While the residential boom is impressive, it presents challenges that the city is addressing head-on. “We want to be careful not to become just a bedroom community,” Ralls says, regarding city overcrowding and its effects on quality of life. As such, Collinsville is focused on encouraging commercial development to keep pace with the influx of new residents. The goal is to offer the necessary amenities—restaurants, healthcare, and recreational facilities—while maintaining the quality of life for both new and long-standing residents. “We’ve established a new Land Management Authority to help us be proactive in that development. We’re working to build incubator spaces so that if we have new businesses wanting to open up who can’t afford an office space or warehouse space, we can provide that environment at very low cost, in some cases, zero cost for lease,” Ralls says. Collinsville has also committed to enhancing its energy infrastructure. As a public power entity, the support of veterans. The city recently fully restored and renovated its veterans’ building — built towards the end of World War II — and hosts an annual Purple Heart Day celebration to recognize Collinsville citizens who have received the acknowledgment. Perhaps the most intriguing thing about the city is that even with all the efforts to preserve it doesn’t hinder Collinsville from embracing growth and modernization. SUSTAINABLE PREPARATION FOR COMMERCIAL AND POPULATION GROWTH “Our residential growth is outpacing our commercial growth at this point, we have subdivisions either under construction or with plans permitted but not yet in construction,” Ralls states, explaining that Collinsville’s population is soaring, with over 500 new homes currently under construction or in the planning stages. 83 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 10 COLLINSVILLE, OK
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