The author, David Smith, is Mt. Gilead town manager.

I believe that the cities and towns that truly succeed are the ones that allow people to help create success. The more involvement from the community, the greater the chance that the town becomes a better place. And with great involvement, there is a direct correlation to people becoming more attached to their communities. I have seen so much activity over the past few months here in Mt. Gilead with a greater involvement in the planning and implementation of ideas for improvement and beautification.

One new concept for Mt. Gilead to consider is “place attachment.” This is a concept defined as ”the emotional bond between a person and place and one’s attachment to a place.” In our case, that’s Mt. Gilead. Here are 10 behaviors that increase place attachment:

1. Walk and bike
2. Buy local
3. Build new relationships
4. Enjoy the positive assets of your place
5. Experience nature
6. Volunteer and serve
7. Eat local
8. Be civically engaged
9. Create something positive for your place
10. Build resilience

It is exciting to see place attachment in real time with so many citizens of Mt. Gilead. Over the next few months, we will undertake the creation and adoption of the 2022/23 budget for Mt. Gilead. In the past, the budget process and adoption has been mostly reactionary in dealing with the needs of Mt. Gilead. This year, because of the vision and momentum that has been created, Mt. Gilead will need to approach the budget in a very proactive way. If we’re serious about moving forward in all aspects of the town, that calls for a new way of budgeting for priorities in a proactive way. 

There are great needs in employee retention, public works-streets, water, sewer, police, recreation, town beautification … and the needs go on. With the adoption of the 2040 Mt. Gilead comprehensive plan, a menu of priority and actions items was adopted. In short, budgeting for the great opportunities that are found in Mt. Gilead will be more costly, yet so needed. 

If you have thoughts on needs, wants, ideas, priorities for the town, please pass them along to the mayor, council or myself. ALL ideas/thoughts are welcome. 

Mayor Beverly Harris and myself will be holding “IDEA EXCHANGES” on the second Tuesdays of each month at the Speckled Paw and on the third Wednesdays at the Highland Community Center, from 10 a.m. to noon at each location.