Vision Statement
Maintain the quality of life and the community for the citizens within the Urban Growth Boundary of the City of Ranson by enhancing development, revitalizing “downtown Ranson,” recognizing and protecting the natural resources, encouraging economic growth, and providing new community facilities.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to maximize services to our customers in the most cost efficient manner. We will accomplish this through teamwork, dedication to duty, high employee morale, sufficient staffing, and quality training. We are committed to creating an effective municipal team focused on delivering a high level of service to our constituents.
Our Customers
- Business community
- County
- Elected and appointed city representatives
- Employees
- Federal government
- Other municipalities
- State governments
- The public
Effective
- Attaining specified goals and objectives
- Ensuring on-going productivity and efficiency in the services being provided
Professional
- Maintaining a highly trained and technically competent work force
- Giving employees the authority to exercise judgment, as well as the responsibility for the effective use of that authority
Financially Responsible
- Ensuring the resources of the city are efficiently used
Core Values
The city government is dedicated to promoting the highest quality of life for our people.
- Local character builds regional economies – Keeping investments circulating at home and attracting new resources grows the economy. The Ranson/Charles Town region functions as one economic unit.
- Strong core communities make strong foundations – While the Plan assures choices for living, working, shopping and playing in a variety of contexts, it also recognizes that Old Town neighborhoods comprise the community’s vital center. Economic and civic life thrive where a critical mass of citizens can comfortably walk to a variety of destinations. Infrastructure investment enjoys the highest returns where design encourages compactness. So policies should privilege safe, attractive and accessible downtown living and investment.
- There is a place for everything, and everything has its place – There are time-tested models for appropriate development approaches in a range of environments, from the most rural lands, through suburban neighborhoods, to the center of town. So planning strategies should acknowledge those separate environments and maximize choices compatible with connectivity and sustainability.
- Affordable living includes housing, transportation, energy,recreation, and shopping – True community affordability depends upon leveraging value across the full array of housing, transportation, energy, recreation, and retail sectors. Infrastructure investments and development policies should employ strategies that balance affordable options for a variety of family sizes, incomes and life cycle stages.
- Green infrastructure supports sustainable communities – Natural systems deliver hard-to-measure but crucial services for neighborhoods. Trees, and other vegetation in natural systems and landscaping, provide stormwater management, shade and animal habitat. Well-designed drainageways move concentrated rainwater away from developed areas and also provide valuable open spaces. Infrastructure investments and development policies should protect, reinforce and build on natural systems.
- Neighborhoods are the building blocks – Walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods are the fundamental building blocks of communities. Most people should be able to walk to at least some of their daily needs in safe, appealing environments.
- Private buildings and public infrastructure work together to shape public space and to build community character – People walk more when the walk is safe, comfortable and interesting. Small blocks create a resilient, interconnected street system. Private buildings shape the look, feel and function of public space through the way they relate to streets, sidewalks, parks and other
buildings. - Working together creates bigger opportunities – Ranson and Charles Town are connected economically, environmentally and historically within a larger community. They form the core of the broader Jefferson County area and, at their best, offer models for desirable, sustainable development. With coordinated planning, linked transportation, shared services and joint economic development, both Cities and the County can accomplish more together than on their own.
Goals and Objectives
- Customer Service – We will treat each customer with respect and strive to ensure that they are treated fairly.
- Urban Planning – We will seek to manage the development of our community by ensuring that all plans are designed and executed in harmony with the surrounding area. We will employ the principles of Smart Growth and Sustainable Development in our rules and regulations
- Growth Management – We will improve our ability to manage growth in the community. City government shall play a leadership role in preserving a sustainable quality of life and protecting the environment in Ranson as we adapt to community growth.
- Transportation Improvements – We are committed to sustaining and improving inter-modal transportation mobility as the community grows through visionary planning, the completion of important capital projects, and effective maintenance of infrastructure.
- Public Safety – We will take all possible and prudent steps to provide for public safety. We will do our utmost to protect the persons and property under our care.
- Financial Support for City Services – We will endeavor to obtain the revenues necessary to support the municipal services and capital projects that help make a city great.
- Downtown Revitalization – We will support the continued revitalization of our downtown to enhance our sense of community and promote Ranson as a unique place.
- Public Works – We will courteously respond to the needs of our customers by providing the most effective service with the most efficient use of resources.
- Community Spaces – We are committed to creating and maintaining areas where people are free to enjoy a wide range of recreational activities.
