ESCANABA — As part of the process of updating Delta County’s master plan, the county recently hired OHM Advisors to provide consulting services for the project. Delta County Administrator Philip Strom said the process will continue when representatives of OHM visit the county May 6-8.

According to Strom, the existing version of the county’s master plan dates back to 1996.

“Having a current master plan is important to help the county have a direction for the future. It also may help us (explore) opportunities related to grants and other financial opportunities,” Strom said.

Strom said OHM’s visit to Delta County will play an important role in efforts to update the master plan.

“Some of the initial goals are to get our consulting group, OHM Advisors, familiar with the community … (and) we’re trying to build public participation in the process to help create an accurate and useful master plan,” he said of the visit.

After meeting with representatives of the county, the representatives of OHM visiting the area will take a tour facilitated by Strom on Monday, May 6.

“I will drive the consultants around to the different areas in Delta County,” Strom said.

The tour group will go to the cities of Escanaba and Gladstone, townships in the county, parks and county buildings — including the airport and service center.

Later that day, the OHM representatives visiting the area will participate in a meeting of the Delta County Planning Commission.

“The consultants will talk to the planning commissioners about how the planning commission will be involved in creating the ­master

plan,” Strom said.

The meeting will be held at the Delta County Courthouse, and is set to start at 5:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, May 7, Strom said multiple focus groups will meet with representatives of OHM and the county.

“We’ve identified groups of stakeholders, and we’ll be conducting stakeholder interviews and meetings to try to build (a) better understanding of the community’s expectations for the future of Delta County,” he said.

Focus groups related to the Delta County Chamber of Commerce and Delta County Economic Development Alliance, education, local health and wellness and recreation and tourism will meet at the Delta County Service Center on Tuesday. A community focus group for elected and appointed officials, as well as the township association, will convene at Bay College that evening.

Another focus group — related to infrastructure, natural resources and agriculture — is set to meet on the morning of Wednesday, May 8. Additional work time for OHM has also been scheduled for Wednesday.

Strom said he is anticipating OHM’s visit.

“I’m looking forward to it — it’s really the first major step in (the) master planning process,” he said.