And the survey said...

FORWARNING.. if you aren't interested in

small town government.. then by pass this

post, as it is LONG!! .

And I will see you in another day or two.

About a month ago, the town had a survey sent out

to the residents.  The purpose was to see how the

town was doing.. what would you like to have and

not like to have in the town.

I forgot how many households we have here in our

little title town of 660+. But they said that only 15%

of the people return the survey...  Which is kind of

normal.. some people just don't like survey's, I guess.

After the survey's went out..  they had 3 meetings.

The getting to know you meeting at the elementary

school. There was about 8 or 10 HOME TEAM.

What ever that was suppose to mean. They were

people of different resources. One was from the

Idaho Transportation Department. There was a

man who dealt in small business loans, and the

was one to do with economy (not sure what he

was going to do) and to be honest with you, I

don't remember what the other experts were.

There were 2 residents there. One man and my

self.  Then a little bit later another resident

showed up but he was also on the HOME TEAM.

Being his family was here before the beginning of

time, sort of... I guess his expertise was history

of the town.  

Next day came the "Listening" meeting at the

city hall.  Suppose to be 4 or 5 one hour long

meetings.  But I guess because of the lack of

interest the night before, they narrowed it down

to ... one hour..  Of which there were 3 of us

and the head of the HOME TEAM.  There was

the EMT, who does not live here, but does deal

with the people and streets of our little town.

This time there was a man who does business in

our little town... but lives else where. So he gave

information of what he thought our town could use

from the business stand point.

We were to answer questions that the HOME TEAM

asked... What do you like about our town?  What do

you not like about our town?  What is it you don't want

to see come to our town? and what assessment do you

make on the town?  This was an discussion but also

what we were to write down on the paper that they gave

us which with out our names on it.. was collected at the

end of the meeting.

And last but not least... was the meeting that was held

at the old Coldwater Creek building.. When it was mention

the night before.. I said they better have some good directions

there, as the buildings are 4 large ones and most of us

don't know anything about any of the buildings. They

reassured us they would.    NOT....

We, as in a couple, and a man and myself.. went into the

only building that had a light on.  No one was there and

the meeting was to start in  8 minutes. Some house keepers

came by, and didn't know what we were doing there.. but

did try to find out what was going on for us.. But no luck.

So we went out side and another man and a woman join

us as we walked around the parking lot like zombies..looking

for a building that was lit up.  Nothing.  The couple went for

a drive around all the buildings and came up with the proper

place. The one woman gave me a ride to where that was.

Meaning we were 10 minutes late because of lack of directions.

But at least this one was hopeful, as there was about 20

people there besides the HOME TEAM.  Two of our ex

mayors were there.. a couple of business owners and

several of us residents..(about 4 of us)

It seems that the 15% of the people who did answered

the survey... which totaled 51 people... 67 % women,

33% men.  80% of them were over the age of 56. and

88% lived here and 12% were outsiders.(business

owners?)

For the most part, the survey people liked the town just

the way it is... with maybe a slight twitting.

It started off with to me.. Bonner county likes.. Fire Dept.

Library, schools from K-12  and Emergency/health care.

All of which we get from the County, mainly Sandpoint.

City wise.. like our water dept. (which is from Sandpoint)

appearance (but didn't like the cluttered junk cars) and

the housing availability.

Low bar was lack of sidewalks, lack of jobs in the town,

and cluttered yards.

High points was also Bonner County.. which was

Farmer's market and entertainment.

Low level was .. lack of support of downtown of our

town. Which really is non-existing.  Where can you

have a parade?  That there really isn't services and

products in the own.

Some of the wants was... low growth, lake access,

better park maintenance.  Concerns about storm

drainage.

They did like the property taxes were low. and

housing was affordable.

What surprised the HOME TEAM, was there was no

mention of Coldwater Creek building, in any way..

not the closing, or what is coming in it.. NOTHING

AT ALL.

Things of the future... were the Railroad Street

area, which belongs to the state of Idaho, not the

city.  Which has a small area of commercial zone. 

Also the concern of the congestion of that area,

the safety, and pedestrians as the growth on the

south side of Highway 200. As there is a area

that will house the museum and the Tractor Club

garage.  Along with the possible small stores, bar?

restaurant and etc.  What can be done? Lower

the highway's speed limit from 45 to lower?

Also was mention.. limited some highway access. Which

to me is questionable.  Anyone who has ever come to our

town.. knows there is only one way out. and that is a big

problem at 7:30am.. It is only by the grace of the drivers

coming from Hope, Clark Fork, Montana and north

of our town, that we get out on the highway. And if you

don't work.. you don't try to get out of town for an hour

during that time.  Even getting back in out own town

at 4pm can be tricky.

So last but not least, was the survey's wants (and the

people at the meetings) was more walking safe zones.

Clean up properties,  have more community programs.

They mention the school as one of the place.. (but I

guess no one told them that the school already does

have things there.  Church, rummage sales, games,

school events and etc.

The HOME TEAM mention more retail near the school

(don't know how that would happen.. who wants to

get rid of them homes that surround the school?)

More youth events.  Build up the business area of

Highway 200. filling up empty stores.

Have movie night at the Park (I presume in the

summer)  Have Easter egg hunts.  Have food

vendors, mobile one (guess they didn't know we

had one and he moved out because of lack of

business)

They thought to revise the park, open it up, take

down the one fence.. or maybe have a dog park

there for off lease dogs..

To have a retail area at the corner of McGhee Road

and 2nd Avenue.  Open up 2nd Avenue and connect

to the rest of town.. (which the city has been working

on.)

Have train theme on the south side of the Highway

200 in the commercial zone.  To define our image.

Old logging town, Village and etc.

Build up and join the town, the Sandpoint Tech

Center.. which most of us didn't have clue what

that was.. until it was mention the Coldwater Creek area.

By have a call center and tech jobs there.

They named different business we could have, like the

coffee shop we use to have before the owner retired.

They mention getting grants for some of these.. but they

also mention the two terror's of any town residents... One

that have been voted down before..  L.I.D. AND U.R.D.

just the thought of a Urban Renewal District and mere

mention of L.I.D. sends our residents in to fits. 

One of the things I didn't see them or hear them  address,

at least I didn't hear it.. was the average income of the

resident of our town. I venture to say, that half of our

town is retirees.. We are a bedroom town.. meaning

people live and sleep here, but they work else where.

Not high income people.

Anyway.. it will be interesting to see where the town

takes all of this.  Because the general census is ... leave

our town alone.. we like it just the way it is.. well, maybe

a few things.. like a mom and pop restaurant...and bar-b

que in the park once a year.  and CLEAN UP THE YARDS.

And that is my humble understanding of what all the meetings

were. Like anything else.. it is all up to the beholder.