Attendees: Nelda Cuppy, Ed Carstedt, Mike Holman, Lori Holman, Warren Johnson, Debbie Jones, Bill LaPorte, Connie McWhirter, Ken McWhirter, Debbie Merkel, Phil Merkel, Jim Mueller, Sunny Shreeve David Toland, Deb Tynon, Jerry Ward, Kathy Ward

David Toland called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. stating that we would close the Minutes meeting by 8:30 p.m.

The meeting began with an in depth review of the February meeting by Toland for the benefit of those who did not attend. After the review, Toland stated that he would like to see a list of priorities for Moran by the end of the evening, and ultimately narrow that list to 3 items on which residents wanted to focus.

The attendees were asked for ideas and then the group determined if the ideas were feasible and doable (as determined by + and – at front of item:

• +/+ Transportation to the Iola Pool for Moran residents (children). Discussion included the need for money fuel and drivers and that the school board would need to approve using a school bus for transportation.
• +/- Grain elevator revival (or taken down). At this point it is viewed as a menace property by city government
• +/- Klein Tool Plant revival – economic development grants? Stimulus? Is tool and die business viable in the U.S. at this time?
• Maintain/grow community – primary goal
• +/- Housing – big demand for rentals – building trades in Marmaton Valley HS? Houses for Moran modeled after Houses for Iola? Needs more study; not feasible at this time due to economy
• Utility hook-ups – Bundle the items that are currently given free to potential new home buyers for marketing purposes (modeled after LaHarpe’s free bundle package for new homes)
• Trailer Court
• +/- Home maintenance for seniors and renters – Sunday night basketball players, Ruritan, Allen CC scholarship students could help
• +/- Sidewalk improvements
• +/+ walking trail – walking trail Feasible to go for grant funds within the next two years
• +/+ Promote Marmaton Village – income/disability based – add picnic tables and grills toward the old railroad tracks
• +/+ Communication – get more news to Register, use web page
-/- Community Garden not feasible due to lack of interest. Those that want to garden have the land to do it.
• +/+ Farmers Market- Buddy Mann – Colgin? school parking lot??Feasible and doable
• +/- Move Country School to town – museum, info center, library attached?
• +/- Keeping schools; keeping kids in school – Revive PTO –Feasible and doable with cooperation of schools
• +/- Storefront beautification Feasible and doable if all parties can be convinced to participate
• +/+Moran beautification – signage, light poles, benches, landscaping, Main Street home clean up feasible if grant funding is available
• +/- Level high school football field not feasible at this time due to cost
• +/- Lights on softball field Not feasible at this time due to prohibitive cost unless grant funding is found
• +/+ PRIDE

Highlighted items are items that were marked +/- in blue marker on flip chart at meeting. Doable with more study, funding, etc.

Next meeting April 1, 7 PM at Moran Community Building. We will narrow the above list down to three projects and develop action plans for each.

We will invite President of Emprise and a grant funding organization.

Respectfully submitted,

Sunny Shreeve