What’s the ‘Deal’ with the mayor?

A new, hands-on approach to governing the City of Fort Morgan by being hyper-involved in the community has been implemented by Mayor Lyn Deal.

“I took the position of mayor to become involved in the community,” Deal said. “I like people and working on projects. I want to perform the job and serve in the way that I feel I should.”

That means she could be spotted at your workplace, organization, in a restaurant or knocking on your door, she says.

Deal recently participated in a tour of the Cargill meat production plant and previously toured the Leprino cheese plant, detailing those experiences for City Council at the Tuesday, June 21 regular meeting. Those two activities led her to gain a perspective for those working in various capacities at the plants.

“They work really hard,” said Deal, noting that among what she had learned is Cargill processes about 3,000 to 4,000 head of cattle per day. “If you like hamburger, ribs and steak, it comes from a lot of work over there.”

The tour of both plants fit an agenda Deal had, she says, before becoming the town’s mayor, but also one she fully embraced following her election.

“I want to touch base with as many businesses and individuals as possible,” Deal said.

The status update she provided City Council also included a report Tuesday related to a visit with Kids At Their Best, a local nonprofit organization that aims to provide a self-sustaining leadership program to offer a pathway from poverty to college and career, the organization’s website reads. The more than 600 children involved in the program speak 26 languages.

“They go out everyday and serve kids meals,” Deal said. “I have invited them to come and share a PowerPoint with us (at City Council).”

She also attended World Refugee Day at Fort Morgan City Park on Saturday, June 18, meeting residents from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

“I got to hear stories about how they arrived here,” Deal said. “I’ve learned some about their contributions in our community. I believe they feel a little isolated.”

The aim in Deal’s agenda to meet residents within the community, she says, is to get a better perspective on the community as a whole, and therefore to make decisions that better serve the needs of the community.

“I’ve learned so much about the diversified population we have, and have been able to better determine the needs they have,” Deal said. “I want to get to know our residents personally. I feel there are sometimes portions of the community we don’t know and don’t really know what they need.”

Another example of her activities is visiting with each business related to a proposed closing of a road off Main Street to determine their perspective in advance of a City Council meeting, and to also connect with Wells Fargo to discuss the potential of purchasing a parking lot neighboring the bank in support of access for activity in downtown and at City Park.

“I feel like just being mayor people want to embrace you,” Deal said. “I want to make connections.”

Those are connections Deal says she is inspired to make one-on-one, in a group setting and with organizations. Some have seen her out and about to an extent which she says on Facebook some termed her the “People’s Mayor,” or maybe better comparing her to Where’s Waldo.

“I’ve been learning a lot, and have tried to be everywhere I can,” Deal said. “I’ve learned a lot about our community, and a lot about the people who call it home. I feel that I’m connecting with people.”