Coming off a presentation Oct. 12 at Gilman High School, a second Design WI presentation was held Friday, Nov. 15.
Among the purposes of the follow-up workshop were to identify ways in which to implement the findings of the Design Wisconsin presentation the month prior.

Attendees to the Nov. 15 follow-up workshop heard a brief introduction from UW Extension personnel Todd Johnson, Neil Klemme, and Michelle Grimm.
Four main players were set forth as instrumental in Gilman's plan: the school, local businesses, local groups, and local government.
Following this, students from Gilman High School led the presentation, with attendees splitting into groups to find ways to implement the vision, then sharing these with the larger group.
Included in implementing the plan for Gilman were four main parts: a vibrant downtown, volunteerism and public participation, growth mindset and quality of life, and comprehensive planning and ordinances. Included with each category were six questions:
1. What action should we take?
2. What does success look like?
3. How do we measure it?
4. What do we need to get there?
5. What do we need to sustain it? 

6. Who would co-lead?
   Starting with a vibrant downtown, the following actions were identified: signs for the swinging bridge, lights/flowers/color, slanted parking, and clean out laundromat. In terms of what success looked like, the vibrant downtown goal was “getting it done!” As for ways to measure, the vibrant downtown team would prioritize daycare, housing, carwash, and laundromat. A need to replace the bowling alley was also identified. 

As for getting started, a laundromat and carwash were identified. To sustain it, the village will need advertising, people, and funding. As for who would co-lead, Josh Mann and Lynn Rosemeyer were names put forward.

Also in vibrant downtown, the need to look for grants and investors as well as providing tax incentives was touched on. New ideas and population growth were among ideas, as was signage for downtown and direct mail advertisements, along with partnership with the school. Alicia Soper was identified as a potential person to co-lead.

As for volunteerism and public participation, making a list of volunteers old and young within the community was identified as a need, along with organizations grouping together and working with each other. Good leadership was identified as a need. Also touched on was the idea of bringing back past programs like Readers for Leaders, along with seeking to make June Dairy Days a more family oriented event, including kid’s games. No specific leaders or co-leaders were identified as part of volunteer and public participation, though they were acknowledged as needed.

As for a growth mindset and quality of life, trails in town were also deemed important, with the school potentially getting involved as well. As for where to start ideas included from the school down to the river. Getting permission from the school board and property owners as well as the DNR was also brought up in the plan. The Ice Age Trail was touched on as a possibility in Gilman, but with few specifics. The trail currently exists to the east of town.

Closing out the Friday, Nov. 15 workshop with comprehensive planning and ordinances, key points touched on for this were to revisit the current plan, adding updates and making it user friendly. Making sure the plan wasn’t just for show was important to success, while encouraging public participation via a public meeting and communication plan were deemed important measures of success. Already started, comprehensive planning and ordinance updates were deemed to need more frequent meetings with research and review, with a plan to review at least annually. Having ordinances takes the personal aspect out of enforcement. Jane DeStaercke, Tom Tallier, and Dee Bornheimer were put forward as names to co-lead the effort.