development Finance Board and the Missouri Housing Development Commission.

SIKESTON VISION is a project undertaken by the Sikeston City Council to develop a city-wide strategic plan.  The National Civic League, a nationally recognized “good government” organization, will facilitate meetings with residents from throughout the City to identify local strengths and weaknesses, establish agreed-upon short and long-term community goals, and develop action plans with benchmarks for the achievement of these goals.

In December 1987 following a series of public meetings and community attitude surveys, the Sikeston 2000 Committee composed of Steve Sikes, Chairman, Michael Jensen, Co-chairman, Sue Marble, Rodney Bridger, Ellen Brandom, Steve Forbis and Galen Kruger submitted their report identifying the current and future priorities of Sikeston’s residents. Generally, improved city streets, increased economic development and improved communications between the City and its residents were major concerns. Copies of the Sikeston 2000 Report are available at the Sikeston Public Library.  A summary of the report may be downloaded by using the following link.

Sikeston 2000 Committee Report Summary