Archive for January, 2009

93 attend Forum for Visioning held at Leslie

Monday, January 12th, 2009

After meeting for two months, focus groups made their recommendations to the public at a town meeting with 93 people in attendance.  Participants were asked to vote to prioritize the Focus Group Recommendations.  Following are the results of the vote:

A.  Economic Development 

 1.  Overall Marketing and Public Relations Plan    (62)

 2.   High Speed Internet Availability          (46) 

 3.  Merchants Association     (42)

4.  Website/Brochure Development (36)    

5.  Research Grant Opportunities       (35)

 

B.  Arts & Heritage

  1. Spring/Fall Fest & Farmers Market               (78)
  2. Arts on Tour Program     (56)
  3. Support Ozark Heritage Arts Center with Weekly Events  (53)
  4. Short documentary of town history   (32)
  5. Promote membership on historic register    (19)

 

C.  City Beautification

  1.  Improve entrance from Hwy 65   (88)
  2. Spruce up Main St.   (63)
  3. Encourage private property cleanup   (61)
  4. Community Watch Program       (31)

 

D.   Community Services

  1.  Walking/Running Track      (69)
  2. Outdoor Recreation Area     (68)
  3. Expanded Community Center/Fitness Center   (55)
  4. Daycare/Preschool at Elementary   (30)
  5. Expand Senior Apartments    (18)

 

D.   Education

  1. Community College Classes                   (67)
  2. Conversion Charter School      (61)
  3. Creative Learning Co-op          (45)
  4. Internet & Computer Access for Public   (36)
  5. Education at Community Building      (23)

 

F.   Environment/Natural Resources

  1. Recycling Drop Point   (63)
  2. Community Garden    (58)
  3.  Trees/Wildlife/Native Plants  (58)       (tie for 2nd place) 
  4. Stream Teams      (47)
  5. Energy & Water Conservation     (12)
Steven Newby, Jan Hennessee, and Mark Kirk present recommendations of Education focus group.

Steven Newby, Jan Hennessee, and Mark Kirk present recommendations of Education focus group.

Brenda Lewis and Sarah Timothy present recommendations of City Beautification focus group.

Brenda Lewis and Sarah Timothy present recommendations of City Beautification focus group.

Natural Resources Focus group members Ryan and Katherine Cloud.

Natural Resources Focus group members Ryan and Katherine Cloud.

Youth participant in Natural Resources focus group.

Youth participant in Natural Resources focus group.

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94 community members attend town meeting

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

94 residents and guests attended the Eudora Town Meeting on January 8, 2009 at the Community Room.   Eudora Project Leader Erma Toney introduced city, county, and state officials: Mayor William Stanton and staff; Council Members Pauline Davis, Laquinda Toney, Dennis Butler; Chicot County Judge Mack Ball; Former Judge Mary Turner; Quorum Court Member Terri McCullough; State Representative Robert Moore; State Senator Jimmy Jeffress. Results of the community survey and other data were presented in a Community Assessment by Rural Community Alliance’s Renee Carr.

Eudora Town MeetingEudora City Council & RS Hwy cleanup 009

Agency representatives in attendance were Butch Calhoun, Arkansas Department of Rural Services; Mary Smith, Audubon Arkansas; Rachel Silva, Department of Heritage-Historic Preservation; Bobby Hall, U.A. Cooperative Extension; Kathryn Peacock, UAM Small Business Development & Technology Center-McGehee; Nita McDaniel, Arkansas Economic Development Commission; Mary Seymore, Southeast Arkansas Cornerstone Coalition; H.L. McGill, Arkansas Arts Council.

Eudora City Council & RS Hwy cleanup 010

Community members volunteered to serve on focus groups which will meet regularly over the coming two months to develop recommendations for their particular focus area.

Focus group leaders are: Youth Development-Khadijah Butler; Economic Development-Stacy Toney; Education-Andrew Taylor; City Beautification-John D. Words; Arts & Heritage-Charles Meredith; Natural Resources-Ida Weston; Community Services-Hazel Mathis.  Community members are encouraged to participate with a focus group. Contact the group leader for meeting times and places.

These youth were among 40 who met with Mary Smith, of Audubon Arkansas, to get their views on what makes Eudora special. The students presented a picture slideshow.

These youth were among 40 who met with Mary Smith, of Audubon Arkansas, to get their views on what makes Eudora special. The students presented a picture slideshow.

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