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Committee aims to ignite conversation
Fort Scott Visioning Committee's focus was on the future during Tuesday's seventh annual Community Conversation, sponsored by the Community Vision Steering Committee.
"Where do we go from here?" visioning committee members asked the audience.
About 45 residents and committee members gathered around tables in the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus last night. More than half of the audience said it was their first time attending a community conversation.
"The key part of what we're doing tonight is really looking at what's next," said Angie Bower, a Public Square Community LLC, member. "We need more information from all of you to get more ingrained with what might be the next step. Or maybe we're heading in the right direction."
Half of the evening was dedicated to the steering committee talking about the successes of previous visioning projects such as Buck Run Community Center and the future of ongoing projects such as the prospect of a developed riverfront along the Marmaton River.
Audience members watched a photo slide show that showcased past projects while eating barbecue sandwiches and chips. Fort Scott High School student Chris Allen's guitar playing accompanied the slide show.
"I found that many more people know about the visioning process, they just don't realize it," committee member Clayton Tatro said. "We've been at this for seven years. It's time to re-engage the community."
And re-engage they did.
For the last hour of the evening, six committee members led groups in 20-minute table conversations.
Committee member Lindsay Madison asked her group what they were prepared to take on.
Some of the conversations in other groups centered on downtown buildings and development.
One resident, in talking about economic development, said he thinks it goes back to bringing back and retaining Fort Scott youth.
"They have that desire to come back and raise a family here, but we need to have diverse work opportunities," he said, "not just insurance, hospital or labor."
Continuing that discussion in another group led by visioning members Dave Martin and Scott Moore, Fort Scott High School senior Mallory Shelton said in speaking with her peers, local youth would like to see some type of activity or recreation getaway geared toward the 18-and-under crowd.
"It's all about bridging the gap and integrating the youth," Shelton said.
All conversations volleyed back and forth from residents' suggestions to committee members' direct questions.
Committee member Gary Palmer asked his group, "Given the economic development condition of our society, what can Fort Scott do to better support our community?"
After about two or three minutes of silence, local businessman Skitch Allen said, "That is a hard question."
"A lot of our community relies on tax money just to eat and survive," Allen said.
From here, the steering committee will dissect and digest information residents provided on their hopes for the future of the city, Tatro said.
"We've talked a lot about downtown revitalization, economic development and engaging our youth," he said. "But the big one is how do we get our community, as a town and the 80 percent that isn't here, to connect? Whether they really know it or not, we want to make them feel like they have a voice."
The Fort Scott steering committee convenes in open session the fourth Monday of every month at 9 a.m. in the Xavier Room of Mercy Hospital.