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.
UTILITIES
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR PROBLEMS/CHALLENGES IN THE COMMUNITY?
- Infrastructure in need of repair
- Lack of master plan for city
- Lack of focus to pull volunteers together
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR STRENGTHS/ASSETS OF THE COMMUNITY?
- People and their willingness to follow through on a task
- Land is available for development
- Good industry is in place, encourage growth
- Good school system
- Good hospital
WHAT PROJECTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SHORT TERM (12 MONTHS OR LESS)?
- Need to look at EPA regulations to remove fines at sewer treatment plant
- Establish retention and expansion program for local businesses
- Form direct response team for legislative issues that affect city
- Establish repaving program to have plan in place during summer
- Educate citizens on responsibilities of economic development, they are the community's best ambassadors
WHAT PROJECTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED IN THE LONG TERM (THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS)?
- Have as a goal to grow every industry in city by 100 jobs
- Develop and update regularly a master plan for city
- Educate city leadership on the goals of the master plan so that everyone is focused in the same direction
- Community education program that alleviates "resistance to change"
