WHAT WAS SAID AT THE INTERVIEWS
The seven (7)-member Resource Team spent two days interviewing the local residents to hear what they had to say. Those being interviewed were directed to answer four questions:
- What are the major problems/challenges in the community?
- What are the major strengths/assets of the community?
- What projects would you like to see implemented in the short term (12 months or less)?
- What projects would you like to see implemented in the long term (the next two or three years)?
We have listed below, without comment, what we heard from those who volunteered to be interviewed.
HEALTH CARE
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR PROBLEMS/CHALLENGES IN THE COMMUNITY?
- Need to work together in one direction, more cooperation between entities in order to recruit more doctors to the community
- Divided in efforts, need more cohesion in bringing assistance to the area
- Education of the community on the issues
- Education of the community that problems need to be addressed in a different way because the issues in health care have changed
- Health care policies have changed the way doctors practice medicine
- People need to understand these changes and where they are coming from
- The community is lucky to have a good hospital
- Community is undergoing a change because of the economy, transition is difficult
- Rural communities are sometimes slower in grasping change, health care is undergoing many changes, home health is keeping more people out of the hospital, but when they do go into the hospital it is serious
- A challenge to support two hospitals in the county
- Cooperation may not happen until a crisis develops
- Education on the necessity of cooperation needs to happen now before the crisis
- High illiteracy rate in the county
- Working together is becoming essential, rivalry will have to be overcome
- Joint projects will have to be developed by multiple communities
- Need for economic diversification
- Housing shortage- both rental and private
- Need for retirement housing, lots of retirees moving to community
- Need for street improvements, reflects on civic pride, and impacts how visitors see the community
- Housing options are very limited
- Encourage county-wide cooperation, not just De Leon and Comanche
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR STRENGTHS/ASSETS OF THE COMMUNITY?
- Good hospital
- Good doctors
- Good nurses
- Crosstimbers Clinic also provides a great service
- Good medical facilities attract people to the community
- If you can recruit doctors to the community, they will stay because of the people
- The community does not suffer from racial tensions as much as other communities
- Quality of the people
- Good hospital
- Retirees that have returned to the community come back with varied experiences, skills, and talents that should be utilized by the community
- Good central location, small town, but accessible to large cities
- Everyone pitches in when needed to get things done
- Community support of the hospital
- Good hospital
- Schools are good
- Good people
- Great place to raise a family
- Churches play a big role in community life
- Entertainment options are very limited
- Good recreational facilities
WHAT PROJECTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SHORT TERM (12 MONTHS OR LESS)?
- City leadership needs to support and maintain good communication with Clinic and hospital
- Provide support to individuals that need help in obtaining medical assistance - education and help with forms
- Establish a marketing program that tells De Leon's story and what they have to offer
- Begin to study the future of the hospital now in order to develop a good solution and insure its survival
- Leadership training and community education of the responsibilities of holding public office
- Develop welcoming program that gets people who are looking at the community together
- with community groups, promote the community through its greatest asset
- Youth oriented activities
- Recruit new businesses
- Have churches conduct joint activities for youth
- Have physical therapist services under one roof
- Utilize City Hall auditorium for youth activities and other programs
- Develop resource base of retirees
WHAT PROJECTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED IN THE LONG TERM (THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS)?
- Have hospital recruit more doctors
- Civic improvement especially streets
- Need improvements in library and better location
- Need to improve county roads, sometimes they are impassable
- Merge hospitals into one entity
- High school facilities need improvement
- Major clean up needed
- Develop strong ordinances that will allow for clean up of junk cars and other trash
