Hill County Community Input
Economic Development (private business)
- Education opportunities (MSUN, Havre Job Svc)
- Nurture farmers, markets, co-ops, etc.
- Develop low-cost health care options
- Open port, improve roads, create housing.
- Utilize old IGA building.
Education
- Find new funding sources, perhaps from expanded development of natural resources
- Increase representation on Board of Regents
- Increase local control over schools, reduce federal and state control
- Create counseling program for bullying prevention
- Serve healthy foods in cafeterias, increase students’ physical activity
Employment
- Create more opportunities for vocational training
- Engage youth as part of community
- Invest in industrial employers to stay in community for a long time
- Continue to offer transit, university-level technical training
- Develop more diverse opportunities (e.g. arts organization, non-industrial employers)
- Use spaces that have been vacated to house new craft shops; senior living; manufacturing.
- Develop ag-related manufacturing
- Apply for Incumbent Workers Training Program grants from Montana DOLI
Energy
- Expand home weatherization program
- Encourage dialogue re: energy, sources, development of alternative fuels (wind, solar, biofuels)
- Piggyback development on MSU research
- Reduce government mandates
- Do feasibility study for small scale wind farms, solar power.
- Hard-wire street lights for dependable service in winter
- Educate consumers on benefits of improved energy efficiency
- Take advantage of all renewable energy resources
- Offer more Low-Income Energy Assistance Programs (LIEAP) to last through winter
- Develop renewable energy to lower energy costs, create jobs
Environment
- Acquire pulverizer for recycling local glass
- Create incentives for recycling
- Organize more community cleanups
- Develop fur trading services
- Seek greater local autonomy
- Make a law against littering on the reservation
Parks & Recreation
- Create more walking trails and recreational opportunities
- Make a park for younger kids so they can be outdoors more
Health
- Attract new local health care providers, including specialists
- Develop health care options separate from existing local “monopolies”
- Reduce turnover of doctors
- Reduce health insurance charges
- Focus on prevention (diet and exercise)
- Provide weekly transportation to health services
- Run bus from Chester to Havre
- Collaborate with home health care providers for transportation.
- Recruit local doctors
- Expand current farmer’s market, join Food Hub to improve fresh foods access
- Improve eating habits and make exercise a family affair
- Educate 911 dispatchers on NCMT geography; improve mapping of area
- Better clinic and health care (dentists and optometry)
Housing
- Find housing developer; offer tax credits
- Develop more middle- and low-income housing options
- Refurbish old houses
- Habitat for Humanity
- Build more affordable housing, especially for young families and single people
- More Section 8 housing
- Reduce rents for non-Section 8 housing
- Help the housing department with costs in maintaining homes
Transportation
- More buses in city
- Increase use of bus line (NCMT)
- Better service and prices for air flights
- More transportation for workers
Other Ideas
- Sponsor alcohol-free events
- Encourage more collaboration among community non-profits; pool resources; promote efforts like this one (VF)
- Farm the boulevard, living pantry, hydroponic garden, outdoor water park.
- Consolidate city/county governments; introduce non-partisan elections
- Invest in value-added agriculture and natural resource development
- Improve awareness of estate planning and Havre Community Foundation
- Promote MSUN, Boys & Girls Club, afterschool activities
- Develop city infrastructure including city sewers and curbside recycling
- Use the vacant Kremlin school for a care center
- Promote the area
- Address concerns for culture and traditions from Native Americans at elementary schools
- Reduce racial discrimination in neighboring towns