RESOURCE TEAM MEMBERS: Michael Hunter, Cheryl Chance, Joe LaBarbera, Jennifer Goodman, and Shea Burgamy
GROUP: Food Service
DATE AND TIME: September 23, 7:00 a.m.
PARTICIPANT COUNT: 5

• no committee working to draw business into area
• no direction to growth
• water supply - need to find alternate supply to grow
• lack of mid-level housing
• need more family restaurants
• no community identity
• community factions working against each other
• street problems in older parts of town
• parts of town that pay taxes with no city sewer
• strong liquor laws

consumer money goes to metroplex

• strong work ethic
• no liquor problem
• trees
• good people
• little crime
• clean town
• hard working people
• people still take responsibility
• good place to raise kids
• good values
• location - proximity to metroplex
• good family structure - few single parent families
• employees care about customer service

high school football

• formation of a long range planning committee
• formulation of a long range community plan
• begin to put the plan into effect
• finishing existing community projects - city park, downtown
• make downtown look more like Granbury
• improve city parks
• fire control

• water supply for city
• revitalize downtown
• build a Convention Center like Glen Rose has
• build a "Walk of Fame" for local heroes
• surface water supply
• more full service restaurants
• allow liquor in restaurants
• some plan to help keep people in Stephenville
• get word out about what a great place Stephenville is
• limit and control growth
• get more entertainment and recreational facilities

more community meetings

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 6

• growing pains - many new business
• traffic problems with road construction
• lack of housing
• too much emphasis placed on sports - football
• no emphasis on academics
• no enough white collar jobs within area
• kids in high school not being vocationally trained
• lack of local promotion of Stephenville
• lack of things to do in town - especially for college students
• college is a suitcase school - kids go home every weekend
• streets flood around college
• no controls on county - zoning
• unregulated growth outside of city
• lack of surface water
• college needs more community support
• people must go out of town for maternity clothing
• people must go out of town for linens

streets need to be fixed

2. Strengths and assets

• great labor pool
• central location
• nice size town
• diversity in industry
• good cash flow in community
• Tarleton State University provides jobs, culture, etc.
• core values and culture
• great work ethic
• community spirit
• very supportive of youth
• family oriented community
• nice place to live

• community/convention center
• roads and railroads fixed
• city streets need repair
• see Harbin Drive extension opened
• better programs between SISD and industry for youth development
• promotion of town plan developed
• continued cleaning up of town-outlying areas
• clean up eyesores

solve flooding problems

• exposition center
• community center – swimming pool, library, multipurpose use
• find surface water for long term water resource
• downtown development
• more large industry to bring more jobs
• attract large companies to Stephenville
• new library

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 6

1. Problems and challenges

• water supply - hard time getting good water
• provide good education to children
• quality of technological service - telecommunications, computers, etc.
• no youth centers
• shortage of high-tech industry
• no retail shopping
• no retention of college students - lack of jobs
• lack of physical space in public schools
• lack of full service restaurants - serve alcohol
• city fathers too protective - not allowing alcohol in community
• no business downtown

college students must go out of town to find higher paying jobs

• medical community
• small town image
• job market fairly good
• university helps educate general population
• clean community
• nice parks
• community pride
• support school system

• rebuild downtown
• rebuild community park
• unsafe play ground equipment at park
• clean up Bosque River in park
• review restaurant health conditions
• comparison study done to compare phone, cable TV, and cellular phone service with other towns
• study to find alternate water supply
• assessment to protect tax base in county

open Harbin Drive extension - bring railroad crossings up to standard

• find surface water supply
• attract high-tech growth industries to area
• protect youth
• youth facility
• business community should become more involved with Tarleton
• work to retain Tarleton students after they graduate
• more diverse shopping hours
• safety of Wolfe Nursery Road by the new school
• allow restaurants to serve alcohol

encourage tourist industry

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 12

• zoning is inconsistent in Stephenville
• not an exciting place
• unprepared for growth
• lack of small business development
• traffic congestion around college
• lack of restaurants and entertainment
• lack of downtown development
• no aggressive plan to recruit industry
• under utilization of human resources
• no industrial growth
• drug abuse - basic urban problems
• no cooperation among community leaders
• not a good community to come to get a job
• need to attract more business
• city government ignores issues
• older part of town looks bad - downtown area
• not enough for youth 12-16 to do
• no community center
• tax dollars not reaching maximum usage
• poor library

no recreational facilities outside of Tarleton

• small size
• people know each other and care about each other
• community unity
• small town atmosphere
• support of local youth
• good place to raise a family
• Tarleton State University
• quality of life, healthcare, and people
• good labor force
• strong work ethic
• lots of room for physical growth
• strong community spirit
• great location – close to metroplex
• sense of community
• good town to raise kids

• Christmas decorations downtown
• development downtown
• no excitement in square
• leadership training for community leaders
• plans to promote Stephenville outside of area
• rebuild City Park
• programs for teens after football season
• long term plan developed for community
• promotion of Stephenville on TV stations in metroplex
• implementation of strategic plan to help develop downtown
• civic center sponsored by civic organizations
• curb side recycling in city
• solve railroad problem on Harbin Drive
• clean up area downtown
• try to enhance Tarleton to help improve enrollment
• more community involvement with Tarleton
• continuing education through Tarleton

development of library - internet access

• civic center constructed
• more business and industry
• become regional hub
• regional growth
• aggressive industry attraction program
• development of business
• development of better access to downtown - traffic flow
• adequate water supply
• bring in a YMCA/YWCA
• clean city park - Bosque river
• facelift of Stephenville
• more children’s activity
• community theater
• Paluxy River project - to create a surface water supply
• expansion of airport

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 31

• do not make new people welcome
• traffic congestion
• lack of things of occupy kids
• loss of small business since Wal-Mart came in
• lack of community interest in government
• drug usage
• lack of diversity
• growth of community - losing small town
• lack of activity for older people
• city park cleaned up – Bosque River
• traffic hazards
• potholes
• dairy impact on environment
• too much government control in small business
• street lights on Lingleville Highway
• poor streets around college
• education - lack of computer training in High School and Middle school
• poor restaurant quality
• lack of facilities to accommodate visitors - restaurants
• rundown housing in older section
• fishy schoolboard use of money
• very cliquish town
• too much emphasis on sports
• too few grocery stores

too much emphasis on wet/dry issue

• small business that have survived
• small town environment
• elementary schools are excellent
• Tarleton State University
• low crime rate
• dry town and dry county
• education
• churches
• number of industries in Stephenville
• cooperation between people
• Project HOPE
• community spirit
• volunteers
• family oriented environment
• Christian beliefs
• support of youth
• quality of Industry

• Welcome Wagon
• joint city and county projects for services - library
• resurface streets
• youth center
• expand library hours - not charge people in surrounding communities to check out books
• more activity in parks
• implementation of park plan
• attract entertainment business-family oriented
• restrooms in parks
• cleaner city
• good restaurant
• program to increase awareness in city government
• repair roads
• resolve traffic congestion
• wider walking pass in the park
• clearer traffic intersections
• downtown business attraction
• too many red lights
• better restaurants
• develop park for children
• add lights to Lingleville Highway
• build another swimming pool
• open up Harbin railroad crossing
• civic center
• better newspapers - more national news
• attracting recreational activities
• become more bicycle friendly - bicycle lanes
• more industrial growth
• recruit industry
• become less football centered
• positive encouragement of business investment
• reassessment of wet/dry issue

end Proctor’s monopoly on liquor sales for county

• all streets resurfaced
• abuse center
• low income housing
• give Moola the cow something to look a t -more downtown development
• remove S curve on Washington
• east side of town developed
• shopping diversity - broader spectrum
• wider streets – relieve traffic congestion
• open Harbin railroad crossing
• development of downtown storefronts
• new loop around Stephenville an the east side
• improve access to Tarleton campus
• clean up bad housing
• coliseum - civic center
• community center
• family activities
• east side development
• all communications improvement - telephone, cellular, cable
• more department stores besides Wal-Mart
• attract more culturally diversity
• upgrade law enforcement to the standards of the Metro Phoenix AZ area
• medical center enlarged - more specialists
• more cultural programs
• outlying communities need the same level of services as Stephenville community

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 4

• not enough entertainment
• drug and alcohol problem
• not enough industry
• not enough name recognition

• friendly people
• good work force
• strong industry
• Tarleton State University - diversity of degrees
• personality of a small town with the assets of a larger city
• quality of life is better than in metroplex

• need roller blade rink/skate boarding rink
• rehabilitate Lone Star over Texas Arena
• task force for short-term planning of city
• tourism bureau

• development of a main attraction like Granbury square
• development of a convention hall
• surplus water so town can grow
• meeting facilities
• golf course/sporting activity/facility
• mini golf/race carts facility
• conversion from a dry to a wet Community
• outlet stores

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 10

• more industry
• can not see the yellow line in the road at night
• more chain stores
• no good restaurants
• lack of alcohol in town
• like to see Target in town
• no livable housing
• need to take care of elderly and teenagers
• need more beautification of city
• senior citizen program needs help
• city needs to loosen up tax money
• need a teen hang-out
• downtown needs to be developed

• dry town
• clean town
• good family town
• schools
• little crime
• shopping and restaurants
• Tarleton State University
• nursing school
• high school football
• low cost of living
• quiet town
• religious community
• lots of business opportunity
• combination of rural and city life
• safety and security

comfort of a small town and convenience of a big city

• 911 improvement
• better response time of EMS
• caller ID on phone
• pave county roads
• mall/more entertainment
• clean up Bosque River
• Habitat for Humanity
• social programs
• civic center
• coliseum like Glen Rose
• expand medical facilities
• fix potholes
• more doctors who are specialists
• U.S. 377 project done between Stephenville and Dublin
• Harbin Street extension opened
• place to ride bikes

repair holes in Jaycee Park

• HWY 377 project finished
• place for teens to spend time
• passing city ordinances to help keep property clean
• civic center
• housing for homeless people
• find a solution for the Tarleton’s parking problem
• more housing for college students
• state park near by
• work to attract more business
• historical preservation
• YMCA/YWCA
• increase housing availability
• improve airport

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 15

• younger kids do not have anything to do
• not a very clean area
• availability of housing
• housing not affordable
• wages too low
• poor streets around Tarleton
• teenagers have nothing to do
• phone company not adequate
• cable company not adequate
• condition of housing
• cost of living not comparable with wages
• cable prices too high
• rent too high
• drug use in teens and adults
• too much stress on football, not enough on academics

• friendly community
• family community
• school involvement by community
• nice place to raise a family
• schools in area
• lots of support
• nice activities for families
• small town friendliness
• good size town
• involvement
• dairy Industry in county - lots of money

• variety of restaurants
• different restaurants
• square developed
• sit-down restaurants
• larger swimming pool with long hours
• YMCA/YWCA
• cafeteria type restaurant
• broad spectrum of entertainment
• road repair
• things to do after 10 p.m.
• things to do for poor children
• move more business downtown
• increase the speed limit 5mph on Harbin Drive from 30mph
• lower speed limit on U.S. 67 and U.S. 377 to Granbury and Glen Rose
• consistency of speed limits

4. Long term projects

• more community support of Tarleton

• complete the public school campuses
• storm water system around Tarleton
• Tarleton area cleaned up – especially housing
• smoother streets
• cleaner community
• better choice of housing
• more utility choices - cable, phone
• more cultural places - museums
• address wet/dry problem
• finish 377 to Dublin
• expand U.S. 67 to Glen Rose
• repair the railroad crossings
• civic center
• lights in country to help avoid deer (?)

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 2

• nothing to do with your free time
• not a lot to do for young people
• Tarleton graduates can not find jobs in the community
• bias against businesses that serve alcohol
• lack of consistency in zoning
• too much red tape involved in opening a business and building structures in town
• government not proactive in business promotion

• family oriented
• Tarleton State University
• Stephenville High School athletics - football

• civic center
• utilize local artistic resources - active program to expose local talent

• church-organized youth center
• refurbish down town
• theme park - small scale - serve local community
• entertainment

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 17

• city studies problems to death with little action
• attitude of the city administration retards growth
• not enough affordable housing for college students
• conditions of houses
• park building in Dublin run down
• no positive youth activities
• traffic flow problems
• poor relationship between police department and town
• poor communication with city and police department
• city and county do not work hand and hand to achieve goals
• rent too high
• business moving out of Dublin
• all business located on one side of town
• lights are poorly timed
• too much portable housing
• no constructive activities
• enforce current ordinances not jut on a selective basis
• too much red tape involved in putting business in Stephenville
• inadequate contract with waste disposal company
• Bosque River smells bad

• friendly people
• you can walk down the street at night
• Tarleton State University
• industry
• City Council made Wal-Mart put up trees
• people are proud to live to in Stephenville
• football
• dairy
• cowboy capital
• schools
• low crime rate
• relaxed atmosphere
• Highway 377 is a major road
• community supports college students
• location as a regional hub
• small college town

• more parking around college
• another newspaper to get alternative view
• community library - county wide
• condemn and clean up housing
• repairing streets
• stop giving out liquor licenses or just make the town wet
• new youth community center
• make affordable housing
• cafeteria restaurant
• YMCA/YWCA
• houses condemned on Dodge Street
• county and city cooperation
• fire ant eradication
• more elderly care in community
• city wide beautification
• tear down all old houses in the county and Dublin
• roads resurfaced in Dublin
• entertainment complex for families
• city needs to solve surface water problem
• bring in more medical specialists
• clean up Bosque River

• move Post Office
• expand Medical Clinic services - physical therapy and number of Doctors
• traffic sight line ordinances (?)
• entertainment complex
• youth center
• more bars and clubs open
• manufactured home community
• community center
• industry warehouses built
• HUD housing - affordable housing
• stadium for the High School
• community center in Dublin
• better traffic flow - solve traffic congestion
• more industry recruitment
• more business diversity
• Tarleton University build more out of town instead of in town
• city and county to support low income people
• city storm water drains
• water purification - what is in the water?
• infrastructure plan and implementation

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 7

• no major problems
• no place for the public to gather
• poor city employees, overpaid
• no city land available to be developed
• Parks and Recreation Department needs repair (?)
• city hires too many consultants to research
• city staff unable/unwilling to do their job
• lack of activities for children
• lack of residential subdivisions
• traffic congestion - difficult to get around schools
• lack of growth of subdivisions and residential
• stronger industrial foundation
• stagnant growth
• zoning ordinance too harsh
• subdivision ordinances too restrictive to development
• no flexibility with city
• too many ordinances
• city does not encourage business growth - staff does not have a pro-business attitude
• office of economic development does not do its job
• climate of the city is anti-development
• City Council does not communicate with the developers and business
• city staff runs city government; not elected officials
• people on Zoning Committee have been there too long

• strong sense of community
• lots of good people, kids
• nice place to raise kids
• good school system
• quality of life
• safe place to be
• business support school activities
• school system academics
• close knit community
• quality of people
• Tarleton State University
• climate and topography
• small town atmosphere

• more houses in city
• ordinances and zoning reformation
• slow food restaurants
• reformation of zoning
• restoration of downtown
• recreational activities for children and families
• railroad crossing on Harbin Drive
• have city government work with business and development
• more moderation and flexibility in city government

• improving Parks and Recreation Department - more structure
• community center
• civic center
• exposition center
• long-term water supply resolution
• changes to allow growth - decreased regulation, zoning reformation
• subdivision development

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 25

• housing cost too high; both purchase and rent
• lack of a broad industrial base
• road projects not finished
• more things for children and teens to do
• drugs and alcohol in youth
• roads around college still brick and bumpy
• water quality of aquifer
• City Council has problem allocating tax money
• more people moving into country
• water supply not sufficient for growth
• street flooding
• lack of industry
• not enough support of dairy industry
• lack of activities for children ten and under
• utility bills are only paid at local grocery store, gas, electric
• cost of housing too high
• they do not repair roads right - still bumpy
• taxes are high
• drugs are too available to teens
• local government too old guard and not interested in change
• local government too myopic
• old school does not want to admit to the drug problem
• local utilities too high for average wage
• local government rejects change
• difficult to dispose of large items (garbage collection)
• people not aware of what to do with your trash
• too much trash on county roads
• rates too high at dump
• lots of trash at Procter Lake

• Mayberry type of town
• Police Department
• close to DFW Airport
• small-town type of atmosphere
• Fortune 500 companies in town
• people still care, friendly
• variety of churches
• safe community
• no violence
• community services draw people to area
• doctors and medical community
• nice college
• strong schools - SISD
• close proximity to what you need
• cultural diversity
• friendly people
• community involvement and support
• support of five surrounding communities
• culture
• friendly town
• Proctor Lake

3. Short term projects

• more religious based counseling for drug abuse
• more parenting classes
• have surrounding communities get together to find a local consensus
• more programs for the elderly
• get more participation from community for council meetings
• revitalization of city government
• get volunteers to aid in playground development in park
• study to see where the economic base is going
• complete existing projects, Frey Street Park improvements for example
• YMCA, Boys Club, etc.
• develop town square
• activity center for teenagers
• bring in more retail business and industry
• Dublin needs a youth center
• finish Harbin extension
• more restaurants
• city beautified
• community center for activities
• increase the number of athletic facilities for youth
• repair and build more playgrounds (more equipment)
• food inspection at restaurants
• community building
• Wal-Mart needs some competition (Kmart)
• renting empty buildings
• more short term housing

• address water problem of dairies and water without running them out of town
• think new business through before they are brought in – housing, education, etc., impacts
• long term water problem - (pollution and quality)
• new loop around town
• more housing; larger housing
• larger apartments with more than two bedrooms
• younger, more diverse community leaders
• plan to entice younger people to community government
• affordable housing
• area water supply
• Dublin - improve quality housing
• park beautification
• need four lanes to I-20
• curbs on streets
• development along the Bosque
• development along the south loop
• civic center
• make community more diverse
• bring utilities back to Stephenville; need billing office in town
• reasonable price of real estate
• Proctor Lake area more developed
• improvement of community service centers to handle large groups

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 4

• city planning and economic development office does not plan for future infrastructure
• water supply and quality (long term)
• administration of the city is anti-business
• only one active subdivision within the city limits
• insurance bond too high for developers
• can not build a new house inside city limits
• city taxes too high
• current city government does not do what is best for the city
• city governments utility requirements for developers are too harsh and costly
• coming landscape ordinance too harsh
• lack of planning for expansion of city services for newly annexed land
• cannot get the county and city to work together
• park needs help

• quiet life
• low crime
• good strong business
• university
• diversity of industry (agriculture, industry, education)
• work ethic
• slow steady growth
• County Seat
• One of 100 best small towns in America

• Harbin Drive finished
• performance bonds gone
• development encouraged
• city hire a qualified engineer
• business-friendly city staff

• city vote bonds to build infrastructure for developers
• civic center/community building - gymnasium and meeting places

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 21

• traffic on Loop 377; too many red lights
• town has outgrown streets
• need more curbs
• neglected streets
• county roads are in poor condition
• agricultural economy in poor shape
• railroad crossings in poor shape
• lack of housing
• county needs to be wet
• nothing to do for families
• Harbin Drive railroad crossing
• gas prices not equal with surrounding communities
• utility prices too high
• prices too high
• no family restaurants
• drainage is poor in city
• streets in poor shape
• taxes too high
• too many dairies
• no expansion; city caught in a time warp
• business needs to be competitive
• railroad crossings in town just have stop signs
• water supply
• small dairy producers being driven out of business
• upkeep in the county poor

4. Long term projects

• more industry-cheese plants brought back here
• entertainment, mini-golf, go-carts, discovery zone
• cafeteria, farm implements factory
• more family activities
• town to go wet
• agree for wet
• develop downtown
• find long term water source
• building of a lake for a long term water source and recreational use
• continue to grow
• solve traffic congestion
• parking garage for TSU

• community spirit
• Tarleton State University
• public schools
• not a big rat race
• good place to raise kids
• safe place
• small town
• low crime rate
• low insurance rates
• educational programs are very good
• dry county
• easy to get acquainted with people
• cultural events brought in by college
• industry
• small surrounding towns
• you can leave your car unlocked

3. Short term projects

• nice restaurants
• street repair
• signing for direction
• Harbin Drive project (RR crossing)
• family entertainment
• family restaurants
• finish U.S. 377 project to Dublin
• town needs to go wet
• pave my street
• more places to shop
• speed limits need to be reviewed and increased on some major streets
• seafood restaurant
• diversified youth activities besides football
• roads need to be widened
• more industry
• finish U.S. 377 project
• new product line to come into FMC
• youth activities

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 20

• lack of youth programs
• water supply problem and quality
• drugs
• alcohol usage by teens
• not enough child care for low income family
• more academic activities for children
• streets and traffic flow
• more continuing education classes for community
• no place for the kids to go
• youth crime
• gang activity
• flooding problems in streets after rain
• more than sports for youth
• cultural activities
• youth involvement in crime
• Wal-Mart retail monopoly
• city planning poor
• land prices too high
• traffic problem in front of FMC and Norton
• older teens activities limited
• small business has a hard time competing with Wal-Mart
• more civic activities
• no good restaurants
• no exposition center
• no reasonable child care
• family activities in Stephenville are limited
• improved roadways
• more child care
• wages too low for workers
• drug abuse alcohol abuse with teens
• not enough services for elderly
• availability of water for Stephenville and surrounding rural areas
• no family and youth activities
• Chamber plan too vague
• lack of good restaurants

• people in the community
• university
• good educational system
• good public school system
• university
• industry
• small town environment
• light traffic flow
• good neighbors
• nice parks
• competitive living costs
• city wide clean-up
• nice parks
• people
• good schools
• university
• large town with a small town atmosphere
• good jobs
• university helps lend a fresh prospective
• lots of religion
• diversity of industry, agriculture, educational, etc.
• doctors
• educational system
• parks
• community involvement in youth
• small town community
• education
• welcoming town
• dry town, can not get liquor
• educational program
• community pulls together for others
• good jobs
• all surrounding communities involved in Stephenville
• Project HOPE

• promote the community better to the community - intra-city communications
• more child care
• activities for all children regardless of income
• more lights in the city park
• clean up the main city park and the Bosque River
• better newspaper in the community
• community-wide sponsored literacy program
• repair the Harbin Drive railroad crossing
• utilize the city facilities better
• need a literacy program
• more child care
• more child care
• child care with extended hours at a reasonable rate
• child care
• clean town
• remove old buildings
• big brother/big sister program
• industry involvement in youth
• better newspaper
• paper is not responsive to local people
• streets to be repaired
• need to improve congestion around the college
• improve congestion downtown
• yearly beautification project for Stephenville
• improve newspaper
• develop activities for kids
• improve and expand county dirt roads
• family-oriented restaurants
• need to develop a professional development center through Tarleton
• more cooperation with Tarleton
• better notification of community events on radio, TV, etc.
• improve county and city roadways
• seafood restaurant
• clean county roads
• more child care
• better child support collection for parents
• child care as a benefit of the four industries
• improved library and computers tied into school system
• accelerated reading program for library
• Chamber to publish quarterly calendar of events and distribute to restaurants, hotels, and industry
• extended business hours
• better cooperation between Sheriffs Office and Police Department
• better cooperation between county and city

• civic center
• activity center
• rerouting of the traffic flow from Granbury and Stephenville
• cleaning roads
• civic center
• extending the four lane from Brownwood to Stephenville
• more Tarleton cooperation
• civic center
• more youth activities
• build up downtown
• civic center
• civic center
• civic center
• small business development
• downtown development
• big brothers/big sisters
• more competition with Wal-Mart
• expansion of U.S.377 to Comanche
• Braum’s Ice Cream
• rivers cleaned
• civic center
• Girl Scouts need a summer day camp
• more competition with Wal-Mart
• more restaurants, greater variety
• City Council to become pro-development
• more law enforcement
• no law enforcement grouping on breaks
• work retraining programs for high school dropouts
• revitalize downtown
• civic center
• civic center

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 10

• utility prices too high
• wet vs. dry county
• pay high school football coach too much money - 2^nd highest paid coach in Texas
• traffic around the schools
• middle school has little access
• people parking on wrong side of street
• no enforcement of parking ordinances
• water issues; build a lake or keep well water?
• contamination of water supply
• lack of available skilled workforce
• no training in high schools for industry
• traffic around schools
• lack of a convention center/civic center
• nothing to do for children
• city government difficult to deal with
• too much red tape for permits
• city government places too many barriers to business
• city government is inconsistent
• city water supply
• poor corporate garbage collection services
• city government refuses to address corporate garbage collection
• leadership training for city officials
• water supply problem needs to be addressed
• Tarleton students drive down wage rates

• Friday night football
• good schools
• family community
• great small town atmosphere
• great people - good work ethic
• low unemployment
• Tarleton State University
• economy diverse
• dairy industry
• Tarleton State University
• small town
• proximity to DFW airport
• good schools
• low crime
• faith in people
• safe feeling
• education
• Tarleton
• work ethic
• strive for kids at an early age
• computers at an early age in the schools
• TSU makes college accessible to local students
• good newspaper

• more playgrounds
• build a bigger swimming pool
• industrial growth
• increased shopping opportunities
• new way for people to making a living
• beginning to solve the water issue
• begin to encourage big business
• community plan: leadership training, infrastructure, water, industry development
• offer industry perks to move into community
• infrastructure for industry: sewer, water, etc.
• civic center
• community support for smaller dairies
• figure out what they are doing on the south loop (pavement)
• small business goes out of business quickly, especially small restaurants
• good restaurants
• business around courthouse be more developed
• stiffer regulations on mega-dairies in county
• water supply contamination problem begin to be addressed
• all hours day care
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters, help Foster Home, etc.
• YMCA/YWCA
• the one year plan to revamp the park needs to be three years
• finish Harbin Drive railroad crossing
• refurbish softball fields

4. Long term projects

• expansion of Tarleton - classroom expansion, not just parking
• lower education expansion - new elementary school
• lake to be built for water supply
• better facilities for kids - parks
• better restaurants
• clean up park
• repair roads in county - paved roads need to be patched and gravel roads need to be maintained, especially where there is high milk truck traffic
• new recreational facilities
• strategic plan for city adjusted yearly
• long term water supply and water pollution plan
• loop around the loop

DATE AND TIME: September 23, 8:00 a.m.

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 4

1. Problems and challenges

• alcohol, clubs; wettest dry county in the state
• lack of activities for kids – work and recreation
• high taxes and low wages
• city too dictatorial – especially building codes and ordinances
• lack of animal control
• salaries low
• city ordinances are not supportive of small business – especially tree and sign ordinances
• possible water problems
• City Council doesn’t listen to average citizens; only special interest groups
• lack of leadership
• Strengths and assets
• good people
• the college
• the Senior Citizens Center
• library
• parks(would like a croquet court)

• good schools
• lots of cultural assets (plays, arts, library)
• youth programs
• the industry that is here – provides jobs so our kids don’t have to leave
• retirees are returning or coming here

• croquet court for the park
• water supply increased
• communication on street improvement projects
• I’m content with short term
• ease up on city restrictions
• lower taxes
• a museum
• something done about railroads/trains – need over or under passes
• Lingleville needs a fire department – needs a leader
• add to water source
• surface water project
• more industry with higher wages
• development of park space with additional activities, i.e. lawn bowling, miniature golf, etc.
• better railroad crossings

GROUP: Senior Citizens

DATE AND TIME: September 23, 9:00 a.m.

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 9 (6 from Bluffdale)

1. Problems and challenges

• trashy properties, unclean, junky properties
• flea markets, trashy yards
• unincorporated community
• aging of the population
• lack of transportation for elderly
• garbage not being picked up
• car repair going on all night on residential streets
• lack of city government
• no school crossing signs
• lack of recreational facilities for adults
• water problems
• traffic – 4 lanes outside that turns into 2 lanes in community
• excessive speeds through town
• rural roads need mowing and cleaning up, visual impairments
• water
• junkie yards and lots
• lack of industry and grocery stores
• need better, expanded sewer system to extend services to more homes
• lack of convenience stores

• good school system
• wonderful schools
• wonderful people who cooperate
• great people who are friendly and are caring
• industry
• good financial institutions
• small, quiet, safe community
• the school letter that goes to everyone in the community
• churches
• Masonic Lodge
• Short term projects
• clean-up, beautification
• water
• water for Stephenville and the county
• sewer
• blinking light in Bluffdale
• city government
• Crime Watch program enhanced
• Cleanup
• street improvement
• improve quality of news reporting
• blinking light at Business 377 and Bypass 377

2. Long term projects

• sewer and water improvement
• ditto
• food services, improved restaurants
• walkway at post office – traffic improvement and better traffic regulation
• Community Center
• Senior Citizen Center upgraded
• high school in Bluffdale
• get city government in Bluffdale
• bring more federal dollars for school children
• get more computers for schools
• need equality of resources in the schools
• need internet in schools
• need a bypass for Bluffdale
• sewer system for Bluffdale

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 9

• no public transportation
• need Senior Citizen Center improvement
• building codes are too restrictive
• a lot of trash in the area – city needs to help poor and elderly to clean up
• water
• the studies that have been conducted on water – do one, wait awhile and do another, etc. but nothing is done
• people dumping trash and animals in the country
• people throwing their trash out on the streets of the city
• trash cleanup contracts are given to businesses outside the community
• parking and traffic problems around the college

• the college
• agricultural environment
• industry base
• manufacturing plants
• 6 homes for the handicapped
• college (3)
• transportation infrastructure
• proximity to big city but small town quality of life
• the court house

• bring rain
• need original, descriptive highway signs
• tourism development – advertise in key magazines
• develop better relations between city and county
• better use of tax dollars
• more businesses into mall
• more cooperation between city and county for services – cut out library card fee
• buy a street sweeper and put someone on it all the time
• tear down old barracks building
• improve ordinances, relax building codes
• cleanup and beautify
• create a historical district

2. Long range projects

• revitalize downtown

• put businesses in currently vacant locations
• residential repair project
• need better Senior Citizen facility
• good golf course
• road improvement throughout county
• improve waste
• Braum’s and Luby’s
• plan beautification
• restore brick streets
• work with banks for low interest loans for first time homebuyers and home improvement
• use College as a resource for studies, planning etc.
• improve drainage system

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 10

• water pollution from manure

• regulations regarding dairying
• dumping on county roads of animals and trash
• theft and destruction of road signs in rural areas
• water problems
• too many water studies – nothing done
• garbage and trash in yards, on porches, etc.
• waste disposal
• drugs in the county
• pursue plans to add to water source
• government gives no consideration to taxpayers
• clean up drug problem
• lack of things for kids to do
• improve food quality at Senior Center
• dumping in the country
• need Clariette bridges widened
• ground water quality
• need community wide trash dump
• road improvement (pave rural roads)
• air conditioner for community center in Clariette

• financial assets of community
• plenty of water
• strong industry base
• college
• industry
• ditto
• education – adequate schools & college

• golf courses need a special day when green fees and cart should be only $5.00 for senior citizens
• curb at hospital needs improvement
• continue to work with dairies and other farmers on composting project
• completion of the 911 system in the county
• work to keep water clean
• protect the small farmer
• like to see a 3-5 year city plan with citizen input
• airport improvement
• promote the city
• more frequent grading of county roads
• remove blind corners
• better inspection and control of runoff

• industrial site area
• need companies to come in with good pay and benefits package

• low cost housing (affordable)
• more frequent and better health inspections in restaurants
• affordable housing

• water

• more laws regarding cleanup, improvements
• more industry
• convention center
• library improvement/expansion
• tourism activities
• improve hospitals – newer equipment, more specialized doctors

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 3

• net agricultural income
• growth of schools
• dairy waste
• infrastructure

• fire ants

• wildlife
• housing (affordable)
• no county animal control
• water systems
• deregulation/stranded investment for power producers
• adult education
• no industrial park
• long term water
• lack of housing development
• no economic development tax nor money identified by city
• adequate supply of potable water
• waste disposal
• communication systems are greatly lacking
• electricity and gas service needs to be improved

• the people

• existing infrastructure

• waste water treatment plant
• landfill
• phone cable system
• education – college and schools
• people
• well educated workforce
• industry base
• college
• diversified economy
• financially strong city
• park programs for children
• low crime rate
• reasonable shopping area
• growth of the city

• strong Economic Development Board
• industrial Park developed
• composite facility for dairy industry
• fire ant control program
• repairing and maintaining existing water wells
• plans for expansion of utilities

• improved communications between all entities
• locate and develop a well field
• develop ground water system
• make natural gas available to all new development and to older areas of city when practical

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 10

• cleanup needed – city is in a terrible mess – used to have a cleanup day for the city - city furnished the trucks
• lack of signage
• lack of beautification
• city ordinances not enforced
• public transportation for all
• young people
• lack of downtown activities (revitalization)
• downtown deterioration
• unclean city – health hazards
• junk all over town
• hodgepodge of business and industry without zoning
• lack of planning
• city doesn’t adequately utilize resources of College
• lack of convenience stores

• beautiful climate
• intelligent, friendly people
• college
• college
• proximity to metroplex – great for light manufacturing
• good people
• educated labor force
• college gives cultural arts to city
• wonderful people
• college adds to all aspects of our lives
• close to DFW
• museum
• factories/industry
• Project HOPE
• courthouse

• add flowers and landscaping to public areas
• industrial park
• enhance appearance of downtown especially at Christmas
• designate Long Street as historical and add historical tour
• develop tourism
• meeting place other than a restaurant
• citywide cleanup
• downtown revitalization
• city beautification program
• industrial park
• remodel Senior Citizen Center
• expand evening programs in the Senior Citizens Center

• industrial park
• develop a plan

• have industrial board that recruits businesses and offers competitive incentives
• develop the retiree industry

• develop entertainment and tourism products

• first, develop a plan for development and put zoning in place

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 6

• growing minority population (Hispanic) needs are not being addressed
• water

• need for services for minorities
• lack of infrastructure for future growth
• lack of funding for chamber
• need jobs for students once graduated from college
• lack of civic center
• mistrust of city and county government
• leadership
• narrow streets

• good schools
• good business base
• industrial base
• college
• solid population of good people
• good work ethic
• good family values
• dairy industry
• college
• agricultural base
• known as the Cowboy Capital of the World
• responsible building code

• parks improved an cleaned up; add new parks

• demolish dilapidated buildings and houses

• clean up Graham street and Tarleton Street
• need a driving range in the park

• better working relationship between city and county – too many duplicated services

• plan for and identify a site for a civic center and an industrial park

• city needs to develop an incentive plan to offer potential businesses

• new Senior Citizen Center (Alamogordo NM has state of the art center – check it out)
• water improvements
• street improvements
• civic center
• need to show our assets – especially Cowboy Capital of the World - develop tourism
• don’t close Lillian Street
• community center
• new Senior Center - not a part of a civic center
• need to look at ourselves as an outsider would – identify what they want and improve/develop those things
• need infrastructure for lower income, needy individuals and families
• need public transportation

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 9

• Health care

• Lack of shopping facilities; can’t keep retail here

• No decent library

• Keep tearing up brick streets and covering them with asphalt

• City’s word was no good in 1965 regarding water line
• Too many building regulations
• Destruction of brick streets
• Need city facilities and a city government
• Water engineering
• Lack of leadership; Bluffdale has a dictatorship
• How is Triangle Ranch going to tie into Bluffdale?
• Stephenville has no decent grocery store
• Need sign ordinance
• No beautification program
• Morgan Mill needs to be incorporated
• Traffic around the college – needs to be improved, controlled
• Library fees for people living outside city limits
• Problems with Harbin Drive – terrible traffic problems at 8:00AM
• Senior Citizen Center is inadequate
• Lots of blind corners, sometimes caused by parked vehicles

• Police dept

• People
• Good people

• Wonderful educational system including the college

• Churches

• People are great to volunteer and help

• Basically crime free in Bluffdale

• Volunteer fire dept

• Good hospital staff

• National Cowboy connection
• Museum
• Churches

• Good school
• EMT team
• Cultural offerings at the college

• Size of town – good and bad

3. Short term projects

• Citywide cleanup/beautification program
• City truck picking up larger items at least twice a year
• Mow the vacant lots
• New Senior Citizen building
• Complete New water system for Bluffdale
• Preservation Program and Plan for historic buildings
• Clean up Bosque River and develop a linear park along the river
• Develop continuing education program particularly in cultural arts
• Develop foreign student sponsorship program

3. Long term projects

• make a plan for economic development, especially developing local businesses
• library improvement
• improve water and sewer services and lower rates
• sewer system for Bluffdale
• study to address ground water cleanup
• recycling program for entire county
• sign ordinance
• community center (not a convention center)
• make park to look like Lampasas park
• model the Comanche library
• improve streets
• create a community center complex – separate but contiguous – youth, senior, and community
• get a decent newspaper

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 2

1. Problems and challenges

• Limited water supply
• Crime

1. Strengths and assets

• Good citizens
• School system
• College
• Industrial base
• Hospital
• Churches
• College
• Good labor force
• The community itself
• Good people

1. Short term projects

• Start on water improvement plan
• Increase speed on Harbin Drive
• Town meeting once or twice a year at least; to discuss town issues, problems, etc.
• Ditto for the county
• Use City of Champions logo/slogan on all city things i.e. letterhead, etc.
• Cleanup campaign and program in city
• County needs to control rural dumping
• Litter control

1. Long term projects

• Water
• Make Stephenville the friendliest and kindest city in the US
• Implement program to give Stephenville the lowest crime rate in Texas – including drugs
• Bring back morals and courtesy to the youth of the city
• Update and improve airport
• City and county need to request more highways/roads for the area
• Improve county roads – pave all county roads

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 1

1. Problems and challenges

• Drought
• Cost of hay
• Population is elderly without support services
• Transportation for elderly
• Almost no children – 5
• Traffic flows too fast through community
• Lack of signage
• Distance from county seat t limits services

1. Strengths and assets

• The faith of the community (Chalk Mountain – an official ghost town)
• The people
• Good schools
• Good values

1. Short term projects

• Signage to slow down traffic
• Make real roads out of our caliche roads
• Need blind corners taken care of
• Would like historical preservation for old homes

• Roads
• Develop programs for the elderly

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 2

• Water management
• Solid Waste(dairy and city)
• Regulations on Dairy industry
• City council needs to work with city employees for service implementation
• Traffic problems(washington street)
• Not enough affordable housing(rental property)

• People
• Communities work together
• Geographic area(location/climate)
• Industry(diversified)

• Follow through with railroad crossing on Harbin drive
• Secure landfill space
• Volunteer fire dept. in rural areas
• Condemn run-down homes(Long street)need to be torn down
• Beautification program/city clean-up project(4 x year)

• Community center/Senior Center/Teen Center
• Traffic control
• City become a more builder friendly community(codes)

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 5

• Appearance of community(trash, buildings, cars)
• Need new library and certified librarian
• Need new Senior Center(need to be repaired)
• Beautify city , address litter along roadways into city
• Crime/Drug problems
• Traffic controls on main streets in city
• Public/senior citizen transportation for evenings and weekends
• Dust and noise pollution near cement plant

• City is working on streets
• Low crime
• People/friendly city of the state
• Church
• Tarleton
• City officials work together strong community
• Culture
• Industry in city/employment opportunities
• Relations between agriculture and the city

• Speed limit enforced in city
• Increase police department staff
• Crime watch program developed throughout city
• Repairs to senior center
• Beautification of city
• Stop fee for library use for out of city residents

• Need new library and certified librarian
• Improve clean-up process of city
• More businesses move into the city/occupancy of vacant buildings
• Street sweeper
• Housekeeping assistance for elderly
• Need more doctors/specialist in community

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 7

• Town need to be cleaned(abandon homes)
• Newspaper not the quality it should be
• Trees should be maintained in city/trim near street/save on vacant/abandon lots
• Clean drainage system and streets
• Civic center needed
• Transportation for employment and out of county medical(public )Taxi/Bus service
• Attendance at senior center needs to improve
• Lack of cooperation between city and county governments
• Need an independent living retirement center
• County-wide community clean-up
• Widen streets (main arteries to Tarleton)
• Develop a program to allow farmers market to sell on square

• Nice place to live
• Nursing homes are good
• Volunteerism
• Tarleton University
• Sports programs
• Agriculture business
• Variety of industry
• Doctors/hospitals and human services
• Schools
• Few building empty/downtown flourishing
• Low unemployment
• Church
• Law enforcement
• People/good leaders/service clubs

1. Short term projects

• Convention/civic center
• New library
• New senior center
• Curb side recycling
• Commuter airlines to DFW
• Civic center
• Specialized medical services
• Retirement center /ILR facility
• Public transportation
• Community clean-up
• Street improvement
• Parks improvement(walking/hiking trails)

4. Long term projects

• Public transportation
• Water supply
• Park development/expansion
• Waste disposal
• Development on south/east side of community
• Community center
• Commuter airline/transit line to DFW
• Revitalization of downtown area

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 5

1. Problems and challenges

• Residential repair for elderly and low-income
• Teen center
• trash in city( a one day a month trash haul program/county-wide),dumping in rural areas
• run-down/abandon homes
• funds funneled to football instead of education
• lack of response from the city council

1. Strengths and assets

• Tarleton University Employment
• Industry
• Culture
• Small town atmosphere
• "can fans" pep club/booster club
• sports

1. Short term projects

• Increased ommunity activities for senior centers
• Animal dumping
• Teen center
• Free day at city dump
• Telephone reassurance program for senior citizens
• Habitat for humanity (stronger program)
• City wide clean-up
• Grant writer research for city services

• Water supply(surface water)
• New library/civic center
• Voting restrictions/regulations
• Economic growth and higher salaries/better jobs
• New/larger senior center
• Additional social services for disabled citizens
• Enforce city ordinance on garage sale

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 12

• water problems - concerns about runoff from dairies
• expand fine arts
• industry has slowed down
• economic development slowed down
• newspapers needs to be more aware with community news
• enforce speed limits
• change speed limits on certain main streets
• finish the railroad crossing on Harbin Drive
• fix other road crossings
• not fair to all businesses about the alcohol licenses
• no continuity in the licensing of businesses for alcohol
• certain people on city council let their friends have alcohol in their businesses
• water – long term issues on drinking water
• bad streets
• the newspaper will only print what they want to see
• we are told what we need to be told
• small town politics

• removal of old buildings
• clean up trash around old houses
• more emphasis on arts in the schools
• curbside recycling
• theater, arts, band, orchestra, and choir
• gang activity in the community

2. Strengths and assets

• strong support for the schools – including the bond issues
• businesses support the schools
• family supports the schools

• good churches – strong support

• small town atmosphere
• Tarleton University is a good school
• crime rate is low
• feel safe

• good parks
• a lot of activity for sports
• low crime rate
• civic clubs do good work in the community – parks are supported by civic clubs
• economy is diversified – stability
• location – close to metroplex
• low crime

2. Short term projects

• no smoking in restaurants
• open Harbin Drive
• route traffic to Dublin
• traffic on Washington is tight - need other route
• finished streets that are torn up - South Loop
• repair streets
• need more leadership training in city government- what they have started is good
• leadership training was open to public, but we did not feel welcome
• completion of Harbin Drive

2. Long term projects

• child safety at Frey and Dale street
• new library
• civic center for lots of diverse activities - rodeo arena
• need children books and children hours at the library
• needs art facility
• need recreational center

• need expansion of all fine arts and art department, including intermediate classes

• public golf course

• need to make the downtown area more available to the general public – rent is too expensive
• renovation of downtown area
• marketing the speedway for more activities
• need more industry
• need to raise salary for teachers – they have good teachers and you may want to keep them.
• may need to raise tax rate to help on the teacher salary
• city regulations have made building prohibitive for inter city
• city needs to court industry more

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 14

• jobs are given to college students and not the high school students
• lack of jobs for high school students
• people call the cops on you
• need a recreation center for kids
• a bar without alcohol
• discrimination for looks
• race discrimination
• employment opportunities for minorities
• places to eat
• something more than pizza and hamburgers
• roads need improvement
• police pull you over when you are walking at night
• cops treated a person badly - too tight with the handcuffs
• lack of shopping
• more basketball courts in the city
• too much money is spent on football instead of other sports
• no Tarleton scholarships to residents

2. Strengths and assets

• not many gangs

• people give you respect
• safety
• not much crime
• looseness in the community
• Tarleton State University
• small town – most people here are family
• quick access to parts of town
• good school system
• clean town
• don’t have to worry about burglars
• safe town
• most teachers are good
• understanding teachers – they will help you if you need it

2. Short and long term projects

• new basketball courts
• widen the streets
• more restaurants- Jack-in-the-Box
• finish the junior high
• place for teens to go
• more places to go – entertainment – Putt Putt – dance hall for teens
• more basketball courts
• fix up buildings
• cultural activities for youth and adults
• dances for Hispanics
• youth centers
• open campus at lunch
• Taco Bell or Chick Filet on high school campus
• revitalize downtown
• traffic control and safety
• fix up parks

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 26

1. Problems and challenges

• keeping kids interested in school

• dairy waste – water quality
• need something for the kids to do – daily and weekends
• illegal dumping in the country and litter
• keeping interested in the school
• kids need something to do
• facilities at the rodeo arena need to be better for showing stock
• keeping kids out of trouble – give them something to do
• get the young kids involved with the animals - show them what FFA kids do
• place to go and hang out
• school needs to pay attention to the other sports and activities instead of all football
• roads are bad – county roads
• need to pave county roads –roads wash out when it rains
• kids need to get involved in sports and other activities
• drinking in the college and its influence in the high schools

• need government subsidy for dairy farming
• community center for youth
• keeping the parents involved with their children
• community center for youth
• keep kids interested in school and go onto college
• community is growing out into the rural areas
• government needs to help farmers due to dry season
• drunks run red lights; speeding
• people trying to get into bars and getting kicked out – need something for kids
• parents need to realize the kids get into trouble – parents need to open their eyes

1. Strengths and assets (No answers due to time constraint)

• Short term projects
• students need to be more involved – you can be in several activities – community needs to realize the agriculture kids are smart, too
• Stephenville needs to look at Glen Rose Civic Center as an example of a great facility
• road improvements
• agriculture barn needs improvement
• more money needs to be spent on the agriculture programs
• new larger school
• show barn needs repair – cold in winter and hot in summer
• need more pens – we have grown
• want to utilize the college facilities
• rodeo team
• programs for the younger kids – get the younger kids in FFA
• promote all the different 4-H programs – archery, etc.
• latch key programs for after schools kids
• need better traffic control in the halls at the High School
• get the community to build a civic center
• promotion for agriculture and dairy industry- it involves several segments of the financial community
• exposition center
• mentoring project for the younger kids

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 30

1. Problems and challenges

• nothing for the youth do to

• less drinking
• traffic – Tarleton area is congested
• traffic when Tarleton students are here
• drugs
• cross walks in the Tarleton area
• traffic
• availability for job opportunities for high school students
• litter
• litter
• litter - county roads
• not enough jobs for high school students
• repaving the South Loop - they stopped construction mid-stream
• Tarleton students get jobs the high school students want
• need jobs for high school students
• repave the south loop
• crime and vandalism at school
• Harbin Drive needs a faster speed limit
• people run red lights near school – especially at Northwest Loop and Lingleville Highway
• traffic control
• lack of youth activities
• need red light at Wal-Mart
• fire ants

• everyone supports all the activities
• community support
• small town
• everyone knows everyone
• you can’t buy alcohol
• everything is close
• churches
• nice little community
• nice place to raise kids
• you don’t have to go through metal detectors
• limited beer sales

• community support

• closeness in community
• can’t buy liquor – strength
• safe at school
• safety
• small town atmosphere

• bring in chain restaurant such as Olive Garden
• revitalize downtown
• clean up downtown
• community activities downtown
• clean up square
• Harbin Drive extended
• town-wide clean up
• teen dance club
• open campus at lunch

• parents or Tarleton students helping the high school students in applying for scholarships and college applications

1. Long term projects

• mall
• lake
• road repair
• bigger high school
• High School football field
• open campus at lunch
• indoor pool
• swim team
• expand athletic programs- gymnastics – swimming – polo
• water supply – low water pressure
• help clean up the Bosque river – tear down recreation hall
• plant trees
• better parks
• basketball courts
• volley ball courts
• recreation center – youth center – swimming pool

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 6

1. Problems and challenges

• water - shortage of water (reliance on well system)

• manage growth
• growth - quick growth results in quick planning
• diverse population along with growth
• major problem was the cheese plant closed
• city government
• diversity of the student population
• city government seems to stifle growth
• city government and Chamber have an adversarial relation
• alcohol problem

1. Strengths and assets

• close knit community
• dairies are important
• schools are supported
• Tarleton is open to the community
• resources from the school
• Tarleton is a strength
• diversity of the economy
• good base of education in the community that the businesses can depend on
• high standards for the kids and for the adults
• good empathy for each other
• pitch in together as a community

1. Short term projects

• complete school project
• community center
• community recreational services for youth and seniors
• something for the youth
• Chamber and city have to work together – plan for tourism

• lake for recreation
• medical personnel
• recruit senior citizens
• civic center – downtown area to revitalize the area
• beautification of Bosque River
• plan for tourism
• people in the city to get along with the Chamber to help tourism

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 16

1. Problems and challenges

• condition of roads
• inadequate programs in the art and drama department
• the city street repairs – no one works on the roads
• the theater department is lacking in funds
• no opportunities for younger children to be in the art department
• small budget for the art department
• to many kids in one room in the art department
• no place to display the art
• littering problem
• no place for teenagers to go at night
• no jobs for high schools students
• activities for teenagers
• lack of organized activities for teenagers
• nothing to do
• no place to go

• no community center for plays

• public library needs to be upgraded

• band facility is too small
• band marching field is too small
• shopping area downtown is run down
• need decorations for the downtown area
• Harbin Drive is not completed –they did not think things through
• police pull the kids over for simple things – the police do not pull over the speeders

• dairy runoff is a problem

1. Strengths and assets

• people in the community support the schools
• not much crime in the city
• football team gets the community together
• fine art money gets pushed aside and athletics gets all the money
• people in the community are very supportive
• self-started businesses - strength in community - respect for the owners
• High School and college work together
• all the schools work together

• need another art teacher
• activity center for youth – supervised area
• separate football field for high school
• activity center supervised by young people
• police need more training

• long term projects
• city parks
• bigger school
• new library
• revitalize downtown
• clean up the drunk drivers – too many in the town
• shopping center so we don’t have to go to Fort Worth
• wider halls in the high school
• revitalize the downtown area
• tear down old building
• roller blade park
• nice restaurant
• crisis center for women
• women’s center for pregnancy programs
• center for displaying art
• composting programs
• paint murals on the sides of old buildings
• Academy department store

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 28

1. Problems and challenges

• 911 rural addresses - they don’t have them yet
• rural growth
• economic development
• growth in downtown
• socioeconomic classes and minorities that don’t get involved
• no place to dump trash
• trim trees that hang over streets
• racial – perception of not enough minorities (?)
• no control on the trash in the county – no zoning in the county
• substandard housing – trashy houses
• water shortage
• storm drains lacking in several areas
• economic development in the downtown and everywhere- why are the businesses closing
• infrastructure
• city needs to work in recruiting business industry
• streets

• hard water – need a softener
• growth at Tarleton
• growth is challenge to school system
• identity problem for Cowboy Hall of Fame
• infrastructure – clean up Bosque River –

• separation of community of Tarleton and the community – inter action in the community
• lack of industry development
• traffic control; not enough traffic lights
• water is a long term problem
• traffic control
• utilities are too expensive
• recycling
• newspaper – lack of information – nothing about the school – reports - voting boxes?
• need school buses for football – so school is cut short

1. Strengths and assets

• proximity to Fort Worth for health care
• not to close to Fort Worth - neighborly
• volunteerism is great
• schools are a great asset

• companies give money
• low crime rate
• broad industrial base
• University
• support for Tarleton
• people go out of their way to help
• lack of gang activity
• low use of drugs
• medical community – serving the small communities
• not too big – still have a small town flavor
• cultural opportunities – helped by Tarleton being here
• lot of activities for families
• civic clubs do a tremendous job
• Tarleton has a good name through its students

• winning high school football team
• leasing buses for football games

1. Short term projects

• pave the streets
• blinking yellow lights around the schools
• need red lights around busy intersections, such as Wal-Mart
• clean up river
• public library
• walking trails
• improve the water rates
• improve the telephone systems – no voice mail

• improvements at the air port
• new park or improve the park we already have
• traffic at holidays around park is terrible
• there is a master plan for the park and river – grants are available
• plan the streets better – better planning on the front end
• Harbin Drive – fix the RR crossing at Harbin Drive
• fix old RR crossings
• extend Frey road behind Wal-Mart
• widen Wolfe Nursery Road
• allow parking across from the new Junior High
• need more cross-town streets
• don’t allow people to park on Frey - it is very narrow
• enforce speed limit on Harbin and Garfield
• enforce speed limits in residential areas
• do something about pedestrian traffic on Washington by college
• pedestrian traffic in front of school
• buy or lease buses for football
• fiber optic communications

1. Long term projects

• water softener for city – hard water is expensive to public
• community center
• annex land outside the city
• younger people on the city council
• economic incentive for industry – bring industry to city
• countywide zoning
• less excessive ordinances in the county
• clean up old cars in yards
• revitalization of downtown
• can’t keep the town the way it is and the town will die
• need air port improvements for Fed Ex
• promoting the city and the college
• promote the industry you have
• lack of mid to upper housing for industry to come in to town
• no rental housing

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 19

1. Problems and challenges

• parking on campus is terrible

• roads are narrow
• red lights are too long
• county roads are bad
• roads are bad – small amount of rain makes the roads flood
• nothing to do for students
• no connection between the Tarleton community and the city
• more parks
• drainage
• separation in the community
• housing
• parking – lack of parking - did not tell students about where they should park
• zoning problems
• old buildings need to be torn down
• no sporting stores
• downtown square – empty buildings
• need cultural expression in downtown
• roads in the county are bad
• wrecks on Washington
• not enough parking on campus
• on-campus book stores
• drainage problem on the roads with a small amount of rain
• telephone service is limited

1. Strengths and assets

• business owners do a lot for the community
• diversity in businesses
• low crime rate
• you don’t have to drive very far to get anything
• the community gives back to the town
• pride in the city
• rural town – farms are a great asset to the community
• business owners are helpful to the college students
• slower pace is nice
• Tarleton
• Tarleton
• Tarleton
• local business owners donate items for garage sales for the Tarleton activities

• 4^th of July festival

1. Short range projects

• restaurants with a college theme
• city-wide beautification project
• roads need to be widened
• more community involvement
• 10K run

1. Long range projects

• beautification
• need to improve the track at the college
• add lights at the track for walkers
• parking for the campus
• parking garage
• mall
• sports complex
• activities for the youth
• drainage systems

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 11

1. Problems and challenges

• lack of direction for high school students
• nothing for the teenagers to do
• lack of activities
• economic diversity – no jobs here
• need entertainment for the community
• drainage is bad after a small rain
• zoning is bad – old houses – trailer may be next to nice house
• town is not very pretty
• city has no planning for growth
• telephone lines are obsolete
• no place to go out – to take a date
• city and Tarleton are separate - no community involvement
• no one works together
• city government is not working for the city

• the city government does not work for the people of the city

• government accountability

• city and Tarleton separation

• traffic on Washington is bad – too many businesses on Washington and the road is narrow
• cable company is too expensive for not very good coverage

• how the city is growing
• parks
• businesses give to the community
• friendly people and the community is friendly
• safe town – low crime
• the town is very supportive of the high school
• close-knit community – the farmers and the city
• safe community
• 87 churches
• Tarleton supports the community
• country town – people are nice

3. Short term projects

• have a College Day –expose the younger students to the college life
• get the business people involved in the college – let them know that the college students appreciate them
• community should get involved with an outreach program to the kids
• work on sidewalks
• clean up community
• promote economic development to the downtown area
• utilize huge buildings downtown

• help the high school students see what the college students do
• go to the high school football games one night and invite the high schools students to attend the college game
• need to bring more minority students into the community
• need products for minority students in the local stores

• widening the streets
• drainage needs implemented in the city
• need different restaurants
• promote Tarleton
• need scholarship money
• community involvement
• recruit from all over the state – get the word out about Tarleton
• see the county go wet – it will help restaurants come into Stephenville
• get one new business at a time
• beautification on the highways as you enter Stephenville
• keep the businesses we have now and work on getting new businesses in to the city

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 8

1. Problems and challenges

• the city is all Stephenville and not for Tarleton
• the whole town is getting more crowded because Tarleton is growing
• lack of nice apartments
• Washington Street is very narrow
• back roads are bad – dips are bad
• not easy to connect to a road – streets dead end
• traffic is a problem
• maps show the roads to continue but they don’t
• the town can not keep up with the growth
• cable TV is a serious problem
• parking is a real problem - can’t find a parking space
• need city officials to come and talk to the students
• students would like to get more involved with the city council
• drainage problems

• nice places to eat – not fast food
• High School parents and students have noise makers that annoy others at the football games
• not very much to do around here

• Tarleton wants to grow and the city does not – they clash
• community members sponsor function, but they don’t attend
• only one taxi

1. Strengths and assets

• Feeling safe here

• police department is good - you don’t speed because they will give you a ticket - this makes them feel safe
• Stephenville has more stores – you can buy locally
• nice stores
• people in Stephenville are nice to the students
• small town
• plenty of churches
• nice park by the square
• safe place to live
• good town
• good churches help get students involved in the town
• small town atmosphere

• cool radio stations

• need activities for students
• more shopping
• hold softball tournaments
• get the city and the Tarleton people together
• put concerts on by the city and get the city people to come
• pave roads
• improve the drainage
• need more shopping
• raise the speed limit on Harbin
• increase diversity of the shopping

• modernize and update the town and stores
• bring in chain stores
• add a chain restaurant
• more antique shops downtown
• need entertainment for the public
• need a place to play sports
• community recreation center
• localize the sports center
• need more housing – apartments
• need government housing – long waiting list
• keep the small town atmosphere but try to add some of the big city amenities

start a city bus system for public transportation

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 25

1. Problems and challenges

• need for identifying the at risk students and drop outs for intervention

• amount of funding for schools - major impact for teachers
• infrastructure in the county for the growth
• water quality – to handle the growth
• road improvement
• water availability
• develop programs for minority - citizen awareness
• water for growth – quantity
• commuter train from Ft. Worth to Granbury
• water - quality and quantity
• entry level salaries for Tarleton to keep good people
• 911 – centralized dispatch for the county
• water for growth – quality and quantity
• telephone – poor system

• retail stores for keeping money in Stephenville

• water – growth

• growth - drugs
• cable television
• Public Library needs more books
• roads and traffic
• type of businesses to bring to the community – dairies – too large
• affordable housing
• water
• traffic due to growth

• law enforcement educated for the 21^st century

• worried about businesses leaving the community

traffic

1. Strengths and assets

• Tarleton
• Tarleton makes the human resource base better
• Tarleton – social and cultural activities
• county seat- financial stability
• people are helpful in the community
• community spirit
• location - hub for the area for industry
• good small schools in area to handle the kids with special needs

1. Short term projects

• need restaurants –
• use Harbin Drive – the road needs to be completed
• development of a convention center
• traffic problem on Lillian Street

• education

• YMCA or YWCA - recreation center
• traffic around the curve on Washington
• close Lillian at the University - it does not need to be a thoroughfare
• 4-H Programs need a facility
• clean up town - make it pretty
• convention center
• work on Lillian Street project
• better selection of books in library
• clean up parks and city
• need to attract industry
• drainage is a real problem – even with a small amount of rain
• convention center
• drainage for rain

1. Long term projects

• parks – make them prettier – add outdoor concert hall – expand

• dry county – need to make the county wet
• housing and roads
• Bosque River beautification
• improving the public library – children corner – computer area
• promote public school education as opposed to football
• convention center
• improve parks – play ground equipment is old – need new equipment and public structures
• facilities for groups to come to town
• Recreation Center is a mess – need to clean up and upgrade
• consolidation of 911 in county
• library
• bring in small groups for singing and plays
• creating more parks

• hotels and motels need more space
• be careful of the type of growth
• drugs and alcohol programs
• recreational facilities – share the expense and responsibility by the public schools
• water quality – surface water is becoming a real problem
• need a 4-H center for animals and meetings

• need to attract new businesses
• controlled growth in the economic development
• retirement center – take care of the elderly
• license day care for children under 18 months and after school care
• stay out of tax abatement game in attracting new business
• attract more minority teachers
• downtown is not existence – need something other than attorneys – revitalization of downtown

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 30

1. Problems and challenges

• Completion of streets
• drugs and gangs
• attracting industry
• trash and illegal dumping

• dead animals along the road in the county

• Stephenville has outgrown the streets
• additional schools – elementary
• a lot of dead animals on the roads in the county
• recycling – hazardous chemicals
• trash – recycling
• streets – patch work – drainage – curbs and gutters
• increase in alcohol use
• drugs and alcohol
• streets
• lack of youth resources for Hispanic kids and latch key kids
• drugs – young kids
• continuing higher education

• communication among the communities
• transportation – streets
• housing – affordable
• more facilities for teens without alcohol
• drugs and alcohol shelter
• the city has many problems and the growth is not keeping up
• streets
• drug and alcohol abuse
• planning and zoning and the city council
• lack of communication between the elected and appointed officials
• lack of mental health resources
• mentoring programs
• gang problems

• streets around schools – too much traffic – not safe
• industrial diversification
• under-age drinking

1. Strengths and assets

• Tarleton University - access and expertise
• Tarleton – people integration between the city and the community
• safe community
• dry county – not having a liquor store on every corner
• good average level of income and tax base
• low unemployment rate
• Tarleton – cultural
• Norton and FMC let the students have jobs while they go to school
• pride in Stephenville
• not many run down areas
• very active civic clubs – United Way
• diversity of education and work force is good
• salary is less here
• health care facilities
• Project HOPE

1. Short term projects

• recycling and trash

• recycling program in the city
• bring Big Brothers and Big Sisters program to the city
• need a coordination between the all the civic clubs and
• need a free facility to bring dump items such as water heaters – instead of dumping on the road
• county roads mowed and pot holes filled
• latch key program
• YMCA program
• help the kids for the Spanish speaking kids – dictionary
• inexpensive facility for child care
• streets to be completed – planning of the streets across town
• Lingleville road has no shoulder- dangerous
• legal accountability on the sale of alcohol
• signs on the county roads - 911 addresses
• need a task force for water

• water resources for growth- plan now for the growth
• water conservation plan
• tax abatement for land owners who conserve water

1. Long term projects

• plan for transportation in the city
• city infrastructure – need drainage
• sewer system is not in existence – need new system
• facility for teens to do – recreational for youth
• stop water and soil pollution in the county
• shop Stephenville first
• bring in a YMCA
• how much money is going out of town – use local contractors
• air pollution from dairies
• YMCA – land has been donated for YMCA???
• need civic center – access for meeting
• use resources in the city and Tarleton for young people

• task force in place to address these problems
• long range planning for youth programs
• city Police officers inside the schools
• community facilities – rec. hall or expedition hall
• community facilities
• traffic control

• revitalization of downtown buildings; add restaurants

• convention center with cowboy hall of fame
• convention center
• diversify industry
• more traffic around the parks (?)
• water safety around the parks (?)
• revitalizing the downtown
• insuring the long term water supply
• shopping mall
• attract industry – we will need water

• widen the major roads in and out of Stephenville

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 20

1. Problems and challenges

• management and recycling
• weeds in the community – along side the roads
• recycling
• clean up the road kill
• water planning for the community and county
• anti-business climate in the city – businesses dying on the vine
• growth and congestion of traffic – no long term planning
• traffic control

• sidewalks
• curbs and gutters
• sewer system - northeast side of town has no city services
• need beautification of the entrances to the city
• need to use the resources we have – the city is at a status quo

1. Strengths and assets

• infrastructure in city
• closer working relationship with the other businesses and the college
• follow through with the report
• University
• no crime
• a giving community
• cost of living is low
• churches
• Project Hope
• small town atmosphere
• civic clubs
• city services
• good health care

1. Short term projects

• market the city if you want growth
• civic center
• improve sidewalks
• develop east side
• write economic development plan
• improve streets
• develop a city vision
• improve water quality
• clean up roads
• beautification
• recycling
• increase student activities
• develop meeting facilities

• Comanche Peak Nuclear Evacuation Plan

• expand city library
• improve cable TV
• create more internships from businesses
• market town building
• need a pool at the park
• work on roads

1. Long term projects

• improve roads
• build civic center
• revitalization of downtown
• marketing the town
• strengthen infrastructure
• take care of minorities in schools, especially those with English as second language

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 25

1. Problems and challenges

• water
• 911 is a problem
• water is hard
• lack of day care
• need a book store
• pot holes in roads
• nothing for the students to do
• Washington Street is a problem for students to cross
• pot holes are a problem
• water drainage is poor on the Lingleville highway
• traffic is a problem at noon
• traffic is a problem around the campus
• the bypass is a waste of time - too many red lights
• drainage when it rains
• future water problems – no water table management
• Washington Street problems
• widen streets
• traffic – drainage
• nothing to do
• road repairs – pot holes
• traffic congestion
• type of stores
• no jobs available here
• road layoff is terrible
• dips in roads
• no restaurants
• beautification of Central Elementary School
• want town to go wet - hard to get good restaurant to come to this town

• parking on campus is a problem
• parking on campus
• vacant stores and shopping centers are eye sores

1. Strengths and assets

• low crime rate

• support of education
• Tarleton
• friendly people
• drivers are crazy
• good community
• the widening of the Dublin Highway is a good thing
• small town atmosphere
• controlled planning for the city growth
• AMPI was a good industry

• get a new book store
• cross walk across Washington from Tarleton
• communication between the city and county for 911
• Vanderbilt crosswalks are always full of water – no drainage
• drainage is poor
• cross walk over Washington
• more competition with Hastings Book Store
• more telephone line on campus
• self timing lights around campus - make them blink after at certain time
• more marked cross walks
• light sensors on the red lights
• nothing to do in the town
• turn the vacant buildings into something – recreation for the teens
• TV cable prices go down
• road improvement
• convenience stores have pot holes
• animal shelters
• fill in the pot holes
• Lillian street is congested – block off the street during the school hours
• need more restaurants

4. Long term projects

• expand Washington Street
• guarantee safety around the girls dorm
• bring a YMCA to town
• plan for the future water- get a lake
• tax abatement for the industrial development
• new School buildings – public schools
• need new restaurants

• build middle income apartment
• need affordable housing
• need more jobs for college students
• need new by pass around town
• sanitary program at the lab (?)
• clean up dorms
• install A/C for girls dorms

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 12

1. Problems and challenges

• lack of civic center

• need more industry
• incentives to bring industry
• lack of industrial base
• traffic problem - downtown; Washington Street
• community center
• garbage disposal; landfill is open limited hours
• citizens use business dumpsters
• civic center needed - things are not coming downtown
• more industry
• no community support
• no promotion of Stephenville
• need more promotion of the city
• shop Stephenville campaign
• no entertainment for kids to do
• no kids activities and places
• city park could stand improvement
• entertainment cost for the kids is too costly
• county has drop the ball
• new library and convention center
• teenagers have difficulty finding jobs
• persons coming in to Stephenville
• more structured activity for older kids
• kids just hanging around- nothing too do
• lighting issue at night, vacation experience, street lights
• Granbury is more festive looking, all the seasons
• Stephenville is known as the college town
• streets are horrible- some are still not paved
• county roads are in bad shape
• differences between commissioners’ districts
• streets are a major problem
• college will grow ..get ready now with the streets
• reiterate about industry
• streets are poor, railroad will not putting crossing guard
• Loop 377 to Harbin Drive not complete
• not keeping up with University growth
• no game plan
• water quality - not up to par
• county does not coordinate with the city; helping communities outside city limits
• park need more baseball fields and other activities
• need a large swimming pool
• need to upgrade law enforcement
• seems to have internal conflicts in the police department
• Stephenville is more reactive
• not funding or supporting programs like 4-H and Boy Scouts
• water drainage system
•  

• university
• good education system
• school system
• school systems
• small town atmosphere
• low crime rate
• low drug problem
• trust
• retirement community
• a place where people want their grandchildren to come
• location to the metroplex
• people want to get away from the metroplex
• a lot that is good; more good than bad
• family ties
• good school system; kindergarten to Tarleton
• school system and university
• use the school system as a model for other groups
• nice place to raise a family
• great place to live
• park systems, schools and Tarleton
• law enforcement is good
• school system
• work full-time and get college degree
• community involvement - Optimist, Lions, Chamber
• education system- university
• geographical location - best areas for growth potential

• arena or civic center
• additional financial support for law enforcement agencies
• have the law resources
• plan for the traffic situation
• support law enforcement
• provide the law enforcement with resources
• community wide cleanup

• in-depth study (dry county) on why Stephenville cannot attract a Chili’s or Red Lobster

• congestion downtown during lunch hours
• need to find ways of promoting water system
• a lot can get started
• activities for youth
• streets

• 18 hole golf course
• traffic system
• community activities and civic center
• indoor civic center
• civic center and golf course
• streets
• water quantity
• street repairs and civic center
• convention center combination, library, and parks
• improve drainage - cars floating down some streets when it rains
• community civic center
• revitalizing downtown
• restoring downtown
• promote businesses across the town

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 7

1. Problems and challenges

• too few retail stores downtown
• deficiency in economic development community; public participation
• economic development situation; lack of half cent sales tax for new business
• lack of diversification in industrial base
• low inventory of residential lots
• ways to improve real estate development
• weak retail
• restaurant base is demographic driven
• real estate
• residential development - in town
• lack of funding resources for the Chamber of Commerce- dues structure
• the relationship between the city and developers- too many rules
• council decisions are influenced by city staffers- not as open-minded as can be
• zoning is too restrictive
• perception that city administrators run the city and not the council
• need to generate more tourism
• not central effort to draw tourism
• water quantity - for the future

• municipalities are operating in vacuums

• no facility (civic center) for community events

• university
• diversified economy
• schools
• financial systems
• university
• medical
• the fact that Stephenville still has a hospital
• volunteer champions
• community pride
• university
• reasonable tax rate
• human resources
• work ethic
• update to date infrastructure - with exception of city maintenance facility
• new city hall
• school system
• low crime rate
• location to the metro-plex
• compares to similar sized communities - is more open;
• sense community pride- "Mayberry RFD" feel

3. Short term projects

• a regularly scheduled city wide cleanup (e.g., vacant Dairy Queen lot)

• convert the use of half cent sales tax to economic development (to be more competitive)

• need to have a economic development corporation
• economic development foundation is privately funded
• Stephenville needs a drawing card - football is seasonal
• revitalize the park
• redesign financial resources of the Chamber of Commerce
• provide some type of incentives to develop residential lots
• street that has been completed - South Orient RR, Harbin and South Loop (U.S.377)
• citywide cleanup - mow the lots , clean old houses

• research what it would take to get companies to relocate to Stephenville- which ones are in the market for moving

• park related projects on the west side of town - and throughout the city

• multi-purpose facility for community activities
• quality residential subdivisions
• civic center
• water problem - moving outside of the city; quantity
• community center- the Church of Christ is an example
• civic center
• water quality
• residential development
• economic development - planned industrial park
• University provides stability
• do a better job of identifying Tarleton’s niche
• need a better way of operating county roads - hire an engineer for road maintenance

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 5 (one written response)

• city hall does not have set guidelines for issuing a building permits

• the level of knowledge on the part of some staffers - seemed like stone walling attempt

• businesses are discouraged from setting up shop - because of lack of organization; went to another city

• city hall drives business away; developers, business
• not attracting new business
• in the last 15 years not aware of a new business to the city
• lack of coordination of services offered
• the programs are there - difficult to connect people with the services
• entrenched situation of government servants serving themselves
• there is an in-crowd; a double standard as to what gets approved and what does not

• lack of an open attitude at the city hall; no checklist or incomplete checklist; no formal structure

• lack of policies and procedures;
• don’t change the rules of the game in the middle of the game
• trying to develop in town is a nightmare
• new addition to Harbin Drive - it is completed, but barricades at railroad crossing

• city hall should be held accountable for the oversight in the cost-associated railroad crossings

• the railroad company will not put up the crossing until the city upgrades the other railroad crossings

• there is no single plan; there is no coordinated planning for the area
• there is no broad based city planning efforts
• need real answers to the water issue
• hesitant to make changes; may mess up what we have
• water
• restrictions discourages development in the city

• city is using underground water; this will deplete the water supply for people in the County

• need more money spent on streets, sewers, and police
• do something about the drug and alcohol problem

• natural resources
• school systems
• medical systems
• economic base
• strong faith arena
• two Fortune 500 companies in the community
• people that live here
• good place to raise your children
• good school systems
• wonderful community; faith has been increasing
• younger couples have turned to the faith
• city government has good people
• Tarleton
• people
• great place to raise your kids
• school systems; good teachers and good administrators
• teachers have genuine concern for their students
• caring people

• youth center – more after school activities
• community center; maybe combo with youth center
• community center
• county wide community center
• community center
• fixing the bureaucratic issues at city hall
• develop a common vision (allow this to be the focus; not just a building)
• policies and procedures (when you meet the criteria then you can move forward)
• less money spent on the City Park
• encourage more businesses to come to Erath County
• get some competition for Wal-Mart

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 2

• no cooperation between city government and county government
• appears to be "hostile" attitude if you live outside the city
• conflict between commissioners and council
• persons the outside the city limits must pay surcharge
• infrastructure; the roads need improvement
• flooding in town; throughout; Long Street
• lack of retail stores; diversity

• parks are not clean and maintained; parks and recreation funds does not get back into the parks programs

• quality of water; lime buildup
• zoning is inconsistent
• traffic control issues
• wrecks are commonplace
• crime is up
• some of the newspaper articles poorly written; lack of proofreading
• need to have a full time tourism person

• Sheriffs Department
• schools are good; unifying force in the community
• very moral community; good for raising a family
• people are very good-hearted

• group put together to recruit or solicit retailers to the city

• attract retailers with more diversity of clothing selections; infant; kids; men’s wear; beyond casual wear

• need more competition in retail business; pricing
• parks need to be cleaned up; the bathrooms are very dirty
• parks need to be updated; for youth activities
• need better lighting on the walking trails
• swimming pool needs maintenance
• the size of the swimming pool is insufficient for this community
• convention center
• develop a project for transportation of the elderly

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 4

1. Problems and challenges

• water (surface vs. subsurface water sources) - long range needs

• having conflicting reports on the water issue

• lack of coordination and cooperation between key groups - city, county, rodeo associations

• lack of unified vision
• lack of cohesion on the city council; somewhat adversarial; some in-fighting

• certain staffers at city hall present a stumbling block to the permitting process and other processes

• sign ordinance is an example of policies not well thought out

• lack of activities for those students not involved in school programs; nothing to do , no place to hangout

• some bidding requirements have increased the cost of services and goods purchased by the city; increased the taxpayers cost for the service

• the requirements of obtaining a bond were nearly cost prohibitive
• fragmentation of the community
• lack of interaction between different groups

• the good qualities of the community sometimes divert attention away from weaknesses

• University is not maximized

• school system; very strong system
• good athletic program

• school system
• the community supports the football team
• Tarleton State University
• diversity of the economy; the Fortune 500s
• the two Fortune 500 companies; good corporate neighbors
• small town; feel safe
• town is warm to people that move-in
• geographic location; central to Abilene, Ft. Worth, and Dallas
• is not controlled by any group or factions
• the community is self sufficient; some big town amenities with small town feel

• a unifying community wide project; create a common vision

• broader involvement in the promotion of the rodeo (leverage the resources of the different groups)

• get down to the bottom of the water quality and quantity issues; present and future; research

• retailers on a volunteer basis( retail committee) to display banners- "Cowboy Capital of the World"

• parades done in conjunction with the rodeo
• Christmas parade; get everyone involved on these activities - coordinated
• more than private clubs

city ordinance for beautification for businesses

• local public transit

• a multi-purpose facility; bring fragmented groups together - rodeo, banquets, concerts, meetings

• a central tourist theme, with murals and an event; what is Stephenville known for?
• have a museum that ties into the cowboy theme
• make U.S. 377 four lane from Granbury to Comanche

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 4

1. Problems and challenges

• water; two separate studies past few years- saying should be looking for alternative uses of water

• get to the bottom of this issue of the conflicting information on water

• increased drug use (at the bowling alley); not addressed; people are not willing to deal with it

• crime is not being adequately addressed
• community is very fragmented
• lack of activities for youth; need for a community center

• lack of coordination between the city and the county
• polarization on the city council; may be the worst in getting along with each other; philosophical issues

• dropout rate is increasing; attendance policy - trying to attain the "exemplary" status with TEA by the year 2000

• pressure placed on at risk students to go GED route or alternative school environment;

• drainage issue; flooding in certain areas – Frey and Vanderbilt can get knee deep; floating vehicles

• high taxes
• cable bills are outrageous due to a monopoly;
• truancy; kids ages 13 to 20 in search of drugs and alcohol;
• hoping the problem will go away; not stepping in to help someone else’s kid
• Vanderbilt and Tarleton are perfect for drag racing;

• not sure that the people are encouraging the academics issues (as compared to football)

• need to know what the shopping needs are in the community, shoes for example

• the human resources can mobilize when certain issues are on tap
• Relay for Life unites the community
• the community really backs the football team
• wonderful town
• its people
• strong school system
• strong schools; caring coaches

• plan to improve relationships between city and county governments
• city wide beautification project
• keep downtown alive
• programs that provide services for the poorer families; such as air conditioner repairs

• a booster club that provides support to poorer families; trips, school supplies, band instruments, and shoes

• big brother/sister mentoring programs; an opportunity for minority outreach
• need town meetings; quarterly
• big brother/ sister cross cultural programs

• job training and education program for teenage parents;
• alternative education program; example Dublin has Paradigm Alternative Center
• water planning
• settle the issue of whether or not there is enough ground water
• civic center; or maybe something on a smaller scale

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 18

1. Problems and challenges

• lack of jobs; difficult finding employment even with education

• lack of school books; example of shortage of textbooks
• better streets and roads; wider and smoother
• water liability associated with the dairy
• milk price supports for dairy has been cut
• maintenance department needs improvement
• beautify Stephenville; aging buildings both residential and commercial
• need for wider streets and improved roads
• streets need improvement
• poor restroom facilities
• poor visibility on corners from shrubs
• traffic control issues
• water quality issues; drinking water
• needs to clean up the city; some places in coming into town are real eyesores
• need more businesses; diversity
• road situation; wider roads
• traffic problem
• limited hours for the landfills; leads to people dumping into business dumpsters

• downtown square needs development; not just development on the west side of town

• need higher wages
• job development is not taking place on east side
• clean up the city
• streets
• landfill situation; something to correct illegal dumping
• streets; the more affluent neighborhoods get pot holes repaired quicker
• local person are not given the perks such as the tax abatement given to Wal-Mart

• landfill hours need to have longer hours; never know if you can get in; places in the county have been turned into dump areas;

• services have not kept pace with the growth
• Harbin Drive was extended, with no thought given to the railroad crossing
• no planning ahead by the person at city hall
• kids need money for things to do, such as 4-H
• kids have no place to go
• lack of funds and services for the elderly
• the Harbin Drive extension

• need something for the entertainment for the youth; need more than bowling alley and movie theater

• communication between citizens and the school board; the information is not always correct

• the silence regarding the drug issue;

• council and the school board feed the citizens the information they want them to hear; example of the drug dogs

• city hall staffers have a lot of power over builders and others; the rules need to be applied fairly and equally; too arbitrary

• Harbin extension and illegal dumping
• need more cohesion between town and college

• there are a few persons in city hall that are attempting to dominate community decision making process

• great community
• good variety of stores
• great community
• great community spirit and pride
• outstanding football team; good aggressive Chamber director
• nice small town atmosphere; close knit; can come together for good causes
• small town community
• raising kids here; strength of the close knit community
• the University
• still small enough that it has control of problems that cities have
• a lot of pride in the community
• good schools
• town is growing
• the University; with central location
• the professors in the agriculture college are par none
• the good public school system
• good schools
• good place to raise children and family; good schools; university;
• the university; brings money to the community

• the college is stable anchor for the community; money in - no money out; good labor force

• university schools
• police department
• two Fortune 500s that give a lot to the community
• good public schools
• has good industrial mix
• college and industry

• street improvements
• general cleanup of the city
• programs for the youth; like a YMCA
• project to beautify the waterway in the park
• purchase the old TXDPS building for city maintenance facility
• streets maintained better
• open Harbin drive
• completion of pavement on South Loop
• cleanup; the streets improvement
• development of a new 18 hole golf course
• different mix and better restaurants; sit down,other than fast food
• do something with the water in the park
• general cleanup
• open the dump ground
• clean up of the city;
• 18 hole golf course
• more activity in the downtown square; as compared to the square in Granbury
• Bosque River through the park needs improvement
• civic center; some place to meet; 4-H
• condition of the river in the park ; maybe tied to the dumping situation
• kids need an activity center
• may need a larger pool
• full time tourism director for all Erath county to promote the county
• a civic center; or a small convention center; to attract small activities
• clean up the park; bring the restrooms up to standards
• more recreational facilities for the kids; go-cart tracks
• 18 hole golf course

• convention center
• convention center
• Bennigans and other restaurants
• convention center/ fine art center;
• convention center for year round use; additional park space
• convention center
• convention center; two 18 hole golf courses
• county wide landfill
• attract more businesses
• a river in the park similar to the one in Lampasas
• convention center; bring more industry
• convention center
• convention center
• convention center
• more hangars at airport
• convention center
• city dump
• convention center
• shopping mall

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 7

• no master plan; no direction where it is going; how we are going to get there
• suffers from volunteerism; for image rather than for things needed
• affordable quality housing for mid-level professionals;

• do not have adequate housing in the city limits; opportunity for residential growth is limited

• working relationship between builders and city hall staffs; reluctant to take on major projects; example of 24 month delay for prominent builder

• the ordinances and zoning requirements have been raised to high levels; limiting the opportunity for financial return for some builders

• affordable housing
• more youth activities; need for affordable housing
• agriculture business does not seem to be not embraced by the city
• should look at spin off businesses to capitalize on the dairy business
• future water supply; need to know where we stand in the next couple of decades

• difficulty retaining businesses; with small available workforce, have a low unemployment rate; ties to the affordable housing issue

• two camps in the city; we will grow it is inevitable vs. we like things the way they are; runs the gamut on all issues - water, housing, land availability , annexation

• annexation philosophy that says we will take in nothing that will cost (require services) but do not consider the benefits

• people turn their heads to not see the problems; denial of drug issue; and alcohol issue; parochial island

• need an individual or a group that can go out attract and entice new businesses into town

• need to retain in the community the kids that graduate from Tarleton

• over-planning; nothing happens; how the information is utilized is the key - have to move forward

• community lacks cohesiveness; the water study is a perfect example
• community is stalled on a few key issues; nothing gets done
• the struggle between the two factions; growth and no growth

• the people
• the people
• geographic location
• the University; for country kids to go to college
• the industries like FMC and Norton
• the University
• the diverse economy providing opportunity up the socioeconomic ladder
• the diversity of the economy
• the labor force generated by the University

• address the subdivision ordinances; needs some relief; particularly street development costs
• need to mend the broken relationships between city leaders (staff council) and builders
• youth facilities, such as a YMCA
• convention center
• keep the kids out of trouble and attract people here

• a grassroots campaign involving everyone on why a convention center is needed to avoid past problems

• river and park development; possibility of blend of recreational and commercial facilities

• something dealing with stagnant water in the river; divert water from the treatment plant through the city`

• need to get back to respect; the example of attending schools on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July

• traffic flow problem; Washington and Graham Streets; the Harbin situation should be addressed; divert traffic to Long

• do something with Belknap down the highway; deal with the congestion
• address the congestion on Washington and Graham
• develop a master plan with short term and long term goals; and make it happen
• a youth center
• a convention center
• need to upgrade the bathroom facilities in the park
• the name of the center; whether to call it a convention center or a community center

• need to develop tourist attractions, such as a walk of fame
• refurbish the downtown area to go hand in hand with the convention center

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 2

• no community center; no place to house business expositions; need connection with rodeo, senior citizens, arts, 4-H
• more housing in city limits; new housing is being constructed outside of city limits
• need another industry
• zoning issues has limited Bennigan’s type restaurants
• economic development effort; half cent tax earmarked for tourism
• water cost are too high
• has grown but has not changed
• need more industry; not enough business for the people
• Harbin extension situation should be addressed
• do something with Washington street
• need to address the water issue real soon
• continue to bring in retail; to attract more businesses like Beall’s
• need more for the youth to do; parks need to meet the needs of the teenage kids;

1. Strengths and assets

• small town

• great school system
• tremendous athletic program
• the University is awesome for this size community
• city and county governments have done a pretty good job
• low crime rate
• schools academically are somewhat lacking; satisfactory SAT scores
• Tarleton
• FMC and Norton
• the agriculture industry

• leadership program being conducted by the Chamber; Stephenville is becoming more forward thinking;

• intern program with Tarleton that allows for college credit and good labor force

• community center
• YMCA
• increased tourism; create things for people to come and see
• take advantage of the rodeo celebrities in the area
• do a better promotion of hunting opportunities
• put together a leased-land development
• a community center
• bring a large retail store with a little more variety
• more retail shops and eating facilities

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 2

• more different restaurants; something other than fast food
• not sure if liquor license is a factor
• traffic problems associated with picking up children; chaos; cars darting in and out
• buses only pick up outside two miles radius of the school
• need for sidewalk and crossing guards
• need for indoor swimming pools
• the lack of swimming opportunities year round; pool closes mid-August

• need for lower to middle income housing; city leaders (staff) appear not to be interested in attracting the type of people that would need this housing

• lack of willingness to apply for grants for this type of public housing
• the youth lack activities; particularly those not involved in sports

• the newspaper is filled with grammatical errors and mistakes; the emphasis of the paper is football related

• Stephenville has lost functions to Glen Rose because there are no adequate facilities to handle them; an example is the ranch rodeo

• concern about the campus structure; with the kids jumping from campus to campus every two years

• good place to raise children

• geographic location
• good quality in the community

• the people come together to work for causes; good example of HOPE; a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of the community

3. Short term projects

• sidewalks and crossing guards

• fans in the recreational center

• civic center is a viable need that would bring in outside tourism
• affordable housing project for middle incomes (in the $50,000 to $100,000)
• sidewalks and crossing guards
• the addition of a new middle school; where kids stay at one campus longer;

• the street to the various schools need to be widened; example of the two lane road leading to new Junior High School

• indoor swimming pool
• YMCA
• more restaurants; variety
• need to address water problems; quantity in the future
• convention center
• need for more RV sites

PARTICIPANT COUNT:

1. Problems and challenges

• water bills too high

• city spends too much money
• narrow streets and congestion on Washington
• crime
• downtown area needs to be cleaned up
• speed limits are too low
• is to keep the crime rate low
• high rate of traffic fatalities
• too much trash alongside
• lack of housing
• add sewage and gas services
• keep the small town flavor
• decline in the enrollment of Tarleton
• development of a working economic development plan
• should attract new businesses
• poor planning for road connecting Highway 377/67 to Loop 988
• Harbin Drive extension
• too many rules and regulations; dairies and chemicals
• county roads need improvements
• young farmers are getting out of the business
• underage drinking
• drug problem overlooked
• need youth activities/facilities
• minorities have difficulty getting credit
• tax information for small business
• property taxes unfair in appraisal value
• Dublin has raw sewage escaping from the sewer system

• college
• citizens
• adequate industries and job opportunities
• great public schools
• University
• climate
• business friendly community
• excellent school system
• a nice rural community
• public schools
• the University
• clean manufacturing companies
• the dairy industry
• the people

• community involvement in school system, civic organizations, and the Chamber of Commerce

• Tarleton State University
• Extension Service to assist the community
• good schools
• good place to raise families
• caring people
• college is good
• Fortune 500 companies

• budget reasonable for city

• need traffic control lights at intersection of Frey and Harbin Drive; with walk benefit
• increase speed limits to 45 mph on Lingleville highway from Harbin to Graham

• have law enforcement officers get training and input from other communities to stay abreast

• begin a zero tolerance policy
• have a cleanup program
• develop economic plan
• hold technology related classes
• some type of relief to offset the milk price cuts
• more emergency services in rural areas
• new equipment for volunteers fire department
• upgrade sewer system
• water quality needs improvement
• community center/ activities center
• more arts cultural activities
• more youth facilities

• take care of itself
• follow Granbury’s lead in the repair and lowering lease rates to a bargain level
• utilize tax abatements

• have one way traffic on Washington (west bound from 281 to Harbin) and Long (east bound on Harbin to Long to Alexandria Road to South Loop

• do away with all narrow one-lane bridges
• redesign dangerous roads for safety
• refurbish downtown to attract visitors and tourists
• gas and sewage
• school system should plan for the future
• more endowed scholarships at Tarleton (formula for funding has been provided)
• promote growth at Tarleton; as it grows so does Stephenville
• design and construction of a community center
• having set of public scales that are open 24 hours
• maps showing where all the dairies and farms are located
• have a major packing house in the area
• some programs that encourage young farmers to stay in the business

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 1 (Speaking for 5 or 6 others)

1. Problems and challenges

• no university – community relations

• no entertainment available
• no tourist attractions

1. Strengths and assets

• low crime

• university in town
• good support of high school athletics

• size of town

1. Short term projects

• better university – community relations

1. Long term projects

• revitalize downtown

• increase outside money coming in
• river in park needs to be cleaned up

• better landscaping of the river

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 9

1. Problems and challenges

• affordable housing

• inadequate landlords
• need more activity for kids
• growth problem
• more retail stores needed
• no thoughtful planning on projects
• communication with community

• revitalize downtown
• university needs to accommodate more people
• no job opportunities
• cities need to recruit better paying employers
• water supply needs to be addressed
• sewage costs

• need better communication between the various towns in county
• parking problem around the university

1. Strengths and assets

• people want to participate

• good town to live in
• high school football
• school system
• reputation of the town
• location and size

• low crime

• milk industry
• university in the town
• good medical facility
• diversity
• community pride

• better eating establishment in town
• fix up Bosque River in the park
• more diversity of local restaurants
• clean up the downtown area
• improve the local assets
• curbside recycling
• larger retail chains attracted
• children’s attractions

• convention center

• upgrade recreational center
• rodeo facilities
• industrial park
• renovate the decaying areas of town
• more professional jobs recruited
• more done to promote heritage
• more local involvement in university
• upgrade senior citizens facility
• community center
• Tarleton needs to help draw to community
• more technical training available

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 2

1. Problems and challenges

• too many restrictions on business growth

• town is dirty
• downtown is dead
• no tourist attractions
• bad first impressions on the entryways
• park needs to be cleaned up
• water supply
• drainage in the city limits (flooding)
• city has not expanded size and tax base
• town not culturally oriented

1. Strengths and assets

• strong school system

• people get along well
• low crime rate
• good community involvement
• civic clubs
• people live here and work here
• medical facilities
• good community spirit

1. Short term projects

• major clean up of the area

• pass guidelines to beautify area

• condemn decaying buildings
• trees and flowers planted along entryways
• old abandoned building condemned
• promotion of cultural opportunities need expansion
• Harbin Drive finished

1. Long term projects

• civic center
• better planning and implementation

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 3

1. Problems and challenges

• restrictive building codes

• help local business expand instead of catering to new business
• push small business instead of large chains
• small tax base
• resources being stretched too far
• no central planning on housing
• sidewalks need to be connected
• city is not able to service surrounding area well
• communication between towns and counties
• street repairs need to be done correctly the first time
• no long term planning
• class difference pronounced
• dare of the senior citizens
• city and county need to learn to work together
• public library not accessible to disabled
• need for a cultural center
• traffic downtown and on Washington
• drug problem in Stephenville
• need for a stronger, honest newspaper
• zoning changes for liquor
• liquor issue
• salaries need to be improved

1. Strengths and assets

• new Chamber executive

• community spirit

• Tarleton
• schools
• Dr. Pepper plant
• positive, working citizens
• Don Davis (city manager)
• Recreation Department
• good planning on park rejuvenation
• district hub for long distance learning
• committees
• diversity of economics
• infrastructure
• STAR group
• Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council

• Sheriffs Department

1. Short term projects

• community center started

• tourism director hired

• city planners out in the community
• renovate upstairs of Chamber office
• long distance learning program started

1. Long term projects

• community center

• library/computer center
• long term direction followed
• accommodations for bicyclists
• traffic problems addressed
• traffic lights need to be coordinated
• downtown needs to be revitalized

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 6

1. Problems and challenges

• parental involvement

• children miss opportunities
• not using people correctly
• no employment opportunities
• pay is not competitive
• parents more interested in athletics than education
• living conditions of the college students are poor
• no social activities for post-college twenty-somethings
• churches not as inviting for newcomers
• more academic influence necessary
• teachers need bigger budgets
• athletics need smaller budgets
• education should come first
• no budget for fine arts programs
• more restaurant variety needed
• no housing developments
• need for a good steak house
• limited Shopping
• health care limited

1. Strengths and assets

• Tarleton

• Laid-back atmosphere
• self sufficient
• quality of volunteers
• safe town
• cost of living
• people
• friendly, caring, concerned
• Fine Arts Department at Tarleton
• agrarian atmosphere
• education
• dairy industry

1. Short term projects

• more money towards academics

• diversified spending in athletics
• need a place to build a shooting range
• community leaders get behind non-athletic youth programs
• leadership training for community leaders

1. Long term projects

• more family entertainment

• civic center
• better economic opportunities
• streets need to be widened
• traffic problems need to be remedied
• revitalization of the downtown area
• Farmer’s Market

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 6

1. Problems and challenges

• keeping up with technology

• government needs to be more accountable
• narrowness of Washington Street
• no one is willing to take blame

• parks and recreation departments need improvement
• playground equipment at park needs replacing
• newspaper needs to be a better source of information
• too much money on athletics
• not enough money on academics and fine arts
• school – community relations are poor
• school is deceptive in dealings with the public
• Harbin Drive
• schools are not on the internet
• streets need to be ready for growth

• community doesn’t really want growth
• need more stop lights and less 4-way stop signs
• traffic situation on Wolfe Nursery Road needs to be looked at before opening
• water supply needs to be addressed
• tornado warning system needs to be in place on the northwest side of town
• city limits need to be expanded to accommodate growth
• need housing developments

1. Strengths and assets

• people

• businesses are supportive
• Tarleton
• town seems to be attracting younger people
• strong group of educators (all levels)
• FMC, Norton, HEB, Wal-Mart, Dublin Dr. Pepper
• churches
• City Council

1. Short term projects

• trash cleaned up

• vacant lots mowed
• trees trimmed
• Wolfe building (rock) needs to be purchased and used for historical purposes
• park by old railroad depot needs to be developed
• restore and use the second floor of the Chamber
• follow through on planning
• the paper publish a daily update on how funds are being spent
• Wolfe Nursery Road and Frey Street intersection needs to addressed
• better planning on traffic flow
• community needs to develop and follow a master plan

1. Long term projects

• attract more dine-in restaurants, with menus

• civic center

• Recreation Hall problem needs to be addressed
• another grocery store
• more entertainment options for teenagers

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 3

1. Problems and challenges

• too much emphasis on athletics

• recreational sports too expensive
• alcohol and drug abuse accepted as the norm
• adults too tolerant of the kids
• truancy
• uncontrolled speeds on the narrow streets
• community needs to take an active role in the schools
• stop harassment at the schools
• too much government presence in the town
• recreational pursuits for college students have not grown with the school
• need more soft industries
• recruit more higher paying jobs
• too tough to be in business in the town
• ordinances too tough on business
• too much regulation on business
• people too suspicious about motivations

• dairy industry doesn’t pay their fair share

1. Strengths and assets

• good medical facilities

• daring medical professionals
• community is able to pull together
• service organizations
• law enforcement
• Tarleton
• attitude of the police department

1. Short term projects

• city sponsored Special Olympics

• regular town meetings
• more patriotism in the town
• get flags in the classrooms of the schools
• Tarleton students take an interest in helping the community
• get rid of the cow on the square
• more mother/baby friendly facilities in public places

1. Long term projects

• new teen center

• Stephenville needs to be more business friendly
• city needs to try and get more athletic events in Stephenville
• a local veterans clinic

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 4

1. Problems and challenges

• loss of jobs

• businesses don’t get enough support
• dairy industry doesn’t get enough support
• library
• more leadership is necessary
• government interference in the dairy industry
• people aren’t trained correctly
• people don’t have technical skills
• getting people off welfare
• University growth has caused traffic problems
• water supply
• streets are too narrow
• city does not plan well for growth
• drugs and alcohol abuse
• more activities for youth

1. Strengths and assets

• livable community

• people
• strong businesses
• strong schools
• cooperation
• charity contributions
• attractive for growth
• education system
• churches
• industry active in community
• good diversity
• strong church foundation

1. Short term projects

• bureaucracy needs to be lifted on new businesses and homeowners

• better planning and spending
• major traffic planning around Tarleton
• lay groundwork for new water source
• actively seek out new staple industry
• take care of existing businesses with tax abatements to keep them
• get more active fighting crime

1. Long term projects

• new library

• new senior center
• Hispanic population needs something to help them assimilate
• more local leisure activities
• get water supply in place
• consolidate city and county spending
• get city and county working together better
• recruit more agricultural industry
• get city more growth oriented
• more dine in restaurants
• civic center or community center
• more activities for young people

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 6

1. Problems and challenges

• inadequate airport for corporate and university needs

• inadequate library
• odor of the dairies
• Bosque River pollution
• Harbin Drive extension
• Mistrust of city administration
• water quality
• well contamination
• preserve downtown
• rent for business space is too high downtown
• city is too political
• town is not really dry for being a dry town
• private club licenses are too political
• lack of dine-in restaurants
• drug abuse

1. Strengths and assets

• Tarleton

• industry
• size of the community
• citizens
• charisma
• friendliness
• cowboys
• churches

1. Short term projects

• leadership training for city and county officials

• drainage situation around Tarleton
• Harbin Street needs to be finished
• better city - county cooperation through education
• airport improvement

1. Long term projects

• convention center

• airport improvement
• new library
• new bus station

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 10

1. Problems and challenges

• breakdown of the family
• traffic problem- not enough -congestion
• problems with young people - not enough to do - turning to things that are not good for them
• not enough tourism
• nothing to bring businesses to the downtown square
• no incentives
• drainage problems
• businesses along the river – like Granbury or something
• lose to early - on weekend and on weekdays
• traffic
• poor health inspection for alley and food albums (?)
• overcrowding in the schools
• housing in community- lack of it; both rental and purchased
• traffic congestion - 7:00-8:00, 12:00, and 3:00-6:00
• need more doctors - hard to get in
• entertainment opportunities
• health inspection - for alleys and food service
• place for seniors to meet
• traffic congestion
• have to go out of town for family entertainment
• sit down restaurants - long wait for Montana's
• traffic
• development and pricing of housing - high other than student housing - lack of price ranges
• willingness to change - to be not satisfied with status quo
• city performance bond is a requirement for any new lots and for all development and that is pasted on to the price of the lot

• fortunate to have the college and a diverse economy
• good education - good place to raise kids - the school system
• Tarleton
• low crime rate - don't have to lock-up
• good that young people to move here and have their kids go through school straight through college
• good medical
• safe place
• Tarleton and the safety of the community
• Tarleton
• ditto of above
• ditto of the above - all
• variety of doctors
• the super Wal-Mart – open 24 hrs; good for parents
• Tarleton and the schools
• the people
• more than one culture - good people within the Mexican culture
• employers offer good plans- benefits and health
• progressive public school

• the community is dry
• the police department

• redo the stop lights
• development of the parks - make them grow for the kids
• build new restaurants
• get a better attitude within the city council - more progressive and proactive, how can we do it to make it better - progress, more involvement of the citizens?
• restaurants - nowhere to sit down and eat unless you want it to be real quick
• more cooperation between the council members
• find out if there is room enough for pull-in parking (diagonal) on the north and east side of the square
• start a community center or exposition center
• work on getting more doctors in town
• city to get a handle on how they charge for water and waste water - method of calculation
• more cooperation in city council and in city government
• city council seeing what the community wants
• city council seeing what people want before they disapprove things
• improve drainage and better streets
• improve the drainage to handle rainfall
• streets and drainage
• upkeep of empty lots that are in neighborhoods
• city council offering to help accomplish tasks and projects
• general clean up - i.e., trees that overhang street
• community center, senior center and library - all in one, for arts and trade shows, etc., with a good sound system
• surface water
• agree with the civic center
• recreation facility like the Gulch
• bring in a big department store names and a big name restaurant
• a place for a family reunion and a place for the seniors
• a cancer center in the health facilities
• additional city staff for planning the different aspect of future projects
• bring in arts and church activities - in a civic center
• transportation solutions
• civic center
• for the city to quit resenting paying the fire and ambulance service of surrounding area

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 19

• look at cleaning up the run-down buildings
• RRcrossing
• preserve the town’s history
• services to the financially challenged and elderly for health services
• Harbin Drive started without complete plan
• concern about crime and drugs – should guard against it more
• clean up city square
• rural roads
• Harbin Drive built and now not utilized
• no civic center
• need to cater more to young people - beyond football - nothing for them
• transportation to doctor visits - no taxi either
• medical transportation - assistance for indigent medications
• lack of indigent health care
• affordable housing
• lack of drug and alcohol education
• vacant mall
• lack of medical service for the poor
• need activities for the young kids - especially those who don't play football
• lack of facilities for youth in 4-H
• need a new library –ours is lacking
• lack of shopping
• more businesses, other than lawyers, on the square - need retail businesses
• need to rebuild what we have - like on the square
• need shopping attractions for out of town visitors - we have artisans
• need to promote tourism
• need to beautify the town
• expand Washington street - it is very busy - congested
• more youth orientated activities
• lack of a civic center
• lack of youth opportunities
• improve handicap accessibility to a lot of building - mostly makeshift
• help for the elderly and indigent - a lot fall through the cracks
• redo the plans for the placement of city maintenance facility in a residential area- change to a non-residential area
• Cross Timbers is a fine council - does a good job

1. Strengths and assets

• caring community
• Tarleton
• good support groups for health
• diverse - people with strength of character and high morals
• low crime rate
• close knit family type of community
• everyone willing to help each other
• a good football team
• good volunteer departments - volunteer fire department, for example
• geographic location
• good helping organization -city tries to do things in a quality way
• MHMR
• schools
• ditto
• improvement of city parks
• industries - the little factories that employ a lot of people

• plants and factories

• low crime rate
• low crime rate and football
• churches
• people
• good retirement area
• senior citizens programs - van and meals on wheels
• FMC and Norton do good for the community
• sheriffs department and the inmate work program
• can do attitude - even funeral homes are positive
• giving community of financial and time
• basically a friendly place

• friendly - seems family orientated
• good church community

3. Short term projects

• community civic center
• youth related activities - something like the Gulch
• programs for the seniors - to cover services as well as financial support
• clean up square – trash, buildings, and crickets too
• youth work program
• clean up square and bring in business
• youth activities
• open Harbin drive - complete RR crossing
• beautify Stephenville
• indigent medical and drugs program
• traffic and transportation
• taxi service
• taxi service
• indigent prescriptions
• enforcement a of a zero tolerance policy for youth and adults
• indigent prescription drugs
• transportation - wheelchair accessible for elderly and all
• beautify and clean up the town
• one-way streets on Washington and Graham
• community dress-up the square for Christmas
• Christmas decorations for the square
• public transportation
• ditto
• zero tolerance drug policy
• public transportation
• open Harbin Drive if we have to sue the RR
• youth center
• traffic on street at Tarleton - redirect or reroute
• take the Christmas lights out of the trees on the square- they are just thrown on and they stay there

• community center - place to meet
• civic center
• civic center
• store to buy product for skin care for blacks
• development of water resources civic center
• down town project
• civic center
• management of dairy waste -enforce codes and regulation – about water runoff
• water supply
• civic center
• attract more large industries
• civic center
• develop water supply
• community center
• civic center
• senior center and a library, too
• renovate historic building and streets
• state-of-the-art movie theater with stadium seats, cup holders, chairs that rock, and sound system
• on-going road improvement
• too many vacant buildings - shopping center -make Winn-Dixie a youth center
• get a Mervyns or a Target into town
• better cooperation within and between all levels of governments
• diversity in restaurants –no more chicken and taco and pizza
• coordination of funding for volunteer fire department
• bad congestion around school
• all day kindergarten in the public school
• stripe the road on Dale Street by High School - could be a four lane road
• involvement by local police and sheriff in the public schools
• drug program like DARE
• amphitheater like Glen Rose

Clariette, Alexander, Three Way, Green's Creek)

• poor conditions of county roads
• solid waste pickup

• lack of library
• have to pay to use the library if you live outside the Stephenville city limits
• when it rains, the school bus doesn't run, and don't get mail
• trash on roads
• phone access without long distance to some outlying communities south of town
• drugs
• high school puts its head under the rug and says "We don't have a drug problem."
• county doesn't support anything
• not enough support for community center
• dairies are allowed to be too big
• government build all the dams on Green's Creek (P.L. 566 structures?) and is allowing dairies to pollute the water
• not enough appreciation of history of the county (outside the city limits)
• environmental problems of all types
• no long range planning for environmental concerns
• dumping of animals
• no program for spaying and neutering of animals
• county wide communications
• excessive speed limit on Highway 6 in Clariette
• Bosque River Bridge is too narrow
• lack of entertainment for youth on a county wide basis
• drugs and alcohol
• high school kids have beer parties
• underage drinking.
• not enough school programs and support for average kids.
• Methodist Church closed in Clariette
• we don't see any law enforcement in Three Way

• U.S. 377
• Community Center in Clariette.
• 911 system
• Co-op water system in Three Way
• churches in our community (Greens Creek)
• good hospitals
• good schools
• clinics
• room to grow
• people
• people in our community work together (Clariette)
• police and Sheriff's Department
• people in rural areas see Sheriff's Department out and working
• TSU
• history
• Public Library
• TSU
• Fine Arts Council
• rural Crime Watch Program
• Sheriff's Department
• Museum - whole county works together
• feel safe
• community involvement
• Stephenville leads in community involvement
• lots of things happen here that don't happen elsewhere
• July 4th
• market on the square
• parades in town

3. Short term projects

• develop surface water sources
• address dairy pollution by limiting dairy size to 500 or less
• better roads in Precinct 4
• stop dumping in rural areas
• finish 911 system (physical addressing part)
• survey the young people to know what they would like to have
• recycling program or recycling center
• make recycling more available
• allow swimming pool to be used on a larger than city limits basis

• develop surface water
• improve working together in city/county
• finish Highway 108 north of Huckabay to IH20
• get county engineer to work for commissioners
• improve cell phone service between IH-35 and IH-20
• go-cart track
• pool hall
• video game center
• controlled recreation for youth.
• community clean up including outlying areas
• pick up pieces of tires on the roads
• program for spaying and neutering of animals
• rabies vaccination programs
• county involvement in communications satellite technology
• community education on resources available on mental health, drug and alcohol education, health care.
• more communication and education on what is happening in the community.

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 10

1. Problems and challenges

• water drainage
• lack of meeting space for over 100 people
• environmental challenges of production agriculture
• dumping of dead animals in Alexander
• erosion of agricultural income of producers and impact on community
• cultural differences between communities (Dutch, Hispanic, Anglos)
• infrastructure
• providing services to an ever-increasing elderly population
• quality of the water supply
• lack of housing that works for lower income people
• lack of a shopping mall
• problem with untidiness in town
• rural-urban interface
• trash on roads
• negative public perception toward agriculture (environmental context)
• trash on roads
• lack of a public place for people to dispose of trash
• declining tax base, inadequate tax base to fund same services from year to year
• development of downtown area
• assumption that our young people are not faced with same problems as youth in urban areas
• lack of a place to hold meetings
• image problem in Stephenville
• agriculture has a poor image
• lack of housing
• image problem of dairy people - they have a black eye
• school administration driven by tests such as TASS
• dairy waste management
• attracting diverse industry
• nothing for young people to do
• keeping revenues at home - spend wages at home
• widening of the socio-economic gap between people
• less than positive image of agriculture

• strong work ethic
• dairy industry
• strong sense of community among people
• TSU
• quality of education through the school system
• strong agricultural industry from economic standpoint
• good sheriff
• crime watch program in rural areas
• agriculture and dairy industry
• central location - larger cities in every direction
• large base of willing volunteers
• strong county government
• corporations such as FMC and Norton
• hospitals
• proximity to metroplex
• medical facilities
• geographic location
• good volunteers
• TSU with cultural opportunities
• low, steady, and controlled growth
• strong religious foundation
• local retail industry is competitive with Metroplex
• self-contained community
• park system
• students at Tarleton
• successful football coach at high school
• other things are important at school besides football
• reputation of Stephenville as Dairy Capital and Cowboy Capital
• a lot of things we are well-known for
• relationship between TSU and community
• Tarleton booster club

3. Short term projects

• marketing of wildlife recreation – need coalition of landowners in this business
• clean up campaign, both city and rural.
• clean up in rural communities
• develop a public awareness campaign on the good things in Stephenville
• rural and city clean up
• public place to put trash
• master growth plan with a vision for the future
• youth forum to collect input
• a marketing effort for the community
• a master plan for infrastructure and growth
• clean up 3 to 4 times a year with dumpsters

4. Long term projects

• community center
• community center
• value added opportunities for agriculture
• long range plan to develop value added products
• value added agricultural products
• street renovations
• more services at hospital (dialysis, cardiac catheter)
• high quantity and high quality water supply
• community center
• community center
• future sources of water
• public facilities
• management of dairy wastes
• develop value added agriculture products, including waste products
• better long range planning and zoning

PARTICIPANT COUNT

1. Problems and challenges

• growing too fast to keep up with the infrastructure

• lack of trust in city officials

• better paying jobs and affordable housing for those who are paid less

• need to maintain growth in progressive manner
• water supply and infrastructure
• transportation around the schools is congested
• need to open Harbin Drive
• need to improve school bus system - frustration to bring your kid to school - the kid should be able to take the bus
• need more education all opportunities for all levels of socioeconomic students - training programs
• need to keep teens involved
• more economic development
• keep kids in the area that graduate from Tarleton and the high school
• business have to train their new employees – they are not coming prepared for the workforce
• storm water drainage
• need groundwater districts and storm water drainage
• storm water drainage
• need a better work ethic taught in schools
• need planned housing development – not hit or miss
• need public transportation to medical facilities for elderly and low income
• public transportation to replace taxi service

• diverse and caring people
• small town atmosphere
• Tarleton
• Good education system - grade school through Tarleton
• people
• diversified in economic, agricultural, industry, and education
• geographical location
• willingness to consider diverse ideas
• religious diversity and tolerance to the diversity
• reasonable tax rate
• low crime - safe community
• good medical services
• clean community

3. Short term projects

• Frey street and Wolf Nursery Road finished
• traffic alleviated around intermediate school

• open Harbin Drive
• review cities comprehensive plan and adjust
• look at continued annexation
• get started on municipal service center
• develop alternative water source
• redo intermediate school traffic entrance – reduce congestion
• close Lillian Street in TSU
• renovate city swimming pool
• keep the swimming pool open more throughout the year
• develop a north-south thoroughfare for Tarleton - open up Ollie and Mary streets
• begin to plan for the civic center

• develop and area-wide city-county master plan
• build a multi-purpose center
• civic center –for seniors, library and community center
• new library
• storm water district
• develop long term water supply
• renovate streets
• maintain infrastructure
• need a multi-purpose center, including sports and orchestra, to hold 1,000 people and to have the facilities to handle it
• loop no longer a loop –build a new loop
• good championship golf course - country club type
• nice welcome to town with sign – a built structure with landscaping
• landscape the edges of land along the loop that belong to the highway department

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 17

1. Major problems and challenges

• more building and economic development

• not enough industry
• financial and budgetary problems in the city
• low voter interest and participation
• function more as an area and get entities to work more together
• downtown area
• storm water drainage
• get younger people on the City Council
• traffic congestion
• apathy in community
• voter apathy
• qualified people to run for city office
• lack of communications

• younger people are leaving town
• enforce the litter laws
• need youthful, progressive leadership

• alcohol in city limits
• communication between government and cities
• voter apathy
• interaction between public and city council
• city does not utilize local appraisers and consultants; they go outside the community
• lack of trust between government and citizens
• people don't work together
• not enough recreation for our youth
• opposition by some citizens to growth
• no long range water plan
• polarization of older citizens and people with children in school.
• aging infrastructure - some approaching 100 years old
• city does not plan out projects, such as the Harbin Street Project
• lack of education on structure of city government
• lack of long range water planning
• no one under 40 participates in community affairs
• open up alleys so that they go all the way through
• better system of welcoming the TSU students and make them feel a part of the community
• 1500 people vote out of 9000 registered
• younger people are moving outside of city limits
• don't have any kind of civic center

1. Strengths and assets

• TSU
• low crime rate
• good activities for seniors (swimming program at TSU)
• good people, strong Christian base
• schools
• good community spirit, helpful
• good base of volunteers to work on community affairs
• congeniality
• education levels
• slow, steady growth in the community
• lots of talent in the community
• long term city employees, city manager, etc.
• people are our greatest strength
• school system
• churches
• a Christian community
• people
• a very diversified economy
• major companies such as FMC and Norton
• local library
• local museum
• location, close to major cities
• TSU
• library
• museum
• climate
• safety in community
• good police and fire service
• size of the community
• revitalization of down town area
• diversified economy
• average age
• health care system
• good hospitals, plenty of doctors
• police force has improved
• cooperation between law enforcement
• fine arts council
• parks and recreation program
• dry county
• very clean community, modern community
• Cowboy Capital of the World
• individual teachers and their commitment
• good volunteers in the community
• football team

1. Short term projects

• branch post office

• larger library

• municipal service center

• work on problem traffic areas
• have a place to dispose of furniture and other items that waste management won't pick up
• park improvement program
• expansion of recycling program
• larger library/Senior Citizens facility
• establish an alternate water supply to guarantee a future water supply
• establish a better flow of information to the citizens
• advertise and market the city
• improvements to the airport
• upgrade the animal shelter to meet state standards

• better traffic lights that control the traffic flow better
• new library
• convention center
• senior citizens center
• new library
• better planning for law enforcement communications system
• better communications between public and government
• alternate water sources
• civic and convention center
• program to survey potential uses of vacant buildings
• annex in an orderly fashion without skipping around
• improve streets and storm water drainage
• storm water drainage
• explore ideas of hiring professional engineers to work for city rather than hiring outside consultants
• develop a taxing district to fund storm drainage
• a revision of comprehensive plan along with projected expansions and annexation
• establishment of a storm water district
• develop a plan to address storm water issues

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 5

1. Problems and challenges

• so many Hispanic students that language is a barrier (Lingleville-15%)

• developing a bicultural community with isolation of Hispanics - 43% in schools

• road conditions and safety of county roads
• emergency communication service for senior citizens in outlying areas
• too many student graduating from Central Texas lack skills to perform in college
• growing emphasis on multi-culturalism leads to racism
• drugs and alcohol in youth and adults
• conflicting demand of agriculture and ecology
• emergency access and response to the outlying counties

• lots of Mexicans getting drunk and arrested on the weekend, but the young ones are smart as a whip nowadays
• drugs and alcohol are a concern
• lack of supervision of the young people
• roads - Highway 8 is narrow between Lingleville and Desdemona - too narrow, with wheel ruts on the edge from where trailers need to drive with one wheel off the road
• multiplicity of government officials, so many- it is a challenge to coordinate activity between them
• no county animal program or person
• no community water systems- water from individual wells

1. Strengths and assets

• the people
• Tarleton
• willingness of communities to work with each other
• people help each other out in sickness
• it is easier to live here on a day to day basis,
• good location
• every thing is found right here in the county
• diverse economy
• cooperation between the school districts in the county
• sense of belonging in the community
• the ease of getting involved in civic affairs in the Stephenville area
• good quality of shopping for an area this size and events
• good parks
• out lying communities participate in the sports in Stephenville

• a larger swimming pool for serious swimmers
• county dumpsters for people who can’t afford to pay to get rid of large possessions they don't want
• starting plans to widen Highway 8
• finish numbering houses for 911
• composting plants for the dairies
• more things for the young people to do
• community center in Stephenville where youth could have activities
• open library up to the county - county mobile library - let county pay for the library so all can use
• training for information on small water systems
• dumpsters and recycling
• composting and chipping
• adult education not reaching enough people in the Hispanic community
• web site for Erath County for local resources - a resource directory

1. Long term projects

• county animal control officer -campaign for neutering
• community who values an English teacher as much as a football coach
• work on the highways - county roads are clay and caliche roads
• like to see county early warning system and county response- ambulance service
• organize a fire department for Lingleville
• cooperative effort between Tarleton and community to make a training program in high technology that will help draw high technology industries to Stephenville
• juvenile facility - they have to go to Abilene or Fort Worth
• overall culture needs to upgrade their perspective of work in general - also respect trades in addition to college education
• vocational training

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 11 (Highland 6, Lingleville, Stephenville 4, Green's Creek 1)

1. Problems and challenges

• losing peanut acreage
• agriculture is really bad
• no alternatives for agriculture
• outgo for agriculture is more than income
• have to have another job to get back
• schools are busting at the seams
• cannot afford to pay for new schools
• roads are graded only once a year
• litter on the highways and in the city
• educate those not in agriculture of the need for farmer to be able to make a living
• agriculture is not large enough to separate politics from public welfare
• decisions made by public officials can hurt agricultural business and economic welfare
• farmers can't make a living on crops and livestock
• farmers are not represented in Congress
• federal government has to help out the farmers
• city council and zoning board usually caters to special interest groups
• social security, income taxes, etc., takes too much of what farmers make
• too many students in our schools
• the public is not educated on importance of agriculture
• farmers have to have second jobs
• you have to leave town to make much above minimum wage
• maintenance on the loop
• open the extension of Harbin Drive
• make people aware of facts on impact of dairies on Bosque River
• people who buy chemicals should have to have a license just like the farmer
• price of land has increased beyond its value for agricultural production
• tax appraisal district and tax office need sensitivity training
• need more education on where food comes from the education programs for teachers are very good
• city condemns property for public domain and then property owner has to pay pro-rata share of street costs
• county employees get to work at 9:00, take an hour for lunch and leave at 3:30 - no wonder our roads are in bad shape

property owners are paying for everything - renters not paying for roads, schools, or other services.

1. Strengths and assets

• dairy industry
• cooperative and caring people
• quality of people
• people are united
• people
• people
• dairy industry
• people and the location, climate, and environment
• lots of educational opportunities
• people will support community efforts
• people are willing to get together and work
• good work ethic
• everybody knows everybody but that’s also a problem
• quality of life
• low crime rate
• location - close proximity to large cities
• TSU
• public schools
• peanut handling facilities
• Extension Service
• Agricultural Experiment Station and all the personnel
• Sheriffs Department, with prisoners picking up trash

• improve county roads
• get milk machines in public schools - Dairy Partners Program??
• have forum for state and federal officials
• change the mindset of the Congress
• they are making 4 lanes out of U.S. 377 and we are still rolling the same rocks on our county roads
• improve the county roads
• educational programs on agriculture between the 1st and 4th grades
• volunteer center in Erath County
• roads need to be graded
• fewer lawyers elected as politicians

• attract more industry
• develop more value-added products
• new products that we are not even aware of
• build some profit stability into agricultural products
• more vocational educational and training programs
• more vocational classes
• more awareness of what's happening around us and everyone know their responsibilities
• public transportation system in the county.
• reliable surface water source
• county-wide think tank to explore possibility of different crops
• exposition center, convention center, convention complex, multi-purpose center
• find some use for the fire ants
• commuter air service to DFW
• mentoring program for special education students and students with learning problems

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 4

1. Problems and challenges

• growth problem - what to do with the people and how to regulate the growth and placement of schools-hospitals-water-housing

• community has grown fast in the last 15 years
• pressure to restrict the pesticides
• the road numbering system - not systematic makes it difficult for the emergency teams
• a lot of growth in the outside area - unregulated - need to stay with the plan of growth
• dairy wastewater and EPA
• duplication of fees - pay for permit, used to do soil sample, and now you have to pay someone else to tell you what kind of soil you have and another to do the work
• number of nursing homes , but by in large the occupants area Medicaid people - and the people that they hire - well, a step up is needed - maybe assisted living type place
• growth - sheriff is spread too thin - not enough presence in the rural roads - 2 patrolmen for 1,200 sq. miles of county
• growth is taxing the residents the worst - eating the older residents alive - hurting the agricultural industry
• not an agricultural system any more – people just want to live in the country, with a lot of kids - put more traffic on the roads and burden the schools and the agricultural property owners pay for it
• Hispanic immigrants burden the schools

• started Crime Watch in the community
• doesn't snow very much here
• the people
• the school systems
• small town atmosphere
• good climate
• people like the growing season
• significance of the dairy system - life blood of Erath County- helps Stephenville which provides services (also a liability)
• people of the area are an asset- good that they can get together and talk like this
• FMC, Norton, agriculture and the university, and the dairy industry (even though it brings problems)
• location is good - that’s what people say that come here - close to the metroplex
• Stephenville is on several significant highways

• city needs to support farmers in agriculture - bring in industry that uses local agricultural products and add value to agricultural products
• plans for civic center
• more intensive patrolling throughout the county
• need the commissioners to do something about the growth -they need help

• find a program to produce from local resources - Gorman industries are examples of value-added processing
• community center - to play basketball and other sports

• arena for trade shows and stock shows
• the town square- dress it up and utilize the architecture- capitalize on the tourist and promote the river
• do some stuff to draw even more of the wildlife sport/hunting like Hamilton
• discontinue studying the water situation - Lake on the Paluxy Project - they have spent one million dollars trying to improve surface water supply
• stop making studies of Stephenville water supply

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 11

1. Problems and challenges

• misallocation of tax dollars

• rip up new streets and repave before we fix the old ones
• monopoly of major businesses
• poor local government
• no planning - Harbin Street is an example
• traffic at the schools.
• traffic around TSU
• traffic congestion on Washington Street
• ways people get around liquor license requirements
• drug and alcohol abuse
• we should be a dry town or wet town but not in between
• people don't shop at home
• traffic around schools
• traffic in general in Stephenville
• Bosque River through the park
• traffic
• restaurants
• shopping.
• dairy waste and runoff and odor
• availability of drugs
• lack of diversity in police and fire department
• lack of meeting places, convention center, etc.
• not enough doctors, too much workload on current doctors
• lack of cohesiveness between city officials and city departments
• bilingual health care providers
• not enough public transportation available
• only have one television cable company
• delivery and transportation services for the elderly is not adequate
• lack of affordable housing, both rental and for purchase

• no housing in $40,000-$60,000 range

• TSU
• low crime rate
• support from citizens
• Renaissance program
• willingness of people to give to local programs and initiatives
• spiritual and religious community
• draw for outlying communities such as Hico, Dublin, and DeLeon
• medical community
• school system

• more family oriented activities
• better quality of water - bad taste, lots of minerals
• lower water rates
• more parks and family oriented recreation
• places to take younger kids, especially in winter and bad weather
• senior citizens activity center, more activities for seniors
• English classes for people, especially as second language
• combined multi-purpose convention/civic center
• more entertainment opportunities, especially for kids
• improve physical structures in the park
• improve physical structures of the schools
• more programs for senior citizens
• more volunteers to help with senior citizen programs
• some type of public transportation
• taxi service
• roller blade park
• place for kids to ride go-carts
• re-vitalize downtown area
• make better use of the downtown square

• more cultural and family activities
• attract more industry
• more affordable housing
• more local job opportunities to keep people here when they graduate from Tarleton
• support agriculture, because government programs are going away
• develop surface water supply
• more land available for industry
• improve Highway 8 from Lingleville to Desdemona
• develop surface water supply
• civic center/senior citizens center/library
• beautify Bosque River through the park
• address dairy waste runoff and the smells
• more activities for the kids
• civic and cultural center
• entertainment for the kids
• more funds allocated to beautification and street improvement
• veterans clinic
• conference/convention center
• more job training (vocational) for young people
• provide health programs for students
• safe driving programs for school students

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 6

• problem with water: waste management of the dairies and the backlash with community

• a source for qualified employees for the dairies
• economy is agriculturally based - but agriculture is in the tank and youth don't go into agriculture
• no appreciation of want we do have or our diversity
• absentee owners of dairies - they can't keep up with information
• community center badly needed - have to go to Glen Rose
• no Christmas lights - says a lot of the community
• focus on the family - but not on the community – no parades and such
• need more family based activities - have to go out of town to race go-carts
• no community center
• community center - the county backed out of funding so now it is where you have to pay
• library - quite antiquated - commissioners of county needs to help with cost
• not enough gathering of Stephenville and the surrounding areas - no community center
• dairies get funding from dairy association - other towns are supporting and funding their dairies
• medical- 24 Hours Acute Center (?)
• recruiting people to come to Stephenville - other going from the area to Pampa because they were recruited
• community need to base their perceptions of scientific facts

• need a level playing field - all areas need to enforce these run-off regulations

• Tarleton has been a great pool of resources for the community- ties with A&M - architecture- high bench mark

• good quality of life - strong economy - strong assets
• Tarleton and the dairies
• dairies

• still a rural area- can be developed with out getting big
• cleanliness
• people coming from out of town for the action - impressed with the area and procedures
• FMC and Norton - employees have a positive quality of life - better houses-architecture and cleanliness good
• football team
• good school system
• churches - several outstanding facilities

• Something like the Pampa Economic Board - working with agriculture, finance and the community
• help Tarleton to keep up in agriculture subjects and issues - resources for teaching current methods and technology and information
• Economic Development to encourage agriculture
• community center
• community center
• update the dairy at Tarleton
• let people know what the county is doing - advertise the events on billboards
• community center- the horse industry is slow to get their word out - read about it after the fact
• economic development and recruitment
• a steak house - locally nothing in between $15 and $150
• restaurants with a steak and a cold beer
• participation in the Hall of Fame inductees
• advertise the event that the associations have at the arena - need better place for the associations
• newspaper should publish obituaries that are respectful and honor the life of the deceased
• general quality of the paper needs to increase, now that they have a bigger advertising base
• Welcome Wagon type of service in town to target all newcomers when they sign up for electric service - Chamber may do this- but would be good to be proactive rather than a service you have to find out about 9 months later and have to request services

• extended park services - gear toward beautification
• some type of information system to the absent owners
• quality industry
• fix Harbin Drive
• schools - new Junior High will not solve all the problems; need an Erath school system - will be hard as far as politics but make one High School and then have several Junior Highs
• local funding for dairy industry - bring back Dairy Merit awards and have public come out and see - increase standards for presentation and include beautification and landscaping

• increase local recruitment for lending

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 9

1. Problems and challenges

• streets are in bad repair - RR crossing need to be addressed

• bringing new industry to town - additional growth of medium size
• more doctors
• square - something in the buildings
• water conservation
• storm water drainage
• widen the street in front of the Junior High
• unsafe RR crossings
• more jobs -industry
• unreliable water source
• water source - dependant on ground water
• economic development relies on water source
• initiatives for new businesses to come to town
• drainage system running in the yards
• more entertainment for youth
• old buildings that are empty and left standing
• no recreation building for youth
• no after school activities
• voter apathy - only older turn out to vote
• no more alcohol licenses in Stephenville

• diversity of economics
• Tarleton and small schools
• community spirit
• one high school
• people
• Tarleton
• clean appearance of town
• people
• Tarleton resources - staff as well as students
• people are great resource
• people are an asset
• people pull together
• good service clubs and org
• pretty Court House
• atmosphere of small town
• county wide good school
• support the sports teams
• no gangs
• community pride and spirit
• churches
• Hope clinic for the working poor

• street repair
• drainage
• RR crossing
• community center
• transportation public
• cultural events
• streets
• Christmas lights
• transportation
• activities for elderly
• youth activities
• cooperation with city and county governments
• civic meeting place and programs to go with it
• clean up abandon housing
• transportation - public
• do something with old housing
• street drainage
• civic center

• junk cleaned up around lived-in old houses
• civic center
• Christmas lights
• city beautification
• revitalization of the square
• better animal control
• community involvement of market on square and crafts
• lower rent on the square

• water supply - like to see it planned out carefully
• make Bosque River an asset - clean it up in the park
• surface water
• women’s shelter or any kind of shelter for elderly or homeless
• more business - shops and grocery
• water
• civic center
• extent Frey street by the Junior High
• complete the Amphitheater in the park
• more physicians: ob-gyn, family practice, endocrinologist, dermatologist, oncologist, eye-ears-and throat specialist
• improve traffic flow
• civic center
• Bosque River in the park - with grants
• downtown revitalized
• traffic improved on Lillian and Washington by campus
• Bosque River trash out of water
• civic center
• drainage

• revitalization of old neighborhoods

• revitalization of downtown
• development of the cowboy theme
• establish tourist attractions
• update the comprehensive plan

• open a pharmacy on the weekend and at night
• minor emergency care

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 10

1. Problems and challenges

• counseling resources, family victim counseling

• street kids
• public transport
• public transport of old and youth
• need for long range plan to handle growth
• not lose people
• cooperation between county and city
• unify efforts among governments (city etc.)
• schools need to improve
• child care for working parents sliding scale
• lack of transport and child care for low-income families
• uneven growth in area; artificial restraint on city growth
• counseling resources
• Spanish speaking counseling resources
• public transport
• no new industry for job growth
• affordable housing subsidized
• vocational job training in Stephenville (9 month to 24 month duration)
• water supply to meet demand

1. Strengths and assets

• TSU

• low unemployment
• HOPE, latchkey and other private help
• good community spirit
• medical
• education
• good people - Relay for Life, for example
• civic organizations have outstanding individuals
• TSU
• United Way efforts, good effort
• good people
• good public schools
• medical hub for area
• safe community
• TSU
• schools
• good law enforcement cooperation

• SANE sexual assault nurses for Erath County
• child advocacy center
• community center for youth
• community center for community activities
• Spanish as a second language for adults/ESL
• community center
• indigent women care/education/transportation
• child care on a sliding scale
• mentoring program for High School
• Y2K problems (Year 2000 computer) solved by July
• Big Brother type program
• adopt/mentor a family program (holidays)
• structured boys/girls club
• big brother/big sister program
• health education for physical education beyond school
• food pantry system that lasts all month
• solve short-term water supply

1. Long term projects

• long term ground water supply - surface and/or wells

• public transportation
• trade/vocation school
• Boys and Girls Clubs
• long term truck bypass routes
• improvement at high-accident locations
• recreational activities for families (e.g. lake)
• HUD in Stephenville
• housing and transportation
• improve/continued education
• greater focus on county, not just city
• Stephenville moving west; need to refocus on east side
• recover old buildings on east side
• community center for low-income services/education/recreation
• solve problems for entire country, not just city

PARTICIPANT COUNT: 9

• beef prices/promotion
• agricultural profitability
• agricultural diversification
• county home for victims
• need for more agribusiness education
• public relations for dairies
• urbanization versus rural
• lack of representation on city council
• water source a problem
• keeping agriculture in Erath county, despite urban pressure
• conflict between county and city governments
• public relations in agriculture when urbanization abuses pesticides
• public transport for crime victims, especially women
• drug awareness not enough of an issue
• education of adult Mexican migrants
• excessive competition within school system (sports)
• education is not emphasized
• no north-south bypasses for highways
• too difficult for agriculture to compete
• upper end dress stores needed

1. Strengths and assets

• good medical support

• Stephenville Independent School District
• diversified economy, not too big, close to metroplex
• TSU
• TSU/HS education has high standards
• Chamber of Commerce supports agriculture industry
• good, safe family community
• good resources for minorities/needy
• very friendly community
• family and Christian oriented community
• law enforcement excellent in view of student population

1. Short term projects

• more structured activities for kids

• programs for youth - sports, book, band, FFA
• greater cohesiveness among Erath communities
• community center
• emergency transport
• incentives to recycle
• county road cleanup
• Stephenville paper needs to focus on positive
• third major grocery store
• instill county values vs. competition (?)
• more senior citizen activities

• more housing and apartments to purchase and rent
• tax incentives to attract small industry
• subsidized government housing
• home way-station for battered women etc.
• community education of agriculture problems
• public relations between Erath agriculture and urbanites (in and outside Erath County)
• north-south thoroughfare through Stephenville
• more education of urbanites of agricultural problems
• community center for county
• press needs education as to positive in Erath County
• high end restaurant

WRITTEN RESPONSES TO THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

• don’t have manufacturer based at airport that deals with aircraft
• need smoother table at Senior Citizens Center
• traffic congestion on Washington and around all of the school campus areas
• not enough nice restaurants, we have lots of fast food.
• Stephenville’s water issue – how can a city of this size and growing depend on groundwater?

• the agriculture community is facing a big challenge at this time because of the drought, the fluctuation in the dairy industry, and the near death of the peanut program in this area

• cattlemen are facing disaster because of short feed supplies and low prices of cattle

• lack of youth activities outside of sports
• lack of an adult sports facility
• poor library for a town this size
• distance from DFW airport and lack of transportation there
• lack of public transportation
• lack of "policy & procedures" for the Planning and Zoning Committee
• building and growth with in the city limits has hit a stumbling block
• no one wants to buck the Planning and Zoning person
• With Harbin Drive all the contract issues were not handled correctly and as a result there is a problem with the Rail Road – so a $700,000 road can not be used
• one of the biggest problems is the traffic
• the community is in transition between and agriculture only industry, to that blend of agriculture and industry
• locating funding for county growth, which in turn will benefit Stephenville
• the airport will not support corporations with a modern and sizable fleet of aircraft – the runways are to short – need to be 6,000 feet to support the corporate aviation fleet of most large companies

• the airport is land-locked and should be moved.

• traffic
• shopping – businesses promote shop at home, but prices are too high and selection is inadequate
• good clean places for the youth to "hang out" as my daughter puts it
• overcrowding in the schools
• need more support for the industry
• understanding that while one wants to accomplish a lot with as little money as possible – but that projects need the endorsement and activity of the people
• Stephenville has given certain businesses all of the control over consumers and left us with no choice on where to spend our money – Wal-Mart and Northland Cable have complete dictatorship over the citizens and this is not nazi Germany.
• we are cheating the youth by not giving them a chance to spend their free time doing good things – need more recreational facilities
• we need more public transportation – the Senior Citizen van driver is running all the time – it’s rush, rush, rush.
• need a place for young people to keep them off the streets
• need a grocery store on the East Side of town – the others are to far away for me
• down town is beginning to look like a ghost town
• Seniors need something to call someone if they don’t have a phone – for when they fall, maybe a body alarm
• the Senior Citizen van driver need to get messages from the people as soon as they call in so he can plan well and be efficient, and not have to leave people waiting for several hours.
• seniors need to have say in how money is spent at the Senior Center.
• dairy smell
• traffic around the schools
• prices – cable
• poor water quality

• lack of public transportation.
• inability or unwillingness of city/county leaders to attract business into the community
• school district’s inability to provide wide area network (i.e. Internet access) into the classrooms despite spending almost $2 million
• keeping streets paved and in good condition

• too much emphasis on athletics
• need water for the long haul
• illegal dumping in the county
• mistrust of city hall – bureaucratic bungling, anti-growth, anti-business sentiment
• people shop out of town
• dry city/county hurts economy
• City Recreation Department sports are, on the whole, too expensive for every youth to participate (especially for families with multiple children)
• alcohol/drug abuse is being accepted as the "normal"; too tolerant of our youth caught offending alcohol and drug laws and felony DWIs
• speeding on residential streets (examples: Long, Frey, Ollie, Lillian)
• parked cars on the streets, which are not wide enough, causing a dangerous situation due to impaired vision (examples: Long, Garfield, McNeil)
• community needs to take an active role in staying involved in our schools There is too much
• sex discrimination, sexual assaults (by definition), and harassment in our schools that are never dealt with, but a majority in the community always seem to know about when/if it is ever made public

• apparent unwillingness of city officials or local business/property owners to clean up, repair, renovate or condemn buildings, especially within a 5 block radius of the downtown area
• growing alcohol and drug abuse/usage by minors and an unwillingness of local law enforcement and judiciary to take a "zero tolerance" approach to the problem
• need to prepare infrastructure and resources for dramatic increases in over 65 population anticipated by 2010
• inability to capitalize on the Bosque River - if it were cleaned up from North Loop to South loop there is a lot of potential for a river walk/exercise path of over 5 miles which would encourage business growth nearby
• an apparent mood among leaders that Stephenville is big enough and business/population growth would not be good

• large city debt
• difficulty of building in city - home and industry - overly restricted by city codes - for instance, if there is a house in a commercial zone and a lawyer or CPA wanted to buy it and put an office in it, it would have to have all new wiring (conduit) even if the current wiring were new
• parking is also outrageous
• we need a good weekly paper
• not capitalizing on strengths and collective problem-solving capabilities of Tarleton’s students

2. Strengths and assets

• freights and railways
• motor freight hub and is close to the airport
• two federal and one state highway close to the airport
• airport is presently in the process of expanding and improving runways, aprons, and taxiway
• People rally and support needy causes.
• agriculture is one of, if not the, greatest assets to Stephenville and Erath County
• Norton, FMC, Raylock, Wal-Mart, and a few others provide a lot of opportunities, but by themselves cannot support this area

• retains "small town" feeling
• convenient to Fort Worth and cultural activities
• the people and the schools

• our people – large talented group to draw from for counsel and work
• Tarleton University – ability to have access to large amounts of research and talent
• proximity to the Metroplex – makes Stephenville attractive to businesses because of the availability of travel and shipping
• our school system is one of the best in the state – in sports and in academics
• the physical lay out of the city is suited to the construction of businesses and to provide access to the core of the city administration and facilities
• great geographic location
• low crime rate
• great family atmosphere
• caring people
• home town feeling
• low crime rate
• loving town with lots of heart
• city is run by a majority of people who want to see Stephenville improve even further
• perfect town for all kinds of growth
• people - people of all ages – young people have chosen to live here – and older people have retired here
• Tarleton
• hospital
• clinic
• rodeo center
• national rating as a place to live

• friendly, helpful people

• good medical facilities and access to larger urban medical facilities
• if the need is apparent, the citizens pull together to achieve whatever the task at hand might be
• community service organizations combining efforts to provide extras for the community
• law enforcement agencies providing protection and aid for the community

• low crime rate
• near big city but not too near
• Tarleton State University
• RR and highways
• Tarleton is the biggest asset
• many people would volunteer to do many things if only asked - they and the community would reap the benefits.

• growth and expansion of southwest side of town; i.e. Wal-Mart and Bosque Center.
• school district teaching staff
• city and county law enforcement
• improvements and additions to school district buildings planned or underway
• excellent medical center and hospital - some services need to be added, like a local kidney dialysis capability
• excellent programs for Senior Citizens and disabled citizens
• strong local churches
• Tarleton State University

• natural beauty, history, central location, climate

• and most important, our people

• examine possibility of interesting a business into manufacturing airplanes by contacting Robert Nitschke
• an officer placed at each school campus to help direct traffic in the mornings and when school lets out in the afternoon
• place a traffic signal at the Wal-Mart entrance on Washington
• the Chamber to do more promotion of the agricultural industry as well as other businesses in town
• I would like to see promotion of TSU
• promotion of the dairy industry, aimed toward the citizens who feel like they are unaffected by what happens to dairy families

• summer parks and recreation activities besides sports, like arts & crafts, music, and contests
• complete "Policy and Procedure" regarding Planning and Zoning and building inspections should be established for all to see
• people with decision-making positions should be educated for the position that they hold
• get lot at corner of Azalea and Harbin cleaned up – impedes vision.
• traffic rules implemented and controlled at River North Boulevard & NW Loop intersection
• development of the parks and recreation, in accordance with the Master Plans
• greater effort to acknowledge and promote the history of the community
• focus on the improvements to the Central Business District, Courthouse, etc.
• allowance in the community for growth in both agriculture and in industry
• city should exhibit more leadership in county by taking an active lead in promoting whole county
• accomplish county unity in an egalitarian manner – will take the wisdom of Solomon
• an active role in promoting Stephenville as the cultural and economic center of Erath County – hold county wide Mayors meeting or something to that effect
• new cable company – with lower rates
• more businesses to give Wal-Mart competition
• better water quality
• better restaurants
• fair distribution of liquor licenses
• for the city official to collect all options for the roads around the Jr., not just one proposal from an engineer through the city manager
• a community of civic center – and a place for over 100 to meet
• consider the riverbanks when making plans for the riverbed in the park – like they have done in San Angelo – we have enough rocks in the area
• a park for RV’s – would encourage people to spend time and money in Stephenville

• Shop Stephenville campaign
• go "wet" for economic benefits

• Instill a "how can we help you" attitude in city hall
• appreciate the Tarleton students

• adopt an aggressive, long-term water plan to assure water for most optimistic growth

• city sponsored Special Olympics
• regular Town Meetings, at least bi-annually if not quarterly, discussing community’s needs, special projects, NOT politics!
• more citywide sponsored and organized patriotism and recognition for veterans- not just on July 4^th
• mother/baby friendly facilities in public places (especially in city owned or operated buildings) for employees and/or other any mother present who needs to breast-fed her baby

• concerted efforts to encourage/force business and property owners to clean up or remove buildings that are "eyesores" and are dangerous
• implement planned/funded park improvements and expand it to include cleanup and utilization of the Bosque River from North Loop to South Loop - begin either side of Washington street and work up or down the river
• review and change city and county ordinances or "hindrances" which discourage businesses from moving into Erath County

• clean up the city
• build a community center; not a convention center
• establish garbage collection for rural Erath County by locating dumpsters strategically and conveniently throughout the county
• aggressively prosecute illegal dumping
• beautiful, descriptive, original welcoming signs at all entrances - volunteers are probably available to design and execute such signs
• place advertisements of our city's drawing cards and special events in magazines (Texas Highways, Southern Living, Texas Parks and Wildlife) and newspapers in the area
• better relations between city and county - county could help with streets (we're IN the county) - do not overlap if at all possible, as in employees
• use the park for other things than athletics, such as dances in pavilion or a regular basis
• more flowers, more trees ? less junk

• provide incentives for a privately owned transportation system (taxi/bus)
• expand services for senior citizens, particularly transportation
• provide incentives for improving hospital/clinic services

• help advertise the Tarleton cultural activities - agriculture and horticultural lectures, etc.

• purchase computers for classrooms; get internet connectivity into the classrooms
• leverage local computer network experts and technicians to be involved - use less out of town/county "computer experts" - provide tax incentives for these businesses to provide services at reduced rates
• develop a "zero tolerance" enforcement and judicial process for alcohol and drug abuse violations
• do not allow local clubs which serve alcohol to admit minors under any circumstances

• seek state and federal monies to assist with attracting business by contacting Nation Holdings in Perrisberg, Ohio
• a civic center and more family oriented activities for the people of Stephenville

• implement program to clean up neighborhoods of junk vehicles, high grass, and unsightly buildings
• clean up lots with just junk on them and make Stephenville a more attractive place to live
• I would like to see the county get behind some Highway projects, besides 377 – FM 8 from Lingleville to Desdemona is horrible

• reasonable transportation to DFW airport
• countywide transportation for elderly and the handicapped – for instance like a city bus service.
• development of the parks and recreation in accordance with the Master Plans
• convention center – it would help to establish Stephenville as the political, economic and cultural center of the county
• low rent housing projects
• more business opportunities for consumers
• move the airport so it can have a longer runway and make the airport a county airport - to help with funding

• upgrading the streets to accommodate much of the increase in commercial and population.
• address the drainage problem on the West End of town
• renovate down town – with civic clubs involved
• plan more cultural activities
• get rid of Don Davis
• Harbin Drive opened
• love to see a written policy and procedures for the planning and zoning board and for building inspections – there needs to be some changes in the present chain of command
• city parks improved
• a community center proposal to become a reality and for it to be available for Christian functions in addition to its other functions
• the downtown area improved to draw more attraction
• I would like to see the Courthouse covered with lights for Christmas – like it used to be, and the square covered with lights and decorated like other towns – when I was a child, the square was covered in colored lights that extended for one block down all intersecting streets – it was beautiful!
• more businesses to move to Stephenville
• more street repair –Long needs attention – it would be good to return them to the old historic brick – they couldn’t be any bumpier than they are now

• expansion of park/Bosque River utilization
• improved paving and repair of city and county road systems
• city and county public transportation system
• continued expansion/improvement of educational facilities
• expansion of city limits to encourage and promote business and residential growth

• take up the brick on some streets and make the downtown streets perfect
• more parades, more festivals, and better advertising of them
• shop for used street sweeper and use it every day
• work with banks for low interest loans to homeowners for repair and beautification
• use Tarleton expertise (engineering, landscaping, adult education)
• Community Center? Between Stephenville and Dublin? Where? What will happen there? How financed? plan and think long and hard
• more businesses downtown, including the blocks at the square - think of the possibilities and work to that end
• form a historical district - as Long Street

• city operated youth/teen center designed for positive leisure time and for a place to learn (volunteers from community, TSU, and businesses teaching skills and tutoring our teens)
• a veteran’s clinic to help provide care for the hundreds of local veterans with special needs who are having to go hundreds of miles out of town to seek medical treatment and aid