Adoption of 2025 Comprehensive Plan Sets Future Course for City of Casey

Casey City Council Meeting | Dec. 3, 2025

Article Summary: The Casey City Council formally adopted a new Comprehensive Plan, a long-range document designed to guide the city’s growth, economic development, and infrastructure for the next decade.

Casey City Council Key Points:

• Ordinance 597 Approved: The council voted unanimously to adopt the plan, which was prepared with assistance from Moran Economic Development.

• Strategic Focus: The plan addresses critical areas including housing rehabilitation, economic development, infrastructure improvements, and land use.

• Public Process: The adoption followed a public hearing held at the previous meeting and involved community surveys and input sessions.

The Casey City Council on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, voted to adopt a new Comprehensive Plan, establishing a blueprint for the municipality’s future development and revitalization.

The council unanimously approved Ordinance #597, which formally accepts the document titled “Small Town, Big Vision! Shaping the Casey of Tomorrow.” The plan was developed in partnership with Moran Economic Development and is the result of extensive data analysis and public engagement, including community surveys and open houses.

Economic Development Director Tom Daughhetee, who spearheaded the project, was not present at the meeting, but Mayor Mike Nichols noted the extensive work that went into the 122-page document.

“I don’t think there is anything that anybody has too many questions about. I think it’s pretty well understood,” Mayor Nichols said regarding the plan, noting the committee’s involvement in drafting the final version.

The Comprehensive Plan identifies several key goals for Casey, including diversifying the local economy, improving housing quality through rehabilitation and infill development, and enhancing infrastructure. It highlights the city’s success in tourism while acknowledging challenges such as population decline and an aging housing stock.

Specific recommendations within the plan include adopting building codes to improve property maintenance, creating a Capital Improvements Plan for infrastructure, and exploring the establishment of a historic district. The plan also emphasizes the need for a local grocery store and expanded opportunities for youth retention.

The adoption of the plan marks the conclusion of a legislative process that included a public hearing held during the previous council meeting.