recommended strategies - Hardee County

• Street lighting – safe neighborhoods
• Education system improvements
• Reduce drug and alcohol use/teen pregnancy rates
Participants were given the opportunity to discuss the activities, ask additional questions and talk with the other
attendees prior to voting. The consulting team tallied the votes, ranking the activities as follows:
Activity
Community beautification/code enforcement/improve image 7
Opportunities for youth/family recreation 6
Education system improvements 4
Reduce drug and alcohol use/teen pregnancy rates 4
Planning for mining reclamation – including County benefits/uses 3
Street lighting – safe neighborhoods 2
Sidewalks – improved transportation and connectivity 1
High speed internet/continued technology improvements 1
Impacts of/perception of illegal aliens, immigration (i.e., Hardee County viewed as a sanctuary) 1
Enhance/create a vibrant downtown 1
Diversify restaurants/evening entertainment 1
Celebrate/provide faith based activities 1
Hardee Lakes – continued improvement 1
Aviation Business/Services (improved/expanded – general aviation, commercial, international) 1
Votes
Following the ranking, the participants discussed the impact of existing County (or other community) plans and services
in place for improvements (i.e., Hardee Lakes Park Master Plan) on the votes. The participants also began to discuss
opportunities to combine and further refine the activities.
August 2, 2011 Focus Group Meeting
The Consulting Team began the meeting with a summary of the previous Quality of Life Focus Group and the Steering
Committee’s comments. The team reviewed the community’s priorities and rankings and then asked the attendees to
identify who should be involved in developing the programs and proceeding with initiatives (Community
Collaborators), and who should lead the effort (Community Champion).
The results were as follows:
1-1. Community beautification/code enforcement/improve image:
Who in the Community should be involved in this?
• Garden Club
• BoCC
• Cities
• Main Street Board
• CRA
• Peace River Explorations
• Builders Association
• Realtors Association
• “Citizens”
• Neighborhood Association
• Farm Bureau
• County Extension office
• Law Enforcement
• Churches
• Cattlemen’s Association
Who should lead the effort?
• Group to decide based on the specific topic and focus
Specific Actions/Strategies:
• Develop/implement a “help thy neighbor” attitude and strategy; involve the local ministerial association and
habitat for humanity, civic groups to identify and assist individual properties and or neighborhoods.
o Develop a citizen/community outreach program
• Develop community education programs about programs and services including establishing “community
pride”
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