Thorsby leaders met with several of the town’s citizens for a “brown bag” lunch at Helen Jenkins Chapel to listen to the residents’ concerns.

The group of about 10 randomly selected residents brought their own lunches, some of which were homemade while others had a take-out meal. They met together with Mayor Dearl Hilyer, Police Chief Ed Prady, Superintendent Terry Jackson and two firefighters.

Hilyer hoped that he would get feedback from the town’s residents to see what is on their minds.

“I’ve enjoyed it. I think it was very productive,” he said after the meeting. “They all had a lot of great ideas.”

Throughout the meeting, Hilyer took notes on what the people were concerned about. The topics covered crime, speeding, beautification of the town, recycling, the elementary school renovation and rundown houses. They even asked about how garbage cans might even wind up in the road after the trash was dumped.

Each of the department heads answered the questions as best as they could. Each of the residents around the table spoke up and appeared to enjoy the conversation with the town leaders.

Hilyer eventually wants to make it a monthly event in the town, but it may only be quarterly for the first year.

“It went well for the first time,” he said. “We got a lot of good feedback, which is what we were wanting.”