Emmett/Gem County Community Review Report Summary

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Danielle Jones Research Assistant Boise State University (208) 426-2425 Danielle Jones received her B.S. in psychology from Boise State University, and is currently working toward a master's degree in counseling at Idaho State University. She has worked extensively on research projects related to neighborhood quality of life and sense of community. 110
News Articles Community Assessment Team Visits Emmett Emmett Messenger Index May 28, 2003 By Janet Monti More than 20 people swarmed through Gem County last week checking out all of the assets and problems, both visible and hidden. Written results of the independent assessment will be available in a couple of months for local county and city officials to glean from as they look to the future. Three teams were formed; one to address infrastructure, another for land use and community design, and one looked at civic life and community involvement. Organized through the Association of Idaho Cities, team members represented a crosssection of groups and governments. These people were teamed with local representatives and residents. For two days, each group toured the county and talked to dozens of people about their views. Over 200 surveys were returned that addressed over 60 issues of Gem County life. More surveys are still out. Based on this information, a preliminary report was delivered to a gathering of about 60 people last Wednesday evening. Members of each assessment team took time to briefly share their findings. Most reports included a common thread of capitalizing on Gem County¹s unique history, unique qualities. About 90 percent of those who once worked at the Boise Cascade Sawmill and still live in Gem County now work in Ada or Canyon Counties, said Dwight Johnson from the Idaho Rural Partnership and the Dept. of Labor. Altogether, 60 percent of the residents work outside of the county. This places Gem County in the middle of a huge transition from predominately agriculture-based to bedroom community. “Your retail businesses need to adapt and change to capture the 60 percent who work elsewhere. One of your assets is your heritage; promote and capitalize on it. You have a unique downtown. You need to be creative and proactive,” said Johnson. An industrial park is a definite asset. It would bring new money into the community, not recirculate existing money as retail does, Johnson said. Development of both industry and new retail needs to happen together. The first report came from those on the Infrastructure Committee. Gem County¹s infrastructure offers unique challenges and opportunities, said Joe Haynes, Local Highway Tech. Asst. Council. One consideration would be to stripe a dedicated left turn lane down the center of Washington Avenue through Emmett. Improvements to Main Street would help businesses there. A bridge from West Main Street to the Gem Island Sports Complex is also important, as is preserving the railroad corridors at almost any cost. 111
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Emmett/Gem County Community Review
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Preface............................
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News Articles .....................
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Part Three, Community Surveys & Int
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through increased collaboration and
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Steering Committee Name Title Organ
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unique design suggestions are compl
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made it possible for more rapid exp
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Executive Summary The Emmett/Gem Co
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opportunities. The civic life team
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Strategic Thoughts & Themes Valley
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city officials and other organizati
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• Core Governing Values • Work
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community discussion to achieve thi
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developed and re-invigorate the sen
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anch out and empower groups who mig
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The link directs the user to a map
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o Developing a mindset of downtown
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Infrastructure Overall and in compa
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spend $12,022 per mile for total di
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communities in the region. The Land
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voice connectivity to Boise or othe
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“over the hill”) claimed they w
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Resources (4) Redevelop/re-use idle
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police and fire service, schools, t
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• Have programs been initiated to
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Comprehensive plan policies related
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(9) Other/Miscellaneous. The follow
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General community comments and conc
Page 59 and 60: Civic Life and Community Involvemen
Page 61 and 62: The Cherry Festival The Cherry Fest
Page 63 and 64: • The historic Frontier Theatre i
Page 65 and 66: • Conduct research on how other d
Page 67 and 68: understand this might be a challeng
Page 69 and 70: least, underestimated in terms of t
Page 71 and 72: Program (RSVP), or a mentoring prog
Page 73 and 74: Asset-Based Community Development I
Page 75 and 76: eported being African-American/Blac
Page 77 and 78: “longer-term residents” and res
Page 79 and 80: Item Table 1: Overall Mean Quality
Page 81 and 82: Rank Table 1a: Ranked Overall Mean
Page 83 and 84: Table 2: Mean Quality Ratings of Co
Page 89 and 90: Item Table 5: Mean Quality Ratings
Page 91 and 92: Table 7: Short-Term Challenges Faci
Page 93 and 94: Emmett Development, Retention, & Qu
Page 95 and 96: 14) Cost of Public Services: Arts &
Page 97 and 98: Appendix Advice, Assistance, & Avai
Page 99 and 100: 99 • National Civilian Community
Page 101 and 102: COMMUNITY MATRIX DIVERSIFICATION ST
Page 103 and 104: engineering or sales, but not all t
Page 105 and 106: Community Review Visiting Team Memb
Page 107 and 108: Administrator and has served in tha
Page 109: projects, and fundraising. Delta ha
Page 113 and 114: Brian Dale, of the US Dept. of Hous
Page 115 and 116: GEDA to Hold Joint Community Meetin
Page 117 and 118: Community Review Agenda May 20, 200
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Emmett/Gem County Community Review Report Summary

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