Progress continues across the county on a series of projects set through a Community Engagement Grant project that kicked off in the summer of 2015.
Representatives from Iola, Humboldt, Moran, LaHarpe and Elsmore gathered Thursday for their monthly “Allen County Together” meeting, which follows along to ensure the projects remain on the front burner.
Thursday’s meeting was at Thrive Allen County’s offices.
The projects were formed at a series of countywide community conversations, in which each community’s representatives spelled out some of their more strident needs.
For example, Elsmore sought a new storm siren patched into the county’s dispatch service, while LaHarpe targeted dilapidated properties.
Six “priorities” took shape:
1. Employee and business development, primarily for Iola and Humboldt.
2. Public safety.
3. Safe green spaces and communities that are bike- and pedestrian-friendly.
4. Developing a “complete streets” policy in Iola and Humboldt.
5. Expanding opportunities for physical activities, earmarked for Iola and Moran.
6. Increasing educational opportunities by supporting the new technical education center at the old Diebolt Lumber facility near LaHarpe.
Damaris Kunkler, programs director at Thrive Allen County, which is overseeing the Community Engagement Initiative, gave a breakdown of each of the bullet points.
EMPLOYEE AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT:
Like the other primary objectives, this one has evolved, Kunkler said.
Originally, the effort was geared almost solely to beautifying and restoring old businesses in downtown Iola and Humboldt.
Now, the hope is to include employee training so that a process that starts with facade development ends with a new business, she said.
Kunkler acknowledged that the first priority has been slower going than some of the others.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Earmarked originally for LaHarpe, the priority focused on clearing up dilapidated properties.
Much of that occurred the weekend of Oct. 9, when LaHarpe PRIDE, City Slickers 4-H Club, three University of Kansas students and other volunteers picked up debris, mowed grass, cleared brush and removed old furniture from eight properties.
In addition, funding is being set up to have an old house demolished in the near future.
SAFE AND CLEAN GREEN SPACES
Changes to make Iola’s trail system more user-friendly continue on a regular basis, Kunkler noted.
Humboldt and LaHarpe also are being spotlighted.
LaHarpe is in the midst of installing new playground equipment at the LaHarpe City Park.
Meanwhile, Thrive is working in league with a Humboldt committee to determine if a bike lane can be added to Ninth Street, the main north-south thoroughfare in Humboldt.
“That opportunity is presenting itself because the county soon will repave Ninth Street all the way through town,” Kunkler said.
The final decision will be made by the Humboldt City Council. Residents and businesses owners have been polled about adding the bike lane, with strong support, she said.
COMPLETE STREETS
With a complete streets policy, a city agrees to address the needs of pedestrians and bicyclists when considering street improvement projects.
Iola already has adopted such a policy; a proposal still has yet to be presented to the Humboldt City Council for consideration.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
Thrive is reaching out to each of Iola’s elementary schools to develop a “shared use” policy for greater use of gymnasiums and playground equipment.
Added signage will be installed to better communicate what facilities are open, and when, for the general public.
Meanwhile, Thrive is working with Moran to find a home for an exercise center.
Larry Manes of Moran PRIDE said hopes to use the old Family Physicians clinic along U.S. 59 have fallen through, so another site is being pursued.
The old library, which soon will be vacated, was deemed unsuitable because of the prohibitive costs to upgrade its electric system, Manes said.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
With the tech ed center already open — construction trades classes began in August — the next step is increase course offerings, Kunkler said.
Thrive has applied for a Goppert Foundation grant, which would help kickstart a welding class.
Kunkler said Thrive also is reaching out to area businesses and industries to determine if employee training would be possible at the tech ed center.
THE deadline for the Community Engagement Grant priorities is April 30, 2018.
