Give commission marching orders to spur growth

Economic overkill or just the boost a small city needs?

That’s the question Palmer City Council debated this week when deciding, by a narrow margin, to create a new economic development commission.

The concept is that such a body, made up of representation from various sectors — including the general public, business, industry, tourism, education and health care, and from both within and outside the city limits — will help spur and channel growth in Palmer in coming years.

By a 4-3 vote, city council approved the notion, but not before making sure the commission went beyond its original list of included representatives.

Those opposed to the commission didn’t oppose the concept of careful economic growth in Palmer, but looked at the new group as just another layer of bureaucracy to bog down the burg’s progress. No one on council was saying nay to responsible growth.

That, as we see it, is the best news.

Whether it’s by commission, committee or council, targeting careful, planned and sustained growth is Palmer’s ticket to success.

Palmer has already largely rejected the tack taken by its neighbor to the west, where big box stores rule. What it needs now is a game plan to help grow in a positive way — a Palmer way. This should include dedication to its unique past, respect for the area’s natural beauty and protection for the quality of life its residents enjoy.

We see the new commission as helping frame that picture. With a diverse membership, the commission can balance the needs of businesses and industry with the needs of the community. It can look at safeguarding its natural resources and beauty, while moving progressively toward the future.

Palmer needs to expand its economic base to add jobs, including high-quality jobs, for its current and future labor force. While Palmer offers the kind of quality life that unparalleled vistas, good schools, well-established businesses, a quaint atmosphere and recreational opportunities provide, building for the future means more jobs, more infrastructure and more opportunities for all.

We applaud the forward thinking of the council and urge its members to solicit a varied membership for the commission. The body cannot be a rubber-stamp for the council or too narrow in its focus to complete its broad task. It would be a waste to have a body that lacks direction or mission. Key people, defined mission, expected outcomes — then watch Palmer grow.