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Monte 2020 vision already being acted out
April 7, 2010
Progress is being made on items members of the Montezuma community have identified as important.
The key now, said Montezuma Schools superintendent Dave Versteeg, "is to keep taking steps. Change is a process, not an end."
Versteeg emceed the final general meeting of "Monte 2020 - Vision for the Future," in front of about 20 people Wednesday evening at the high school.
LaDene Bowen of the University of Northern Iowa's Institute for Decision Making was the meeting facilitator. She has been involved in the process in Montezuma since its inception about a year ago.
A survey of Montezuma residents identified key areas of concern and that was further refined when about 50 residents met last summer.
Several committee members have spoken to community groups since then, seeking their endorsement of the Monte 2020 vision.
"We've received a lot of positive comments and input," Versteeg said.
Versteeg discussed 10 key areas chosen last summer and progress made since then.
- Retaining and recruiting health care professionals. "That has gone really well," Versteeg said, noting that several professional health care providers have expressed interest in locating in Montezuma. "They key was to get current health care providers together to meet and talk and we need to keep them meeting and talking."
- Amenities (more restaurants, shopping, etc.) "We may have a couple of new restaurants in place by August," Versteeg noted.
- Recruitment of new industries and businesses. "We appreciate the efforts of the Pow-I-80 group in this area," Versteeg said. "Remember, it's a process."
- Three school-related issues, including keeping a K-12 school in Montezuma, general educational excellence and improving buildings and facilities. "The school board has taken action in all three areas," Versteeg said.
- Cleaning up residential properties. It was pointed out that the Lions cleanup on April 12 and the city-wide cleanup starting May 10 are a good start in this area.
- Improving infrastructure, such as sewer and water. City clerk Meryll Hicks noted that information will be coming out soon about a program that will allow property owners to repair sidewalks bordering city steets on a 50/50 split cost basis.
- Housing. "We need more people talking, like we have in health care," Versteeg said.
LaDene Bowen records audience input.
"I think the top 10 things are already being addressed," Versteeg said. "What is good in one area helps all."
"The bad thing," Versteeg said, "is that most people have a hard time with what to do next. The key is to start. We don't have to do it all at once."
The housing issue attracted quite a bit of discussion. It included a desire to attract more young families, a townhouse concept, smaller lots, and an assisted living facility. Bowen said "it sounds like this is your next priority."
Deb Collum-Calderwood, executive director of Pow-I-80, sounded a warning about the future of U.S. 63. She said she has heard some preliminary discussion about a possible bypass of Montezuma, possibly taking the highway north out of New Sharon to as far west as Searboro. "If you don't want that to happen, now is the time to start attending every meeting you can," she said.
About 20 people attended the April 7 Monte 2020 vision meeting.
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