Neighborhood team accepting ideas for new projects
Members of the Good Neighbor Action Team (GNAT) met Tuesday to discuss possible plans and goals for future property revitalization and rehabilitation in Fort Scott.
Discussion during the public meeting, attended by some committee members and a few citizens, focused on various topics ranging from the outcome of the Wall Street property improvement blitz the GNAT organized in 2015, to possible ideas, target areas and plans for property improvement efforts later this year.
The GNAT, formed under the Fort Scott Community Visioning process, works to provide assistance to people in the community who need help sprucing up their properties and don't have the ability or resources to do the work themselves. GNAT members help with labor and supplies and connecting people to local assistance agencies.
"It's about connecting people to resources," Craig Campbell, volunteer leader for the GNAT, said.
Campbell said the committee is in the preliminary stages of planning another slate of property improvements, but no definitive areas have been selected.
The committee has set a tentative date of Oct. 1 for more improvements but is researching some ideas before moving forward, Campbell said.
"Once we identify the projects, getting the labor is pretty easy," he said. "Then we get the supplies here and hope the weather cooperates."
The aim of the Wall Street Blitz in 2015 was to improve the curb appeal of several properties along the East Wall Street corridor and help property owners bring those properties up to code. About 200 community volunteers representing local churches, businesses and organizations helped complete cosmetic work on about 20 properties. Several property owners completed work on their own properties and helped with other projects.
Committee member Rhonda Dunn said the Wall Street Blitz was an effort to beautify entrances into Fort Scott.
"We did a good job," she said.
Dunn said a bigger challenge for the group might be addressing properties on the west side of the city as there are areas and businesses outside the city's jurisdiction.
Campbell said the Tuesday meeting was the GNAT's first meeting in five months. He said there would be no property blitz in May due to the time needed to organize such an undertaking. He told other committee members the GNAT has a cash balance of a little more than $6,000 that carried over from 2015.
"That was a pleasant surprise," he said, adding the GNAT gets money from various local organizations and through contributions the last few years.
"Some people donate supplies. We're always soliciting money," he said. "We're in pretty good shape for this year. We're definitely taking project ideas and there's a need right now."
He said the GNAT has facilitated six or seven projects "already this year."