Results of Firth Listening Sessions QUESTION 1: WHAT ARE THE MAJOR PROBLEMS & CHALLENGES IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

Transcription

1 Results f Firth Listening Sessins QUESTION 1: WHAT ARE THE MAJOR PROBLEMS & CHALLENGES IN YOUR COMMUNITY? Vlunteer Fire Department April 24, 2006 Getting vlunteers fr the fire department and medical. Gets harder with mre peple cming ut. Lts f grwth, are they wrking n making this. The cp needs t d smething abut tires with standing water. Treat. Cncern abut tires Water access acrss the tracks is nt available. Need mre things t d, bring ld twn. Smething fr cmmunity t cme tgether t get t knw each ther. Get mre peple invlved in serving their cmmunity. Mre peple mving here but nt getting invlved. Get rid f favritism f twn bard. Sme can walk in and get what they want, thers have t fight. Challenge t cntinue t prvide 24 hr emergency service. Especially during the day. Keeping peple invlved and respnding t the number f calls. Lack f peple during the day. Twn bard shws favritism. Sme can get what they want, thers can t. Challenge f 80% f dwntwn is in fld area. With building cntinuing, the cmmunity will need smething there t attract sme f the mney as mst drive nrth. Hickman is typical rute f travel. Grcery stre is struggling, can t build building and be sure f it succeeding. Business district in small cmmunities have difficulty in surviving. New peple dn t shp there r vlunteer there. Mst cmmunities in this area are bedrm cmmunities with peple wrking ther places, difficult t draw them t a small twn. Withut peple supprting the businesses it is hard t stay in business. If we spend a few dllars mre we culd keep sme f these businesses. Access n suth side f twn is becming an issue as mre trains run thrugh. Water quality is an issue is cncern with abve strage f chemicals, petrleum. Tires are a fire hazard. Largest business in twn has them. Intersectin at 3 rd and Main west f here r in frnt f the cp is very dangerus and labeled prly. Cmmunity is land lcked as far as buying a lt t build a huse n. Sme subdivisin went nrth and pened up sme grwth but may be full. Nrth must grw nrth, nly.

2 Nrris High Schl Students April 25, 2006 Nthing t vlunteer fr Mre invlvement Need smething t attract peple t Firth like café Huses mre spread apart makes challenge fr keeping peple clse Pssibly twn newsletter Like idea f swimming pl and bike and hiking trails Maintenance stps just utside f Firth, nt taken care f well Peple dn t watch speed limits I live in Firth but am never there, wuld rather g t Lincln. Peple mve ut as building new huses just utside f twn leaving several huses vacant Need t be mre welcming t new cmers Truck traffic can be a prblem Intersectin at gas statin needs signs. Street is narrw there. Gravel rad by railrad crssing in suth end by Secnd Street has n warning, needs bells. The gas pumps need replacing Rads lks like we might need repaving f rads they are getting pretty bad There is a part f twn that takes care f their yards and it seems that there is a part f twn that peple dn t take care f their things as well.such as mwing awns, pick up litter etc.---keep it mre clean I live n main street n ne drives speed limit it is t dangerus fr children playing Need smething else t d fr yung peple Firth is based arund church a lt it is great and everything but we need t have utside activities utside f the church fr yung peple especially Smething t d it is bring a swimming pl r smething. Mre jb pprtunities fr yung peple nw all we have is the Cp and Sadie s need mre jbs Better ball park bring it up t par Slw dwn n the streets and -- smething that will get teenagers mre invlved smething t d Cmmunity invlvement nt a lt f stuff t be invlved in fr everyne in general nt just yuth. When there are pprtunities t be invlved peple d nt step up t d it

3 Need smething t attract peple t n ne wants t g t Firth pssibly a café r smething Firth is grwing huses are getting far apart t keep the cmmunity invlves a mnthly bulletin thrugh the church newsletter f smething t be sent t everyne s peple knw what is ging n Pl fr maybe bike trails Once yu get utside f twn the maintained rads stp rads are bad - especially when snwy Hear peple tearing arund and early in the mrning (4:30 r s) Nthing basically t d. A lt f peple are mving ut f Firth because they want bigger huses and are building huses utside f Firth n ne is mving back int the empty huses ---if we want t have a strnger cmmunity we need t be mre welcming. Semis are in Firth all the time have t wait n them and they dn t stp at the stp sign. Intersectin near gas statin it is cnfusing need fr mre guidance, signage directins -- Streets at that intersectin are very narrw and gas statin is there and when trucks are in the way yu can t see. There are n stp signs anywhere in the twn. There are signs in dumb spts like a pintless yield sign Yield sign it is in the exact middle f the crner where yu t turn int the schl and the left turn there is a lt f cnfusin as t wh has t yield? There is a gravel rad -- #96 it is dangerus especially at night n arms at rail rad crssing -- dangerus at night. Rad yu g ut f Firth suth end f twn 2 nd street dangerus Gravel rads shuld be paved smetime in the future due t usage. Gas statin pumps need replacing Nrris Schl Staff - April 25, 2006 Lack f visin pretty clsed cmmunity that is resistant t change they wuld like t keep things the way they were 30 years ag are facing Lancaster cunty changes kicking and dragging I mved int Firth in 70 s and I m still and utsider..unless yu are native brn yu are cnsidered an utsider by flks yunger flks that are there nw are mre pen. Older generatin keeps the cmmunity as clsed as pssible..shwn as example n twn bard, fire dept etc Mved just utside f Firth ne f the draws is that it is utside f Lincln but nt t remte and yet the prperty is cheaper than arund Hickman.we were lking fr 20 acres t put hrses n.. Majr prblems and challenge the lack f planned grw it lks like it is chppy, unplanned, unpredictable kids cnsider themselves as Firth kids but there is a lack f identity f Firth and the cmmunity arund the twn. In discussin there is a lt f prperty n sale in Firth nw it is an implied

4 criticism abut the vacuum in Firth yet there are a lt f husing develpment s arund it. There needs t be an anchr stre t build arund Pnd n the east edge f twn is wned privately it was ffered t the twn, and the village bard didn t want it due t the liability they didn t want t spend any mney tward building a park arund it yu need t be prudent, yet yu need t prvide amenities fr yung families t mve back t the cmmunity. There is a certain amunt f traditin in that cmmunity a clsed ff definitin f wh we are as Firth there is an illusin that if we turn ur head, develpment wn t happen. Businesses Owners May 8, 2006 Infrastructure lagn we have reached the maximum level fr the lagn and have had 2 majr sewer line failures in the last while. The cmmunity is cnservative that n ne thught years ag that we wuld have grwn this big.my cncern is infrastructure We ve had a twn bard that has been very cnservative the average age is 70 plus ne f the cmments frm the bard was they shake their heads NO when anyne talks abut grwth. We have 2 penings n twn bard ne persn filling in is 90 years ld desn t want grwth GROWTH is ging t happen. We need frward thinking peple n the bard we need 2 frward thinking peple n the bard. One f the prblems I see we nly have abut 3 5 business wners that live within the village limits the rest f the peple wh have business in twn really have NO say in what happens in the twn because they dn t live in twn. Same cncerns seems like they (twn bard) dn t want grwth.as a business (c-p, r bank) we wn t have grwth in ur businesses if we dn t have grwth in twn. All f the different develpments we have I m n NRD and have cncern with water prblems. The quantity and quality f water is a cncern. I agree a lt cncern with Village Bard I have a business in Firth prper and live n edge f Firth prper when I had a cncern and viced it t the Bard I was tld I didn t matter --- I wuld like t see that there wuld be a Bard at large 1 mile radius s we can vice ur cncerns and have sme cntrl. There is a lt f develpment arund twn and NO cntrl again cncerned abut s many wells and sewer systems (septic systems) I live n the utsides and all my emplyees live in the twn I have a vested interest my emplyees spend mst f dllars in twn if we culd have mre f a say and cntrl f the twn. I left PA because f the same difference there We need a plan the Listening sessins are s needed because it needs t be dne Grwth is ging t cme faster than we realize I like the mile jurisdictin suggestin and having a say in what is ging n nw basically we are under the Village Bard s cntrl but have n say. I ve heard that there will be a big tax increase n June ne

5 Agree with the jurisdictin they can tell us what we can and cannt d and we have abslutely NO say f what directin this twn can g. Bard is unaware f wh wn businesses in twn (I had bad feeling when in a bard meeting ne bard member said smething abut Omaha business wners). We wuld like t see the twn grw but wuld like it t be in a cntrlled manner nt uncntrlled. Bard seems t have a lack f visin we need t have a plan n grwth therwise, it will be just a bunch f acreages that want t be attached t twn. We need t be able t get schl busses and fire trucks dwn the rads t the hmes need t have a plan Bard des what they want and dn t listen t anyne else they have their wn persnal agendas..when it came t the Sewer issues infrmatin was handed ut ahead f the meeting and at the meeting they stated that they hadn t even read it yet s they culdn t make a decisin. We need t campaign fr peple wh care abut the twn and will make decisins fr the twn. Need t have a plan t cntrl grwth I agree with what has been said What is the general feeling in Washingtn? that they want $5 gas s there will be re-develpment f the inner-city Because f the transprtatin issues they want t redevelp the dwn-twn. What will that d fr us ut here? T add t this cncern that if there will be a gvernment plicy t have high gas prices t bring peple back int urban area..d we need t cnsider thse high fuel csts as we plan fr this twn? Dn t yu think it will be in cycles t fill up the inner city and $3 gas and the stck market tk a dive and then next time it ges t $3 we get used t it My cncern is that we are lsing prime agriculture grund.the Buffal Cmmns idea that the plicy makers want t make it urban against rural what shuld we d as we plan fr Firth. Back t Water in years there will be much mre cncern abut the availability f water (and nt be s wrried abut gas ) there will be much mre cnsumptin abut water. Will the individual wells as the ppulatin grws will that make a difference? Urban sprawl is ging n in Lancaster cunty there is a 20 acre minimum n purchasing plts the majrity f the 20 parcels that have $1/2 millin huse n they aren t taking care f the land I think the wrse thing t happen is the 20 area minimum Senir Diners May 8, 2006 Water bills t high, g n vacatin and still have t pay high water bill Still pay garbage even when gne fr 3 mnths Dgs running lse Barking dgs a real prblem T many cats running lse Twn is getting t much % f electric bill but dn t knw where it is being spent

6 N grcery stre, lack f shpping. Nursing hme nt assisted living. Peple g t ther assisted living in the area. Nice t have assisted living in twn N nice restaurants in the area T many barking dgs Nice t have café that served mre than pizza Keep dgs penned up s I dn t have t clean up after them Grcery stre, repeated several times. Like t see persnal prperty cleaned up, grcery stre and respect fr parks and supervised s rest rms culd be kept pen N bdy fllws stp sign rules. Slw dwn. By cp, big STOP signs but n ne else stps. A place fr trash like brken dwn appliances. Nice t have mre businesses in twn since we are grwing t help them stay in twn. Mre business needs peple wh will patrnize a business. Like t see grwth but we need t be prepared t handle it. Plan ut. I think grwth is gd but we have t prepare fr the cst r end up like Hickman. It isn t set up fr water r sewer. Our bills will duble. They aren t planning far enugh ahead fr what is happening. Otherwise if seller has land, there will have t be an impact fee t help pay fr half mile f water line as twn can t affrd it. I live in area where there is t much junk, limbs laying in yards, s get it cleaned up. A lt f this is in rental prperty but nt all. Persnal prperty clean up. Signage t indicate dead end streets. Dependable mail service. Russell St. Need SLOW r STOP Sign. Lts f ATV s, 4-wheelers running arund twn. Nt licensed. Brught up t twn bard but kind f brushed aside Nursing Hme May 8, 2006 Keeping businesses in twn. Keeping smething (businesses ging) dwntwn Lcatin hw far ut we are frm Lincln r Hwy77 peple traveling this directin.it is t far away with the price f gas. Peple dedicate self t put the wrk in. Can t live by myself.. My husband and I came frm Lincln daughter mved t Hickman we wndered where was Hickman my husband gt sick he culdn t g hme anymre due t sickness they came t this nursing hme.smeway t make the twn mre visible.sme peple dn t knw where Firth, NE is. Keeping businesses here it is difficult and nw they have Sadies

7 I remember the days when we had all f thse businesses.what was different abut then and tday I guess they can t make it t live we had 2 barber shps, drug stre, rller skating rink, mvies in the back f the stre.peple brught in cream and eggs and brught grceries hme. It has really changed and businesses dwindled.maybe tday it has becme a cement jungle. A trip t Lincln was a nce-in a while event and it was an all day event..they shpped late until night. Nw peple run int Lincln a cuple f times tday Older hmes instead f being bught by yung families nw are being bught by wners and becme rental hmes the prperties keep getting a little bit less attractive ver time. Buildings dwntwn has empty building.including brther s.he wuld park n street the empty run-dwn businesses have a negative impact n thse driving thrugh twn. Firth a cmmunity website dn t knw if it is up and running and if peple are lking fr a place t retire they lk fr healthcare. He wuld like t see Healthcare infrmatin tied t Website it wuld be nice t have hspital and Drs. Here pssibly a satellite health care facility culd be here, Public Open Meeting in Evening May 8, 2006 Shuld be stplight r flashing light near Cp at crner and by bank area t Price f gas nw it des affect the sale f hmes in the cmmunity. I live in twn --- I have prblem with all the acreages Lincln is grwing suth and Firth needs t address that == s there aren t just acreages. Need stp signs Cp big trucks running rund main street and a lt f ld peple at Pst Office big semi s shuldn t be ging thrugh main street safety Cp needing a stp sign a little sign that is white r yellw utsiders dn t knw that they shuld stp. Safety wuld like a stp sign building we need t lk int all f the building utside twn. I d like t have mre cmmunity invlved in grwth A mre chesive cmmunity we dn t d a lt tgether we dn t mix a lt. There aren t a tn f cmmunity events that pull us tgether. Wuld like t increase the invlvement f peple living n acreages they dn t feel like they belng just flating ut there. We just mved there we like the quiet. We didn t like Lincln nisy, drug neighbrs it s a nice place t live and a gd schl district we dn t want t bring mre prblems because it is an attractive area mre will want t mve here. Peple are buying chunks and pieces if there isn t a plan, there will be a jig saw puzzle laid ut. If there is a part time sheriff deputy there is n ne watching trucks stp sign. The twn is laid ut nt very cnducive t building cmmunities hmes in subdivisins. The nly place we can g is nrth and right nw, the family that wns the land is nt interested in selling. There will be small grwth but

8 nthing big (grwth) nw.i m interested in a small twn.its t bad we can get a little bit clser tgether (peple wh live n acreages and twn peple.) There is nt much business here there used t be a grcery stre, lumber yard, café nw lack f businesses..why did the business clse?? The peple retired and everyne wrks in Lincln and they shp befre they cme hme. Peple dn t patrnage the business the stres have higher prices here s peple went int Lincln because it is cheaper..peple are in Lincln s much f the time. If the grcery desn t have vlume the whlesale csts are higher. When I mved here there wasn t even Sadies and Papa Pizza and this is better than when we first mved here. Barking dgs day and night..it gets sickening.did talk t neighbrs..culd muzzle them One f the things I ntice --- what are the peple that live in the village f Firth what is their desire abut including us the rest f the peple wh live in this zip cde hw can that be develped r encuraged cmmunicatin with all f the peple in the zip cde. I wuld like t see flwers in flwer pts and the streets lk better and have the empty buildings lk better nt have them lk run dwn and empty. ATV s racing dwn the street safety issue.this has been turned in and the sheriff desn t get here in time wrried abut accident ging t happen. I live n the hill and there is a stp sign they have the stp sign n the wrng crners they will drive frm the nrth 40 mph (n 4 th and Main) and they get ½ way thrugh intersectin befre they realize there is a stp sign very dangerus.shuld have stp sign n east and west nt Nrth. Open Public Meeting May 8, 2006 Rental huses a lt rental huses and empty huses in twn.rentals as a prblem hard t have twn stability with peple wh rent because they d nt plan t stay maybe nt negative.. There are a lt f huse fr sale this year 2 years ag wnder why a trend? Same is true fr Hlland. Lack f places t meet new peple in twn. If yu g t church yu knw thse peple and ther church yu learn abut them. There is nthing t knit the cmmunity tgether n way t mix the grups tgether It is very segregated.nt any rganizatin t knw tgether. Lack f peple knwing each ther Peple are selling their huses s fast we dn t knw wh lives near yu..peple dn t knw each ther. Yuth at Cmmunity Center May 10, 2006 Nbdy n bard seems t agree n things frm father Sme kids dn t stay in line r create truble mre ften

9 Nthing in twn t d. When we d stuff we g t Lincln N activities specially designed fr yung peple Nthing t d fr teens, etc. s we g t mvies, etc. in Lincln We aren t ding as many activities as a cmmunity except Fun Days. Nt at hme much because there isn t anything t d here s I g t Lincln There is n activity center t hang ut at like in Lincln. Helps keep us ut f truble Basically bring We aren t really united, new peple mve t twn and we dn t get a chance t meet them and get them t be part f us. New peple may nt feel included. We knw the peple wh g t ur church but n pprtunity fr the rest Farmers May 22, 2006 Nt much visin fr the twn when the lake gt away and when the gym/kitchen gt away t tight with ur mney. Nice t have a place t pen up fr basketball, a gym f sme srt the lake was a big mistake.as we get lder we wuld like t see mre in the cmmunity a restaurant, an accuntant in the twn 1-2 days a week. (I see what is happening in Adams a little further frm Lincln), a lt f ur peple cmmute I wuld like t have 68 th t be 4 lane instead f 2.driving is difficult when kids are n it impssible t pass dangerus rad. I m nt s sure that we have cntinuity s many develpments within the earsht in Firth (maybe cunty nt cmmunity).n cntinuity in size f lts, a lt f grund is being chewing up maybe 12 huses in an acre instead f 12 huses in 20 r s acres. Fire department -- nt enugh persnnel during the day time fr quick respnse.need t have mre. That building getting ut f Firth n place fr kids t d anything. Building arund the twn has n where t grw we dn t have a cmprehensive plan in place n cntrl f where they can build. N place fr kids t g t d things many kids mve ut f twn because there is nthing ging n nt a whle lt fr things t d (n restaurant) Twn is stressed attentin fr the lder peple in twn need t have smething fr yung peple t d. We culd use gd restaurant and things fr kids t d. Need mre visin fr the next years in planning it s ging t grw ne way r ther keep chpping up the grund with acres hard t farm arund the husing plts (they have flwers and tmates) hard fr farmers Acreage wners and develpment and peple cming ut f city dn t knw what cuntry life is like water line prblems. Need better planning; Our business sectin is a strng pint.and churches are strng speaks well f the cmmunity.

10 Cunty shuld change regulatins they settle estate and sell 3 ½ acres surrunded with wheat 20 acres is wrng t much land/area t keep grass mwed it is t hard t farm arund it. Blacktp the rad frm Hlland t Firth (96 th ) street it may take away sme traffic. This rad is t busy the bus can t get ut f the driveway.have t wait fr traffic. Dn t we have a little lapse in911 I live in Gage Cunty and they will take me t Beatrice first I want t g t Lincln. T many respnses Firth cmes first, then Hallam and then Lincln t many respnses when calling 911. Spanish-Speaking Cmmunity 11 peple May 22, 2006 N stres, N prduce stre, fresh prduce The prblem with lcal stre it isn t pen n Sunday The gas statin takes credit cards but nt payment the way we need t pay s we have t g t Hickman Cncern with children activities The street she lives n is t dark, pretty much the whle twn seems pretty dark. Dn t like t g ut at night with dark. The stre, gas statin and activities fr kids Mre activities in park fr kids, Bigger stre with prduce in twn wuld be nice. The activities fr the kids and stres The gas statin and stre clsed n Sunday High schl students dn t bey the speed limits when schl lets ut. Kids are playing and high schl students aren t careful enugh Security is cncern. At night there are teenagers ut n bikes at 2:00 a.m. in the mrning n several crners in Firth. The stre needs t be pen n Sunday We dn t get t knw the peple in twn because f the language barrier. We wuld like t but the language barrier is a prblem. A restaurant wuld be nice. Dn t wrry abut a ck, we can supply. N jb pprtunities fr the mms arund here. Jbs clse by wuld be nice. We dn t want t g t far. In winter time when ging t wrk at 2:30 a.m. and there is snw, the rads aren t pened t get t wrk. Yung Family Sessin May 22, 2006 Keep Firth a small twn feeling as the twn is grwing When I lived in a small twn in high schl it was hrrible because there was nthing t d. Dn t knw if that is the case here but where I grew up it was. Kids miss the ld swings when the new were added t the park.

11 Keeping the envirnment like it is will be a challenge with grwth. Open Meeting Listening Sessin May 22, 2006 Getting a lt f cmmunity grwth arund Firth but nt a lt f grwth in Firth n small businesses t draw peple int the twn.challenge want t see Firth grw and be the best it can Lack f services in Firth places t eat, places t shp Dn t really have any prblems in mind..grwth arund twn a cncern.when we mved here there was a grcery stre and a café and I saw thse things g away when we became a bedrm cmmunity. Maybe ¼ f the peple wrked in Lincln nw it is the ppsite mre than half f peple drive ut f twn t g t wrk I als bught grceries in Lincln s the stre went ut f business. Expansin f ppulatin there will need t be sme changes. I wuldn t want t be anywhere else wuld like t see a restaurant and mre f an Assisted Living place fr the lder peple. Wuld like t have grcery stre fr lder peple althugh Hickman des deliver. We need t supprt the stre we d have. We need t have grwth r the twn wn t survive I have a small business f my wn and wrk in Lincln 3 days a week.we haven t really cme acrss any prblems r challenges Husband wrks in Lincln all time. We d have a cncern watching the tw huses n bth sides f us up fr sale.felt islated. Nw they are starting t fill back up with families with small children. Huses fr sale g thrugh cycles. Dn t knw peple wh live in twn.peple mving in Cncerns kids lve t ride bicycles arund twn.traffic mves t fast in twn.cncern pssible train derailment that might hit anhydrus tank.wrry abut danger..impssible t buy all grceries in this stre. Secnd time living here cncern the traffic that ges t fast by ur huse. Seems that they run thrugh stp signs and speed t fast. D we need mre signs,.speed bumps in street..t prvide safety fr children. Cncern abut speeders past ur huse smetimes dn t realize that they are speeding. Challenge fd t get a restaurant in twn Cncern is grwth is ging t cme I hpe that we are ready fr it..firth is bxed in by acreages it is tugh there aren t many places fr the twn t grw Lincln is grwing suth in a hurry we can see what Hickman is ging thrugh. I dn t want t stp, discurage grwth but t be able t cntrl the grwth. Seen changes as stated here this evening.trying t address the prblems thrugh the years. Main prblem getting a cmprehensive plan fr cntrlled grwth infrastructure t help with the grwth. Mved here frm K.C. grew up in this area f state we enjy Firth dn t mind the travel t Lincln wuld like t see rderly grwth the next 15 30

12 years.s we have an infrastructure and have restaurant. Nice t have smething here t g here rderly grwth.enjy the smallness f the twn The first challenge the rad cming arund Cp and peple are in a hurry safety issues with children.ging thrugh twn and nt in such a hurry. Grwth be practive and have a plan ready.be n the right track. We mved t cmmunity t retire.wuld like t see have restaurant. We eat ut a lt. We still g t church in Lincln s buy grceries there. Rugh rail rad crssing..right by the Cp. Glad t see Firth grwing and like t see wrk tward cmprehensive plan. Really cncerned abut gd activities fr children and brightly lighted area fr kids shade, sun--- but safe place fr kids. Devil finds wrk fr idle hands cncerned abut teens that party ut near ur place and leave party drppings and that cncerns abut unsafe driving. We have a wnderful schl with great activity prgram.but maybe we need an Activity prgram inside the twn fr yung children. Smetimes a summer playgrund activity either 2 3 weeks r a cuple f days thrugh the week t have cnstructive things fr children t d.supervised pssibly by cllege age students which culd be an pprtunity fr children t get structure and psitive activities. One f the prblems crner f 6 th and May cars g thrugh it 50 miles per hur.s dangerus especially ne car every day. N slwing dwn s many kids playing and riding bikes in twn..need a rck t slw dwn traffic. Other thing twn gt real divided abut issue f alchl it is abut having sme extra mney cming t twn it divided the twn smething as small as that issue still is dividing peple. We need peple t supprt the grcery stre I d rather give Firth my mney rather than Hickman, etc. There are gbs f beer cans n ur rad lng befre the alchl prblem. Have we lked abut speed bumps in certain areas f this twn. In a twn I m familiar with speed bumps have slwed dwn traffic quite a bit..they ve been in fr a while.speed bump every blck r s.has really slwed dwn the prblem Having mre law enfrcement mre prevalent wuld help slw dwn speeding.pssibility f Firth having their wn law enfrcement pssibly even part time and prvide a place t have them d paper wrk. Fur-wheelers are nt fr streets.i see them in twn wh shuld I call when I see them crashing. In the past if there was a mtrcycle in twn.smene called the plice. Afraid f speeding 4-wheelers.the adult supervisin in sme f the hmes.are nt apprachable..which is nt usual in a small twn sad, but nt really true. We need t start thinking abut lcking ur drs and abut whether r nt we can apprach the adult next dr and what might happen when they answer. QUESTION #2: WHAT ARE THE MAJOR STRENGHTS & ASSETS OF FIRTH?

13 Vlunteer Fire Department April 24, 2006 A safe and clean twn I enjy the quietness Family and friends Can depend n yur neighbrs if the ging gets tugh We have a great fire department and can cunt n yur neighbrs. I enjy the rural setting and lts f friends and neighbrs. Everyne watches ut fr everybdy. Can let kids play in park withut wrry. Everyne knws what kid belngs where. Have a new playgrund in the park and fairly quiet. Schl system is gd. One f the better nes arund. Nrris schl system is gd. Gd mral and ethical values here that are disappearing in urban areas. Peple will stand up t d the right thing. The schl is why we live here. Peple are friendly. Schl system is strng and draws peple here. A real yung ppulatin here and grwth has ptential if it is unleashed. Great peple, clean twn, great schl system. Family friends, rural area. We live here because f the small twn atmsphere where peple will help yu d smething Anything utside f the city f Lincln is cheaper s yu can mve int the cuntry as it is mre affrdable. We have trees and established hmes as cmpared t Hallum. Hallum lks like a subdivisin and takes smething away frm that part f the twn. Twn has character, hmes are lder, nt mved in n a set f wheels, has a dwntwn area, trees and atmsphere. Has a quality water system and water twer. Gd services, streets are hard surfaced. Gd infrastructure Firth is financially stable Majrity f ppulatin is emplyed High Schl Students April 25, 2006 Firth is beautiful twn with trees, natural envirnment Peple are really friendly. Everybdy s utside and will wave at yu. Churches in twn are clse and nw and supprt each ther. Everyne knws each ther Nice t have General Stre t get stuff yu need Great t have a little cnvenience stre Friendly, family riented and churches d a lt f vlunteering Nice t have rest hme. Grand parents live there

14 Friendly twn, clse knit but is still grwing Really gd nursing hme. Peple stay here Firth Fun Day is really gd. Like café t rder ut frm Safe twn. Kids can be ut playing withut a lt f supervisin Really gd rescue and fire department There are n bars Right nw if peple want t cme ut t build have respect and dn t build clse t each ther s nt really crwded. It wuld be great t have an ATM Beautiful twn with trees great things t have in twn, natural envirnment Peple are really friendly everyne is utside and everyne waves at yu Peple in the cmmunity in churches are very clse Everyne knws everyne gd General stre cnvenient especially when it snws we can walk there Gd t have gas statin gas prices are t high Little cnvenience stre gd Friendly family riented gd vlunteering. Rest hme is very nice and t have family there Friendly twn, clse knit like a small twn atmsphere even thugh it is grwing Gd nursing hme lder peple stay in Firth we take care f ur ld peple Firth Fun Days is very gd fr families I like they have a pizza place there we can rder ut gd fr weekends Safe twn see a lt f little kids playing ut nt a lt f crime feel very safe Gd rescue and fire department if there is injury There is nt a Bar n liqur Peple that want t cme ut and build near Firth they find land that is wide pen and are nt crwded huses are nt t clse ATM and ther cnveniences are in twn gd Schl Staff April 25, 2006 There is smething t be said abut peple wh see their cmmunity they care abut the cmmunity a very clean village pride in the cmmunity (a clsed cmmunity) -- can als be a strength a great place t raise a family due t the cmmunity care and pride and clse enugh t Lincln that we culd g t if we wanted t and yet we had the safety f living in Firth. I am Pr-develpment but shuld be cntrlled grwth.the develpment in the area is directly related t wh yu are if yu knw the right peple, it will happen. Need t Plan fr the develpment it wuld be nice if the street lights wuld wrk Firth as a cmmunity has the pprtunity fr grwth but this can be a challenge as well as an pprtunity

15 I tk a jb ut here because I wanted my kids t knw the peple in the cmmunity that we live in Firth is Nrris it is the identity f the cmmunity as sn as we knew where we were mving we gt kids invlved in T ball etc and we were welcmed. At night when yu drive int the cmmunity yu see the ball lights that is cmmunity yu get t knw peple and stay in tuch with them.there is a cnnectin that is a strength in a cmmunity that yu dn t get in a larger twn like Lincln. We all care abut ne anther that is a huge reasn fr us t cme ut here that is a reasn why peple mve in the cmmunities arund Lincln S then ffer the yung peple smething that will keep them here After the trnad peple all came t pull tgether t pick up the debris..firth has a strng church infrastructure the main scial infrastructure r anchr the Fire Dept is als a strng cnnectr. The ball diamnd is als a strng cnnectr a majr sense f belnging t the cmmunity. A unified cmmitment t the cmmunity..that is what makes Firth special Business Owners May 8, 2006 Strengths and assets are sitting right here in this rm intelligent and capable peple financial assets as well these are the strengths right here. Schl system is strng that is the draw that is why peple are cming.the small schls that are faced t merge we dn t have that cncern.that s huge Financially the cmmunity verall is abve average we dn t have a real lw incme cmmunity. The peple wh mve ut here in this schl district are ding well and they cmmute back t Lincln fr wrk Firth is very well kept rads area paved, huses are well kept,.appears nice n the utside Schl system mre peple next fall will be cming t the schl a big draws We are all hard wrking American peple we get alng well. The fact that ver the past 5 years what has transfrmed in the Village --- we ve added mre businesses and the strefrnts are being filled (mre than 5 years ag) if that keeps happening it is strengths Like t be able t walk dwntwn frm hme Agree 100% f the schls.we have t realize what we are a bedrm cmmunity fr Lincln keep that in mind. We als have t realize that mst f the hmes in twn area starter hmes they live here 5 years and then mve ut.they get equity built up and then mve int larger huse.we need t keep that in mind Hard wrking class we are in a transitinal phase frm agriculture and tax increases farming is gt t g sell land upfrnt mney in a dry year, taxes still need t be paid sell it t acreages The businesses in twn are here drve by necessity there a enugh peple that will start a business when the they see a need and as the needs change, the

16 businesses are gne and change.such as pultry business, salt business, they are here fr years and as things change s d businesses Agree with schl system as a strng asset -- withut that we wuld be a ghst twn A big reasn why peple mve ut here is t bring their children ut t Nrris schls Peple here tend t talk their prblems ut rather than letting them fester Mre businesses are c cming s we can have mre selectins due t schl I see a lt f little twns are dying we are n the up and up and we are frtunate we have pprtunities t make things happen. Senir Diners May 8, 2006 Makes me feel gd when yu meet strangers wh are impressed with hw clean and attractive Firth is. We have such a nice schl s peple will cme here t enjy what we have. Overall, pretty clean twn with pride in their places. It is a nice twn. We enjy the twn. Our biggest asset is the tremendus cmmunity pride we have in it. The churches and schls are assets. Mney wasted when Hallam and Lincln cme ut. Seems like mre ambulances cme ut than necessary. Crdinate and better cmmunicatin t stp this. Be mre cnservative abut ambulance service. Smebdy wants t start a grcery stre and peple will need t patrnize it. I think schl, churches and rest hme are big assets. Repeated several time. I really appreciate my garbage man and think peple are friendly and helpful. We have cmmunity spirit and supprt. I think ur rescue unit is great. The senir center is great and the cmmunity is a family. Great leader f senir center t lead us n. Rural transprtatin system t take us t Lincln fr $3 n Tuesday s and Thursdays. Very friendly and made t feel welcme as a new cmer. Friendly peple. Schls and churches, cmmunity center and friendly peple. We are just ne big happy family. Enjyed the senir center since we mved here. Very neighbrly. Mved back after 50 years. Always smebdy here t help yu. Rescue unit was what saved me. I didn t care if there were 50 peple there t help me. Great streets in twn that were dne right. Gd twn maintenance persn here. Keep cmmunicatins pen between Lincln and Hallam 911 fr rescues.

17 Great cmmunity cperatin between cmmunities f Hickman, Hallam, Firth and Crtland. Nursing Hme May 8, 2006 Quick respnse fr peple wh help (hail strm) Sense f cmmunity a small twn sense (with services.) Gd schl nearby peple want t raise their kids in a smaller cmmunity. Schl it draws peple it is very gd a gd schl system Schl system and the churches are very active in this area. Peple dn t see the distance t Lincln as a prblem travel either way t g t wrk. Having a jb in Firth. Lakeview Rest Hme is very resident fcused it is gd t see nt s institutinal as sme places in Lincln. Lvely place t live Peple are nice There is a lt f inter-cnnectin peple are related t thers it is hard fr new peple t get cnnected the schl helps with that. Sme peple cmplain abut everyne knwing yur business that can be an asset t peple care and will help like farmer needing help 20 peple will be there the next mrning/ We are all cnnected ne big family n matter what the religin is (3 churches) Public Open meeting May 8, 2006 Since I ve lived here 15 years the cmmunity has cme tgether we put up equipment at the park fixed up ball field. The 4 th f July celebratin and the twn cmes tgether it desn t cst us. Likes the neighbrs can send my kids utside safe place Like the safety f the twn came frm metrplitan area I like the safety and security Definitely the safety Excellent schl district that is ne f the reasns why we mved here. 4 th f July a place fr all ages t cme tgether fr the event. Businesses car wash new. Firth is ne f the cleanest twns arund can t find huses that are run dwn. Like the friendliness f the small twn can leave the drs unlcked when yu g uptwn. Friendliness grandchildren cme dwn and stay at ur huse I dn t have t wrry s much abut them Peple wave as yu drive by.

18 Friendliness I live acrss rad frm the park and I like t watch peple in the park I like the peacefulness Every time I think abut mving t Lincln s I m clser t things I need I get anxiety attacks I feel safe here. Safe place ne f the better schl systems in the cuntry nice t place t live Nice place t live peple plice themselves peple want t mve dwn here I dn t think peple realized hw much mney peple will spend t be able t mve here fr this atmsphere. Small twn I like it I like knwing almst everyne. I dn t have t wrry abut children safety. Open Public Meeting May 8, 2006 Psitive thing t have 2 churches in such a small twn Cmmunity assciatin small grup but have big prjects the nly thing that we have t pull things tgether. A small number f peple wh wrk hard. D things Firth day games, parade, fd etc, wrk fr Lakeview Strength that -- s many kids in twn Peple are nsey -- which can be a strength cncerned citizens nice caring peple in the cmmunity. Yuth at Cmmunity Center May 10, 2006 The peple that we knw. Thse we knw we can talk and d things with. We need t be united just like ur church is. It s very clean, nt much crime, great place t raise kids. Started t build mre stuff like fix up the park, pened general stre. Need t keep wrking n that. Asset is the peple. We need t hang ut and spend time with them. All f us live clse tgether and are within biking distance. That is a plus. Peple are all friendl, we just need t get them mre invlved. If they were the cmmunity wuld explde. We are grwing big time with numbers increasing at a time. We see mre grups f hmes. The schl is a big asset. That is why they mve here. It s a really great schl. We are well runded schl. We are starting t d mre things as a cmmunity, 4 th f July, car shw, Firth Day t bring in mre utside peple. I think small is a gd thing. Peple can all have a chance t get invlved. The cmmunity will help peple if they have prblems. Always can call upn peple t help them.

19 Fund-raisers fr peple in need. I like the fire department. It is imprtant t have. Lakeview rest hme is an asset. A place fr elderly t be taken care f. Grups f kids and thers g t the rest hme t d things like at Christmas, etc Farmers May 22, 2006 Peple like the quietness and friendliness f the cmmunity that is why peple want t mve her. Friends are here and have the same kinds f mrals.fr a while there were prblems with kids/4 wheelers seems like peple are respectable wh live here/ Clean cmmunity, especially since the hailstrm f 04 90% f cmmunity is clean and kept up a flash back t the ld days the way it used t be is a draw.grandparents talk abut twn where peple help each ut Churches are an asset..recgnize that we need t slw it dwn ne day f week. Schl wrks well with twn n Wednesday night. Churches the value system f peple peple wh mve in cmment that yu dn t mw n Sunday s a value system that is a fundatin f the twn. It feels like family when yu cme here Clean twn nt a lt f lder rentals in twn and may nt have the best quality f peple mving in.twn bard is getting better newer peple wh aren t s cnservative are better nw. (In past twn bard was a majr prblem.) Twn is ging t have t grw a little bit t be able t supprt a business. Twn bard has dne a jb but desn t have the visin fr future and grwth. Cuntryside Cp and Nebraska Tire has put Firth n the map.peple knw where Firth is. Cp and Nebraska Tire has tried t wrk with the twn but smetimes the twn has bulked with them.the businesses have tried Vlunteer Fire department have been very gd vlunteers Ech individuals that wrk n Fire department take pride in it and it takes a lt f time t keep up with the training.mst f them have jbs and it takes time t cmmit fr fire dept. Cmmunity Assciatin struggle because yu dn t have enugh supprt a gd thing but struggling.need mre supprt. Spanish Speaking Cmmunity May 22, 2006 Peaceful and peple are very kind It is peaceful but the teen age drivers get a little careless Peaceful, quiet but the kids and cars are a cncern.

20 Peple are very respectful. Can leave tys in yard and n ne messes with it. IN spite it is a small twn, there is gas statin, small stre and churches. It is a pretty twn The cmmunity wrks tgether well and nice place t live and g t wrk. Very peaceful. It s nice that even thugh they dn t speak English peple still greet them and are nice t them. Pretty, peaceful, peple are friendly, even thugh they dn t speak English Yung Family Sessin May 22, 2006 Peple make an effrt t cme up t yu and intrduce themselves A clse knit cmmunity. Peple cme up t church fr first time and we gt invited ut fr lunch. Kids can play utside withut us wrrying abut it safe. Like the trees in the cmmunity. Nice and clean Twn is clean. Nt much trash; lks very attractive. Lakes arund here are nice with lts f utdr activities. Open Public Meeting Listening Sessin May 22, 2006 I like being able t walk the street in Firth r walk arund the sectin and the safety in ding that. Just an asset t feel that yu can d that. Lts and lts f ball games every night frm 6 midnight.psitive. Sccer ging n at ball diamnd t.three different places t play there. Smallness and quietness in twn can sit utside and nt hear traffic like in Lincln. Cziness f the small twn.that is why we mved here. Like the cleanliness small new families mving t twn Hailstrm did a favr fr the twn. It made everyne clean up, get new rfs etc. Ball Diamnds great things fr kids t d; Play grunds in several places. Recycling is psitive. The schl attracts yung peple t cme t twn. Majr strength schl district and cleanliness f twn and the wrk that peple d t keep it that way.he hears many cmments frm ut-f-twners n hw clean twn is. Wrked hard t keep streets up paved Schl is a large asset hpe that in the next years there will be cntrlled grwth. In K.C. it was mre risky t have kids ride bikes in twn.feel mre ease in letting children d that in twn. Utilize park playgrund equipment Eight years ag we lived in Lincln by nrth Wal-Mart which was quiet and we decided t mve. We drve a circle arund Lincln and when we came here I was struck by the cleanliness, hw the peple kept their yards and I knw we had t have leadership here.peple really tk gd care f this cmmunity. We we all f ur thanks t the peple wh were here befre cntrl the grwth

21 It struck us t have churches, paved streets, ball park, city park, grwing Cp.features we culd have in a small twn. We didn t have a bar that stays pen all night with negatives. Schl is huge super big plus. Being clse enugh t Lincln this cmmunity has a lt f pluses a best kept secret and wuld like t keep it that way. Friendly, small twn, enjy living here. Lve the small twn.lve it. I grew up in small twn nrth f here nice that I can sit ut n my swing n the deck.supprt in this twn.a cuple f families that have gne thrugh sme rugh times in this twn and the supprt they received. Happy t have my kids in Nrris great staff, great teachers.lve it here. Lived in Lincln didn t like the t clseness started lking int schls, and thrugh Nrris ffered the best benefit the reasn we mved dwn here Schls Paved streets allws the twn t stay clean.nt dusty with dirt/gravel rads. Schl is psitive. Anther psitive is an ethic they made the cmmunity and wrked at it evidence t see hw many peple shwed up at this meeting dn t think this wuld happen in Lincln. Safety fr children nt a lt f change in the 30 years I ve been here thse f yu wh are cncerned abut schl kids drinking, parties, difficult neighbrs it has always been here.pint is cncerns that we have they are always ging t be with us will try t be eliminated but small twns have mre freedm here. It is a wrthwhile thing a little mre risk nw days.but when yu weigh this in the balance experiences they have t prepare them fr life and the ability t be mre free has sme value we dn t want t put the damper n them s tightly s we dn t becme a gated cmmunity as in Lincln. Keep a balance between the living we have the pprtunities and the cncerns we have fr safety. We we a lt f ur twn t ur frefathers and the churches we have arund I m s glad t see frmer students (I wrked in Nrris fr 25 years) and s nice t see the yung families that were students nw mving back t Firth with their families. I left and then have cme back and many f my friends are als mving back here t.feel safety in twn. Grew up in small twn and dn t want t g back t live past my wn histry..nw I can live in a small twn and can be my wn persn. As sn as I saw the twn I wanted t live here attractive twn. We lve the grcery stre we try t supprt it.we buy mst f grceries in Lincln, but try als t supprt stre. I walk, I sketch what I see. I feel perfectly cmfrtable walking in twn at night (in snw). Lve parks and playgrunds. My favrite is 4 th f July celebratin. Like the whle range f recycling here. When I g smeplace else.i miss the trains at night like cming back. Peer pressure we knw ur neighbrs and kids will respnd t peer pressure better in a small cmmunity keep it that way learn wh yur neighbrs are it will help yur kids grw up better. Peer pressure can be gd in a small twn. Schl asset.

22 Fire and rescue squad is a very big asset. Lt f guys and gals that vlunteer I m nt wrried abut cncerns we have peple that will take care f it. Churches have a big plus n the develpment in twn they were respnsible in setting up the nursing hme in twn. It is a psitive effect n the cmmunity ver the years. Need t thank Janet t get the recycling and park wrk dne.great jb in getting things dne. Gd nursing hme excellent facility that take care f the peple in twn.that reputatin has spread in Lincln t peple research nursing hmes and find this ne as very gd. Nrris schl district cmmunities all 7 each ne f thse cmmunities in their wn right has strng churches and that shws in the yuth in schl. Nrris has the strngest Campus Life utside f Lincln. QUESTION # 3: WHAT IS YOUR VISION OF FIRTH IN YEARS? Vlunteer Fire Department April 24, 2006 Street dances draw peple. Like t see g back t years ag when there were nice businesses like lumber yard, grcery, and ther mm and pp dwntwn businesses. I hate t see the twn grw t much with great big develpments f 1000 hmes at a time. Wuld like t see mre business develpment New fire statin Paid fire fighters! T be viable there has t be smething here t draw them. Like fr peple t cme in frm suth and drive ver train tracks and see the mst unsightly part f twn. Clean it all up. Pr Ftball team lcated here. See building nt empty but filled with businesses. Get sme f small twn businesses back but keep small twn atmsphere We wuld get mre supprt frm fire department by cmmunity and get the equipment t prvide the type f care as peple expect. Strive t prvide arund the clck services. New statin with equipment we need. Get peple t supprt businesses like grcery stre, café, small hardware/cnvenience fr basic stuff needed. Mre cmmunity supprt and dn t want cmmunity t turn int a place where parents can t turn kids ut t play. Overpass ver railrad tracks. Nice t see that where yu live is a cmmunity that needs yur supprt. A manned ambulance unit in sutheast crner f Lancaster cunty. Nursing hme draws ambulance.

23 New fire statin, as it grws, keep the mral and ethics cming and nt becme diluted. Peple will stand up and say smething when need be. Nice t have a medical clinic here. At least tertiary care, put in a stitch is mst cmmn need in Lincln. Public transit t get peple t places withut driving. (Cncern fr gas prices and affrdability.) Nrris High Schl Students April 25, 2006 Have cleanup t eliminate eye sre areas Nice huses and mre businesses Bike trails and paved rads further utside Firth Clean and safe Mre trees planted with a new park and new ball field See mre things cme t us like pl, restaurants and fun stuff t bring peple t twn Like t see mre businesses Imprved fire department Be bigger with mre attractins but still have small twn atmsphere Brand new Christmas decratins Mre attractins fr little kids, like pl A cncert hall with music Like t get t knw ur neighbrs and nly knw the neighbr right next t me. We all stick t urselves Need t keep it clean and mre welcme Like t see a pl and restaurants Need yunger peple t cme t twn. Need smething t bring families t twn I want t be able t cme frm Lincln and still see small twn Firth Be able t cme hme and knw the street lights alng neighbrhds are wrking Free wireless internet, paved rads, mre businesses, jbs, better cmmunicatins, a theme park, clean cmmunity N Welcme t Firth sign here since verpass was built A cell phne twer, eches several times when mentined Smething t keep peple here as when I graduate I will leave. N place t wrk here s n reasn t stay A race track fr all the speed demns I grew up here and dn t want t leave. If there was a cllege here, I d stay. Yu can see the stars. Shuld have a twn sheriff t prtect lcal peple and businesses. Lts f dgs and cats running arund s we need enfrcement f pets. A place with equipment t wrk ut, rec area. A sign up fr activities f the mnth like sledding activity when fire department ices dwn a hill. Vlleyball, basketball turnament.