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.
SENIOR CITIZENS
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR PROBLEMS/CHALLENGES IN THE COMMUNITY?
- Streets need repair
- Concern that senior center might close
- Street repair needs to be a priority
- Seniors need to be involved in the community
- Need for more businesses
- Streets need repair
- Streets
- Streets, more businesses to keep retail business in town
- Need for major clean-up
- Too many senior citizens living alone, need for more assisted living
- More retail opportunities
- Streets, sewer systems need improvements
- Need for more volunteers at schools
- More mass transportation
- Volunteer workers
- Need street improvements
- Businesses to keep young people in town
- More retail businesses
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR STRENGTHS/ASSETS OF THE COMMUNITY?
- Senior Citizen center
- Parade
- Good Hospital
- Good senior center
- Good doctors, good water supply, good recreational facilities, good churches, good senior center
- Ability to do good things with festival and parks
- Good retirement place
- Friendly people
- Caring people
- Churches and people are friendly
- Good place to retire
- Weather is good most of the year
- People who run businesses couldn't be better
- People and churches
- Accessible businesses
- Friendly environment and very caring community
- Lake brings lots of people
- Good nursing homes, good hospital
- Ditto to what's been said
- Wonderful products grown in community
- Strong civic groups, strong churches
- Festival
- Safe environment
- Ditto other comments
- Good friendly place, accepts newcomers, especially through the churches
WHAT PROJECTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SHORT TERM (12 MONTHS OR LESS)?
- Health Center/Exercise Facility
- Youth Center/Programs
- Streets repaired
- More community involvement
- Street improvements
- Exercise facilities-walking track or trail, etc.
- New dining places
- New to recruit more doctors to the community
- Adult day care center
- New grocery stores with more affordable prices
- Service that will provide care for adults during the day, giving caregiver ability to take a break
- Cheaper electrical rates and water rates
- Better roads
- Reduce city tax rate
- Develop housing for seniors that do not want to go to nursing home
- Clean up of junk cars
- Major clean-up of town
- Retail clothing stores
- Major clean-up
- Animal control ordinances
- Improve county roads so that farmers can get to market
- Activities for youth to reduce risk of gang problems
WHAT PROJECTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED IN THE LONG TERM (THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS)?
- Fill all empty buildings downtown with new businesses
- Build nice apartment complex for retirees
- Datura center for elderly
- Improve county roads
- Improve both city and county roads
- Recruit industry/businesses that will keep people in town
- Retirement housing development for independent living
- Health Center for exercise
- Recreation Center for youth
- Volunteer organization that would provide services for the elderly such as delivery of goods
- Multi-family housing for the elderly
- Grant assistance to provide services for the elderly and retired in the community
- Jobs for both youth and the elderly
- Locate branch of Junior College in De Leon
- Miniature golf course for adults
