CLINTON - A combined effort between the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Clinton residents will rework the city's long-term strategic plan, said Mayor Ed Wollet.

As part of the Competitive Communities Initiative, Clinton will assess itself, identify the community's goals and priorities, and decide what's needed to attain those goals.

"I am really looking forward to this because I think it will benefit the city tremendously and set Clinton apart," Wollet said.

Don Falls, a specialist with the DCEO, has been assigned to work with Clinton. Last week, he met with city officials and DeWitt County Development Council executive director Ruth Stauffer, the steering committee chairwoman.

"She is the perfect person for that role because she is also working with Farmer City and DeWitt County on long-term strategic plans," Wollet said. "She's the common thread and has experience with developing strategic initiatives."

Stauffer said a Feb. 25 meeting has been set where the program will take shape.

"We will learn how we can customize the program so it works best for the City of Clinton and what we are trying to accomplish with this," Stauffer said. "We want to take the best ideas and some of our own ideas and fit some type of plan around that."

The key, Wollet said, is to receive input from Clinton residents. A special Web site may be developed to allow residents the opportunity to submit ideas on-line.

"We want the citizens to be able to communicate their ideas directly on topics that interest them," Wollet said. "Planning for the future should be an exciting and dynamic experience for the citizens and even those that live outside Clinton but do business or socialize in town."

The Competitive Communities Initiative was selected from three plans submitted to the council last year. There is no charge for the program except for what Wollet described as "minimal, ancillary costs" such as paper and supplies.

The process is expected to take approximately a year to complete.