Strategic Evolution

Vision - 'a County in which our children learn, our citizens participate, our dreams matter, our families and neighbors thrive, and our community prospers.'

Mission - 'through visionary leadership and good stewardship, we will administer state requirements, ensure public safety, determine county needs, and provide services that continually enhance quality of life.'

Core Values

1. Integrity - 'We understand and accept our duty to do the public's business in an open, honest, and transparent manner.'
2. Collaboration - 'As individuals, we will engage each other during the decision-making process. Collectively, we will cooperatively engage other governing bodies, the community and stakeholders in the decisions that affect the County's citizens through opportunities to participate with input, education, and feedback.
3. Accountable and Responsible - 'Our decisions will be based on facts and a full understanding of the matters before us, including the implications for individuals, businesses, and the community as a whole.'
4.  Respect - 'Healthy debate and diversity of opinion is expected and encouraged, requiring a high level of civil decorum in all our discussions.’

Goals

1. Preserve and enhance the quality of life by addressing growth with sound public policies that sustain resources, provide high quality services, and fund infrastructure needs.
2. Achieve community-wide preparedness to protect public safety, respond to routine and catastrophic events, and maintain and restore the well-being of all residents.
3. Use resources wisely and responsibly by protecting assets, minimizing risk, creating partnerships, and using technology to maximize the value of county investments, expenditures, and services.
4. A fully engaged community with a shared understanding of its issues and challenges and working together to achieve its goals.
5. Ensure that all citizens have equal opportunity and access to education, health care, and economic prosperity and encourage citizens to fulfill their potential and contribute to their community.

Strategic Goals

1. Preserve and enhance the quality of life through public policy that promotes cross‐jurisdictional collaboration, encourages growth while balancing its impact and looks ahead to preserve quality of life.
2. Provide for public safety by communicating preparedness and safety awareness, responding to routine and catastrophic events and maintaining and restoring the well‐being of citizens.
3. Use resources wisely by seeking to collaborate services, share costs, minimize risk and protect county assets and investments.
4. Support community connections through purposeful and strategic communication, enhanced education active community participation and increased access to and utilization of services.

1. Healthy and safe community - 'sustain a culture where safety is a shared priority for residents, businesses, employees, and visitors; improve the physical and mental circumstances of residents by connecting them to community resources that enhance quality of life; and promote and engage quality of life initiatives to foster a healthy and safe community.'
2. Culture and recreation – ‘create a community that recognizes the basic human need for physical and intellectual development; and enhance policies, facilities, and land to foster diverse cultural and recreational opportunities.'
3. Sustainable growth and development - 'promote responsible and strategic countywide growth; and promote, support, and address sustainable open space forestry practices and farming.'
4. A thriving economy - 'promote, grow, and sustain a diverse economic base through collaborative community relationships; and invest in opportunities that promote self-sufficiency and empowerment to our current and future workforce.'
5. Transparent and accountable government - 'ensure an engaged and accountable workforce to provide exceptional service; perform analysis, forecasting, and reporting to ensure effective stewardship of funds and longevity of current and future county assets; create opportunities for people to see value in the work of county government; and develop creative technological solutions to support county services.'

Vision - 'empower our people to act intentionally and decisively with a focus on the future.'

Mission - 'through meaningful partnerships and engagement, we serve and support all on their journey to thrive.'

Values

1. Teamwork – ‘work together to build a stronger organization…everyone contributes skills, knowledge, and efforts to achieve common goals.’
2. Respect – ‘…we treat and expect to be treated with respect to shape healthy relationships, foster cooperation, learn, and create a welcoming environment.’
3. Communication – ‘…support connection, understanding, and trust…removing barriers to improve outcomes.’
4. Integrity – ‘…always uphold ethical and professional standards…we are dependable and work to establish credibility through honest, transparent actions.’
5. Accountability – ‘…we are willing to pursue opportunities for improvement…we directly address issues, learn from our experiences, and respond with professionalism.’

Goals

1. Workplace Culture - 'support employees through shared actions, values, and culture to deliver exceptional service and become an employer of choice.'
2. Engagement - 'strengthen community ties to increase understanding, participation, and trust.'
3. Innovation - 'modernize county government to meet current and future needs, improve efficiency, and raise the level of accountability.'
4. Advancement - 'create pathways for upward economic mobility to support a prosperous and sustainable future for our community.'
5. Stewardship - 'responsibly manage resources and cared for assets to support the interest of our community.'