Dixon Main Street, Riverfront groups plan brainstorming session

DIXON – Dixon has a number of groups doing a lot of different things.

Dixon Main Street and the Riverfront are hoping to better coordinate some of those things and plan new things.

To get the ball rolling, they will have a brainstorming session Feb. 29 at Books on First.

Kay Miller is the Riverfront executive manager, and Josh Albrecht is Main Street’s executive director.

“Josh and I had talked about it, and both of us had been asked, ‘Why don’t you do more for the children?’” Miller said. “So I said, ‘Why don’t we put the ball back in the people’s court? What do you want?’”

She hopes people will attend and bring their own ideas, like bicycle races and hot dog-eating contests.

“I don’t know what kids like to do,” she added. “My kids are all grown.”

Albrecht wants the session to lead to more cooperation and coordination between groups around town.

He pointed to the Women’s Garden Club, which wants to add more petunia boxes along Hennepin Avenue this summer. When he found out the club needed the help, he proposed teaming up.

“We need to improve communication among organizations and in the community,” Albrecht said. “This is another way.”

It’s all about the One Dixon Culture idea that Main Street has been pushing, he said. That idea was the impetus behind his proposal to combine or consolidate Dixon Tourism, the Riverfront and Dixon Main Street.

“We have the advantage of I work in [Main Street’s] office,” Miller said. “We sit and chat, talk about what’s going on, so on and so forth.

“But we’d like to get everybody’s opinion. If we have the meeting, then everyone can give their opinion.”