BUCHANAN — With 2017 now rooted in the past, Buchanan officials are looking toward creating a successful 2018 for the city.

While many rang in the new year Sunday night, City Manager Bill Marx said he has been planning what 2018 will look like for Buchanan for a while. Having learned from 2017, Marx said that the new year will bring business and community development to the city.

Looking back

One of the largest and most demanding issues in 2017 for Buchanan was medical marijuana, as the city commission “opted in” to allowing medical marijuana facilities in the city, a move that proved controversial.

“It was an uphill battle,” Marx said of 2017. “I think the biggest battle was people not understanding medical marijuana and moving forward with the city commission’s decision to opt in to provide that for residents who indicated they needed it and wanted it locally.”

The year 2017 saw more than just the discussion surrounding medical marijuana, Marx said. The year was also big for business, with Lehman’s Orchard Brewery and Farmhouse opening in February, after years of development.

“Business is really the icing on the cake for us,” Marx said. “I think we’ve done pretty well so far for 2017.”

Looking ahead

Business will once again be at the forefront for Buchanan in 2018, with the biggest business being a new medical marijuana industry in Buchanan.

Individuals looking to open medical marijuana facilities in the city have already begun to receive special use permits and property in downtown to start the process of opening facilities.

“They’ve taken some of our eyesores, like the old Clark Equipment,” Marx said of the properties bought for medical marijuana facilities. “I think it will be good, and a revitalization in some ways.”

Marx said he believes that bringing medical marijuana businesses to Buchanan will be good for the city not only because they will fill unsightly buildings, but because they will bring with them new jobs.

“All the [medical marijuana] people I’ve dealt with are true professionals. They aren’t the stoner down the street,” Marx said. “They are business people who believe they can help people and want to grow Buchanan.”

Another new business looking to take root in Buchanan is Casey’s General Store, an Iowa based company which has purchased property in uptown Buchanan.

Additionally, Redbud Area Fitness and farm-to-table brewery River Saint Joe are planning to open in 2018, both of which have been planning to open in Buchanan for years.

“There has been a resurgence of people interested downtown. There really isn’t a building to be had downtown that isn’t being spoken for,” Marx said of the business growth expected to take place in 2018. “I’m really excited and pleased about that.”

Another years-long project to begin in 2018 will be the city’s wastewater treatment plant update. The project, which will take up to three years and $7.5-8 million to complete, will add updates that will increase efficiency and decrease energy consumption, Marx said.

“The update is needed, as the wastewater plant now is really at the end of its lifespan,” he said.

With so many new things on the horizon for Buchanan, Marx wanted to remind residents to be involved in their community, and that it is the people of Buchanan that make it great.

“I think people need to be excited for the community they have. We have a lot going on,” he said. “[Buchanan] is a great place to be, and I’m happy to be part of it in the coming year.”