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