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The Iroquois Horizons Strategic Planning
committee wishes to thank
all people involved in Study Circles,
LeadershipPlenty, surveys, those who helped complete projects.
An electronic copy of this document may
be found at our community’s website. You
will also find information regarding projects in progress and ways to get
involved.
Our Website http://iroquoissd.com
Our Blog http://iroquois.communityblogs.us
Introduction
The Horizons project was introduced to the Iroquois community members by
BASEC. We started with Study
Circles. We had three groups of
10-12 people who met for a 3-month period to determine our action ideas.
The next step was LeadershipPlenty®.
This training focused on leadership development of members of our
community. Members of this group
formed a working bond.
Through
the Horizons project, some of the accomplishments have been bringing the people
of the community together to discuss our strengths and our weaknesses, as well
as the dreams of our community. The
Horizons group is a combination of volunteers and civic leaders that hosted
events for the community to gather as a whole to share ideas and concerns.
Information was shared by distributing literature, setting up displays,
making telephone calls and meeting for cooperative dialogue.
Some
of the projects in process are the volleyball court, which as of this document
is at a halfway point in completion. A
community bulletin board was erected for people to post information and notices
to help keep the community informed. Christmas
lights were added to the main street for the holidays.
An electronic sign to be placed along Highway 14 is in progress.
Horizons is also working with the SD Department of Transportation for
more highway lighting through Iroquois. This
project is in the 5-year highway improvement plan.
Vision Statement
The Horizons group will
provide direction to committees to enhance the appearance of our community.
We will have a painted mural and newly planted trees, flowers and shrubs.
We will improve our park facilities for the community with a volleyball
court and park benches. The Iroquois
Housing Association will continue to promote the community and the availability
of housing in a safe neighborhood. We
will promote new business growth with assistance from BASEC and possibly
utilizing a business incubator.
Our vision for the next
10 years is continued growth of the businesses, city and community population.
We will further enhance the appearance of the community by adding new
playground equipment, a walking path/route and improved restroom facilities at
our local park. We will also
investigate having curbed, paved and lit streets.
Mission Statement
Iroquois Horizons
Strategic Planning Committee is committed to the goals of the plan.
We will encourage involvement from the residents, surrounding community
members and organizations in order to achieve these goals.
By utilizing the talents and gifts of the community, we will strengthen
our current assets and allow for development of future opportunities.
Goals
Goal
1: Community Enhancement
Goal
2: Multi-Generational Organizations
Goal
3: Business Growth
Goal
4: Family Activities
Goal
5: Housing Development
Goal
1: Community Enhancement
Objective
1: To create
murals to beautify the community.
1.
Recruit
volunteers to serve on a planning committee (November 2007)
2.
Get permission
from elevator (December 2007)
3.
Talk to local
artists to create plans (December 2007)
4.
Get cost
estimates, create plans to fund the project (January – March 2008)
5.
Recruit
volunteers to prep and paint (April – May 2008)
6.
Complete by
Sports Day (Mid July 2008)
Method of
evaluation:
1.
Take before and
after photos to give a visual progress report to the mural planning committee.
(April 2008)
2.
Include a press
release in the Plainsman and
3.
News article on
blog site. (April – July 2008)
Objective
2: Trees, flowers
and plants
1.
Coordinate with
groups to determine placement (i.e. city office) (March 2008)
2.
Work with
Conservation Service in Beadle and Kingsbury counties. (March 2008)
3.
Organize a buy a
tree campaign (May 2008)
*Grade school
classes
*Family
honorariums
4.
Plant flowers and
bushes by park sign. (June 2008)
5.
Plant trees by
softball fields, railroad park, Woodall park and playground. (June 2008)
6.
Plan for
upkeep/watering (plan for water, sponsor of the tree would maintain) (June 2008)
Method of
evaluation:
1.
Take before and
after photos to give a visual progress
report to the planning committee. (May/June
2008)
2.
Document
volunteer hours for planting and watering. Water/maintenance
supervisor will report to the community club on a monthly basis. (March
- June 2008)
3.
Include a press
release in The Plainsman and
4.
News article on
blog site. (June/July 2008)
Objective
3: Park benches
1.
Work with Shop
Class as a community/school project (November 2007)
2.
Determine cost
for materials (wood, hardware, concrete pads etc.) (April 2008)
3.
Create a plan for
placement in the community.
a.
Woodall park (2)
(October 2008)
b.
Volley Ball
courts (4) (May & October 2008)
c.
Playground (2)
(October 2008)
Method of
evaluation:
1.
Community
survey to evaluate the improvements made to the park and the benefits to the
community. (November 2008)
2.
Take before and
after photos. (April – October
2008)
3.
The Park
Improvement committee will provide a report of the improvements, volunteer hours
and number of participants to the Iroquois Community Club. (March – November
2008)
4.
News article on
blog site. (May – October 2008)
Objective
4: Electronic sign
on Highway 14
1.
Use grant funds
from city and Horizons to fund and order the sign. (December 2007)
2.
Approach school
board for funds. (January 2008)
3.
Seek donations
from local businesses and community members. (February – March 2008)
4.
Install sign.
(May – June 2008)
Method of
evaluation:
1.
Take before and after photos for a press release in The Plainsman
and the
2.
Document the
amount of use by tracking the number of events posted on the sign. (Ongoing)
3.
News article on
blog site. (June 2008)
Objective
4: Volleyball and
horseshoe pits
1.
Talk to SD
National Guard for installation. (October 2007)
2.
Purchase
supplies. (October 2007)
3.
Install
Volleyball court and horseshoe pits. (Spring 2008)
Method of
evaluation:
1.
Take
photos. (Spring 2008)
2.
News article on
blog site. (Ongoing)
Objective
5: Seasonal
Decorating Plan
1.
Research cost for
outlets to be permanently installed. (October 2008)
2.
Purchase of
commercial grade outdoor decorations. (Ongoing)
Method of
evaluation:
1. Document the amount of supplies and decorations used each year for the city display. (Annually)
2.
Document the
number of volunteer hours spent decorating the town. (Annually)
3.
Take before and
after photos to document the work completed. (Annually)
4.
News article on
blog site. (Seasonally)
Objective
6: Community web
site
1.
Determine
a website coordinator. (March 2008)
2.
Enhance
the community website already established. (May 2008)
3.
Include
all the organizations, businesses and groups in the community.
Method
of evaluation:
1.
Track
the number of website hits throughout the year. (Annually)
2.
Determine
improvements that may be needed for the website. (Quarterly)
Goal 2:
Multi-generational Organizations
Objective
1: Daycare/Before
and After School Care
1.
Send survey and
compile data. (May 2007)
2.
Advertise to get
a local provider. (October 2007)
3.
Approach the
school board to determine plan for use of space, liabilities etc. (October 2007)
4.
Approach RSVP
volunteers to help daycare provider. (March 2008)
5.
Organize
community fundraisers if a need is determined. (Annually)
6.
Donations of
funds or toys from a closed daycare facility. (January 2008)
Method of
evaluation:
1. Track the number of children attending the daycare. Amount of time and the time of day at the daycare will also be tracked. (Monthly)
1.
Invitation/Create
list of possible participants. (November/December 2008)
2.
Start with
Thanksgiving Dinner and plan events with the group. (November 2008)
3.
Develop an
intriguing group name: Active Generations etc. (January 2009)
4.
Determine need
for activates, meals, how often to meet. (January 2009)
5.
Recruitment/group
organization. (Ongoing)
Method of
evaluation:
1.
Track the number
of participants attending the meetings, meals and activities. (Ongoing)
2.
Complete surveys
to determine participant satisfaction. (July 2009)
3.
Use the survey
data to develop new ideas for future meetings and activities. (October/November
2009)
Goal 3: Business
Growth
Objective
1: Create a
Business incubator model (2010)
1.
Explore the
example from Owatonna MN
2.
Create a
committee and work with BASEC to help decrease failure rate of the local model,
help with starting a business and bookkeeping/shared services.
3.
Request
information from various communities that have used a business incubator.
4.
Advertise for
potential businesses that are interested in having a joint office to reduce
their start-up costs.
Method of
evaluation:
1.
Gauge the use of
the incubator by the number of businesses using the common facility.
2.
Determine the
reduction of start-up costs from the use of the shared facilities.
3.
Take before and
after photos to use for a press release in The Plainsman and
Objective
2: Three available
city lots. (2010)
1.
Possible
businesses to bring to the community are: hair salon, day care, laundromat,
other various trades (construction, drywall etc.)
2.
Work with City,
BASEC and other state resources to assist with the funding of new or re-locating
businesses.
Method of
evaluation:
1.
Take before and
after photos to use for a press release in The Plainsman and
Objective
1: Park Activities
(Spring/Summer 2010)
1.
Explore
purchasing new playground/park equipment.
2.
Organize a
horseshoe league.
3.
Organize a
softball league.
4.
Organize a
volleyball league.
Method of
evaluation:
1.
Take before and
after photos and use for a press release in The Plainsman and
2.
Post horseshoe
and ball games on the community bulletin board and website.
Goal 5: Housing
Development
1.
Iroquois Housing
will work with the community to evaluate housing needs.
2.
Iroquois Housing
and City of Iroquois will seek locations to develop housing and improve the
housing for families.
3.
Iroquois housing
will continue to market Iroquois with the improved housing as a quality location
to live and raise a family.
4.
The Fire
Department will work with the city and townships to encourage home-owners to
display house numbers for emergency services. (December 2008)
**The above
activities are current and ongoing. Horizons
and the community will support continued growth.
Method of
evaluation:
1.
New houses will
be counted.
2.
New residents
will be counted.
3.
The Fire
Department will evaluate effectiveness of adding house numbers to the locations.
Future
Projects
The following ideas for goals were discussed during
the planning process. While specific
deadlines were not established, they include goals and dreams of the community
and will be discussed in the future as additional ways of improving our
community.
1.
Walking
Path/Route
2.
Improved restroom facilities at Woodall Park
3.
Paved streets and curbed gutters
4.
Well-lit streets
5.
Additional lighting along Highway 14 through the city
In
order to sustain the momentum of the Horizons project and to continue the
progress toward completing these goals and objectives we will…