What do you want to see in the Brainerd community and how do the citizens and Brainerd City Council make that happen?

That and other questions were posed Tuesday evening at the The Center, formerly the Brainerd Lakes Area Senior Activity Center, in the first of monthly community meetings organized by council member-elect Chip Borkenhagen. Fellow council member-elect Gary Scheeler also was in attendance.

About 25 people gathered at The Center to share problems they would like to see resolved in the city and ask their own questions, too.

“I have never heard of the council doing anything like this,” said Ed Shaw. “I have to credit Chip for going out and doing this and Gary for being here. I think Brainerd is on the cusp of something great and I think this is a step in the direction to make that happen, so I am anxious to be here tonight.”

Communication, the skatepark and downtown revitalization were among some of the topics of concern and discussion during the meeting where Borkenhagen encouraged everyone present to speak up.

“I want to believe everyone here had something to talk about,” said Borkenhagen. “So I think some of you still haven’t had the chance to speak yet and I would like to hear your thoughts.

Many people said they came out to see what all the discussion was about and hear what direction the meetings could possibly go in.

Another suggestion voiced was to have some sort of council liaison between the Baxter and Brainerd city councils to open up communication between the two cities.

Meetings are planned for the future and all were encouraged to visit the ‘Building a better Brainerd’ Facebook page for more discussion and information.

The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Senior Center.

JESSI PIERCE, staff writer, may be reached at 855-5859 or jessi.pierce@brainerddispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jessi_pierce (@jessi_pierce).