Projects, volunteers lined up for Wall Street Blitz

Work to start the process of improving the appearance of properties along the East Wall Street corridor is on tap to begin later this month.

Craig Campbell, volunteer leader for the Good Neighbor Action Team, said Friday the GNAT has organized some projects and volunteers for a planned property improvement blitz along East Wall Street scheduled to take place May 30-31.

The GNAT, formed under the Fort Scott Community Visioning process, has planned a blitz to address blighted or dilapidated properties on Wall Street from the bypass at Wall Street and U.S. Highway 69 east to the Fort Scott city limits. The focus of the blitz is improving curb appeal or the cosmetic look of the properties.

"We have about 25 projects that people have actually agreed to partner with the GNAT," Campbell said. "We're in the process of going to those projects."

Campbell said organizers are breaking projects up and have a goal of completing each project within four hours.

"We're estimating about how many people it will take to complete those projects," he said. "We want to break each project down into four hours."

Campbell said currently, there are more than 200 volunteers committed to the project to beautify the area. Projects will involve volunteer labor and some fundraising to help fund projects. A group of area churches will contribute time and labor to the blitz.

"Right now, over 200 people said they would help," he said. "A significant number of church groups will help. Formally, about four churches have mustered folks to help."

The GNAT has been working since early this year to seek help and approval from property owners to identify work to be completed by volunteers during the blitz.

"We're limiting the blitz to painting and some very minor cosmetic repair," Campbell said.

Campbell said repairs include replacing boards on awnings and patching wood siding that has been knocked off due to various hailstorms. He said volunteers can also help people move or dispose of "anything that's not supposed to be outside" on their properties such as furniture and appliances.

"We'll mainly be scraping and painting, trimming trees, and hauling off any vegetation and any debris," he said.

Campbell said fortunately for the GNAT, fundraising is not at the top of the group's list at the present time. He said the GNAT has some funds raised to help property owners who will need financial assistance with projects.

"It's an unexpected win," Campbell said. "A typical house on east Wall, the houses aren't all that big. Some are but they're not that huge. It costs about $500 to paint a typical house. As of right now, there are only two houses we have to fundraise to paint."

Campbell said the main issue right now is recruiting labor for some work such as hauling off brush.

"We've found folks can cobble together money to paint, they just need people for labor," he said. "Fundraising is not on top of the list. Now it may be when we get the projects scoped ... For the most part, people can get materials, but not labor."

The project to help beautify East Wall Street, one of the main entrances into Fort Scott, is a start for the GNAT with properties along other entrances to the city possibly being addressed in the future.

"We're offering ongoing encouragement for folks to spiff their place up," Campbell said.

Campbell said meetings with individual residents and property owners along East Wall Street have been positive and the blitz is drawing support.

A public meeting was held in late February to discuss the blitz and the possible future of the corridor.

"I think the support is there," he said. "We sent a letter to every resident after that public meeting saying here's what we observed we'd like to help you with. We picked up about 15 more properties there.

"If we have more volunteers and money, we will try to solicit more projects," he said.

City Manager Dave Martin has said the city will help with projects by providing labor and some equipment such as dump trucks for trash cleanup.

Bourbon County is extending hours at its landfill May 30 to accommodate the project. The county also is waiving fees for construction and demolition materials generated from the project.

Since it was formed, the GNAT has provided practical service for the community by providing help with manpower, equipment and money in order to improve the curb appeal of properties. Projects have included painting homes, repairing porches and helping with minor issues.