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MAIN STREET MOVES FORWARD
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Just shy of 100 concerned citizens voiced their opinions at a meeting regarding Guthrie Center becoming a Main Street Community Tuesday evening at the Guthrie Activity Center.
A nationwide government program, Main Street was adopted in Iowa in 1985 to help participating communities restore and revitalize their business districts. There are currently 48 communities in the program across the state.
Thom Guzman of the Iowa Department of Economic Development's Main Street program was the evening's featured speaker.
At meeting's end, it was decided an executive steering committee will be formed of community volunteers. Their task: visit three to four other Main Street communities and report back the pros and cons of membership to the city at a future town hall meeting.
Mayor Denny Kunkle was very pleased with the turnout and response from citizens at the meeting.
"We initially set up 50 chairs, but we soon had to pull out 50 more," said Kunkle.
He noted over half a dozen persons indicated interest in sitting on the steering committee.
"I want anyone interested in being on the committee, even if they didn't attend the meeting, to call City Hall before we announce the final list," continued Kunkle.
City Hall's number: 641-332-2190.
"I'm not trying to kid anyone. If we decide to do this, it won't be easy. It will take some dedicated, goal-oriented people. This is a government program. The application alone is 46 pages long," noted Kunkle.
"But I think our community is worth it. We need to keep moving forward."
Kunkle was disappointed with only one aspect of the meeting.
"We had 100 people at the meeting, but almost all of them were over 40. We need to get more young people involved. In the end, this will be their community longer than it will be mine."
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©Guthrie Center Times 2013
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