Community survey results shared
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POLSON - At the Polson City Commissioners meeting on March 5, Darlis Smith, board member for the Greater Polson Community Foundation, and David Whitesell, Polson Superintendent of Schools, presented information gleaned from the Envision Polson! survey.
Frequent responses were:
• The need for a Community Center
• The opportunity to do something great with the Fairgrounds
• The need for relationship-building with the Tribes
• The idea that a lakefront boardwalk and trail system ties in with so many desirable things (tourism, health, culture, a more vibrant downtown, etc.)
• The belief that our town is not as welcoming or as clean and safe as it should be
• Concerns about our economy, the low standard of living and making business development a priority for Polson
• The notion that enhancement of lake access and parks is as much for locals as it is for tourism
• The belief that Polson has a “good old boys club” that runs the city
Only 259 community members completed the survey even though it was available from March 12 to Oct. 30, 2011. The survey allowed greater Polson area residents the opportunity to express their opinions regarding the eight community goals and actions as identified by the steering committee.
The survey results in their entirety are available at: www.polsonforever.org.
In related business, Polson City Manager Todd Crossett reported on his trip to Chicago for the kick-off of the Heart & Soul Community Planning Grant, a two-year $100,000 grant applied for and received by the GPCF in December of 2011. Darlis and Daniel Smith accompanied Crossett on the Feb. 23 trip as GPCF representatives. The meeting was really helpful, Crossett said, since there was a lot of discussion about process, ideas and how to engage the public. According to their website, the purpose of HSCP process is to change the way small cities and towns engage their citizens and plan for the future. The GPCF was one of only five recipients of the national Orton Family Grant.
In other business, Crossett noted the Polson Police Department is short one office, for which the city is currently conducting interviews. PPD Chief Wade Nash hopes to introduce the new officer at one of the next meetings.
The Skyline project is proceeding, and the technical oversight committee will meet this week to grind through the details. A public meeting summarizing what’s going on with the project will be held on March 15, at 6 p.m. at the United Methodist Church.
After discussion with Polson Bay Golf Course Pro Roger Wallace, Crossett said they decided not to open the golf course restaurant until May.
The next city commissioner’s meeting will be held on March 19 at Polson City Hall, 106 First Street E.
