Greetings Washburn! Ive had the honor of sitting at the Mayors desk for just over 5 months now.

My plan from the get go was to do a lot of listening and learning in my rst few months, and I can safely say Mission accomplished! I have to admit, the rst few months were like drinking water from a re hose! In the beginning, people asked me, How does it feel to be Mayor? Now people want to know, What have you been up to? e goal of this edition of Notes from the Mayors Desk, is to answer that question. Building Relationships I have spent a great deal of time building relationships with City Sta , Committee Members, and City Council and I am enjoying the increased level of trust that comes from this time well spent. In an e ort to get to know a greater percentage of the citizenry, I have been talking with everyone I can. Ive spoken at formal meetings with groups like the Lions Club and Rotary. Ive dropped-in on the co ee clutch that gathers at the Time Out each morning, a ectionately known as the Citizens Against Everything. I also like to take time in the grocery store or on the street to talk and listen (o en to the frustration of my wife, whos waiting for the eggs I ran to grab real quick). ree successful Meals with Mayor have given folks an informal venue to share concerns and ideas. e next, is Breakfast with the Mayor, at the Time Out, on Oct. 24th at 8:00am. Come join us! e Nuts and Bolts of City Business As a mayor, much of what I do is working with City Sta to attend to the day-to-day business of a well-functioning city. To that end weve had some great successes these past few months. A er a fruitful negotiation with Marina Management Inc., we nalized a contract that will keep our marina running smoothly and pro tably for the next 8 years, creating a win-win situation for everyone involved. A er much hard work on the part of our sta and many meetings with the DNR and our engineering consultants, our wastewater treatment plant is functioning well again. e Personnel and Finance Committee has embarked on the challenging process of developing a plan to insure the long-term nancial health of our Sewer Utility. e wheels of progress can appear to turn slowly in municipal government, but I believe ours are properly aligned and moving in a good direction. Taking a look at the Bigger Picture In August, I found it important to spend some time processing what I had learned and integrating it into the bigger picture. is time was well spent and I was able to gain clarity about my role as Mayor and how best to leverage this role to improve the quality of life in Washburn. To that end, I will be focusing much of my attention in two areas which are intimately connected; economic development and a comprehensive vision for our Lakeshore. Economic Development is spring, I was introduced to an innovative organization called e Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE- http://bealocalist.org). To gain a fresh perspective on economic development, I attended the BALLE national conference in May, and I just returned from another BALLE workshop in Chicago last weekend. I greatly value my conversations with this network of innovative economists, business alliances and entrepreneurs who have helped to shape my economic development strategies. ese conversations have continued with the Bay eld County Economic Development Corporation and the Washburn Development Authority. Now, were diving into the rewarding work of bolstering local entrepreneurial spirit, enhancing resources for potential new businesses, lling empty storefronts, beautifying our downtown, and getting local investment dollars into new and existing local businesses. I see renewed potential in Washburns economic future. Our Local Landscape and Lakefront Nearly everyone I speak with has ideas about what should occur along our shores. e good news is that I have found an enormous amount of shared vision and common ground through these conversations. Rather than addressing our lakefront in a piecemeal fashion, it is critical that we envision our entire shoreline comprehensively in order to preserve and make the highest use of our citys crown jewel. I believe we are well poised to create a vision that can incorporate all of the collective wisdom of our community. It may be hard to believe that this is possible, but I know that it is. A world-class lakefront will provide a critical catalyst for a more vibrant Washburn. Here is my in itation to you: Start conversations about the lakefront with your friends and neighbors. Look for the similarities and get excited about the diversity of ideas. Dont see others ideas as a threat to your own, but instead as a wealth of possibility. Be patient, get involved and trust that this process will not be complete until everyone has been heard and will not be successful until the vision has the overwhelming support of our entire community. Your Input is the key! In order for these initiatives to be a success, your input is critical. On the back, you will nd a number of ways that we can keep the lines of communication open. O en people feel that the only time to speak up is when something is broken. I know you have more to o er! Your wisdom and input is vital to creating a vibrant future for Washburn.

Regards,

Mayor Scott Gri ths