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.
AGRICULTURE
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR PROBLEMS/CHALLENGES IN THE COMMUNITY?
- Can't farm with third world countries
- NAFTA isn't working at this time for this county
- Can't compete with the foreign market
- Losing the peanut program
- Losing the orderly marketing process
- How do we develop facilities for diversity of crops, (deal with crop spoilage)
- Will we be able to use the lake water? What kind of regulations will affect this?
- Need to address value-added to current crops
- Need something for the kids to complement school activities
- Housing
- Lack of Money
- Political
- Need to work together
- Government regulations that don't make sense
- Attitude of community, need to put aside petty problems
- Need to cooperate with other cities
- Lack of banks to work with the ag community
- We can't ship to Mexico on the percentage that Mexico can
- NAFTA is here but it needs to be fixed
- Don't know what the product is that comes in from Mexico
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR STRENGTHS/ASSETS OF THE COMMUNITY?
- Good pecan crops
- Everybody pulls together
- Hospital
- Schools
- People
- Highly motivated people
- Water
- Churches
- Schools
- Caring community
- Land - diversity of land, can grow a lot of different crops
- People
- Moral community
- Together as a group
- United
- People
- People
- Nursery for pecan trees
WHAT PROJECTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SHORT TERM (12 MONTHS OR LESS)?
- Political group that has some say to change some of the political state of things
- Need something for our youth, activity center
- Need to organize as a group
- Under group water district 3 counties
- Rural water distribution pipeline, keep it coming
- Need to address taxing entity for water district
- More control of water at a local level
- County roads
- City streets
- County roads
- City streets
- Pursue the water district
- Unit road system to save money for the county
WHAT PROJECTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED IN THE LONG TERM (THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS)?
- Vegetable processing plant
- Meat packing plant
- Bringing in industry
- Address elderly housing and housing for everyone
- Need to address stupid government regulations that are non-workable
- Get younger farmers started in farming.
- Water district - three counties, regional, may need to be more counties
- Water district
- Job opportunities for younger folks
- Industry
- High tech industry
- Packing plant, small locker plant
- Need a co-op
- Need to grow other crops and need a processing plants here
- Need a cookie factory, use local pecans and peanuts
- Work on tourism, we have good climate, good water
- Eradication of the fire ant
- Need to address marketing the hunting industry, sports recreation
- Need to take advantage of the wildlife
- Bed and breakfast
- More RV facilities
- Farmer-owned commodities stores
