The community of Wadena has the wheels turning to implement an "Official Community Plan" that will layout the town's future for the next quarter of a century.

As part of the process, they held a public meeting Thursday night that about 50 residents attended bringing ideas forward for the document.

Back in 2008 the town developed a committee that penned a strategic plan but this report is much more comprehensive as Economic Developer Isla Kiland explains.

"Tonight's strategic plan is much different, it's an "Official Community Plan." It's a government approved policy document, it's guiding principle going forward, it encompasses what the community wants for the next 25 years."

During the two hour session, the attendees broke into groups and covered topics across eight spectrums including business, leisure and recreation, the important agriculture sector plus infrastructure needs.

Kiland, who fully participated didn't have to think long when asked what is a pressing issue holding the town back.

"Number one, a hotel," she said. "Everybody feels the same way, we even had grade six students say we need a hotel. We need a hotel so we can host larger events. We have fantastic facilities here, all of our events we currently have we can just ramp them up and do so much more with accommodations." 

Other hot topics were a daycare, upgrades to their golf course, more senior housing options, more restaurant choices plus improvements to roadways.

This is just the start, Kiland explains what's next in the process.

"We're just here in the community engagement process, we just need to develop the plan and key to this is the implementation portion so going forth getting it approved by the Ministry in the spring."

It should be finalized late 2017-18.

You can hear more from Kiland below in her interview with Bolt FM's Clark Stork.