WELSH — Residents offered input Thursday on the development of a five-year-plan for the town during an informal public meeting.

Residents said they wanted to encourage business growth; remove abandoned houses; and improve Sportsman Park.

Ken Strong, a native of Detroit, said housing is a big issue for the town. “Iowa has a big billboard advertising their housing,” Strong said. “It would be a good thing here.”

Jamie Festervand said the town needs to consider placing signs at its entrance to make it more inviting to people entering from the interstate.

Former Alderwoman Gloria Viney said the town needs to address drainage and flood issues. “If you don’t take care of the flooding and drainage there won’t be a future because we won’t be here,” she said.

The town is working on a separate plan to address drainage problems.

Jim Wright said that with over $100 billion in development in Lake Charles, the town needs to focus on its future.

“We need to try to make a difference in our town so that five years from now our town has a better future,” said Alderman Bob Owens, who heads the long-term planning committee.

The committee will work with public officials to implement one-, two-, five- and 10-year goals for the town.

Those attending the meeting were asked to complete a survey listing their top three goals and improvements in seven areas: community image and identity, economic development, housing, parks and recreation, downtown district, public works, and roles and responsibilities.

“This is a chance for the citizens of Welsh to have a voice,” Owens said. “They have elected us to represent them, but at the same time they have a voice. It’s their town, and we work for them.”

The surveys will be available at Town Hall and 90 One Stop convenience store. Surveys should be turned in within 10 days.

“Once we get all the surveys back, we will compile them all and determine what the top three requests were in each area,” Owens said. “From there, we will write policies and implement strategies for the town to meet those goals.”

The committee hopes to complete the plan within a year and present it to the Board of Aldermen for approval. It would be updated yearly, Owens said.