Community Involvement

Electronic Town Hall Meeting

What type of work do you do now?1. Mining 3%2. Agriculture 26%3. Professional & Business Services 14%4. Government, Healthcare & Social 21%Services5. Construction & Real Estate 5%6. Commercial Business 3%7. Self Employed/Work In Home 9%8. Unemployed 4%9. Manufacturing 1%10. Other 13%

What job fields might interest you and your family in the future.1. Mining 2%2. Construction trades 8%3. Agriculture 18%4. Healthcare 5%5. General business management 16%6. Machinery Services 5%7. Teaching / childcare 7%8. Computer technologies 11%9. Professional services (dentistry, 16%; accounting, etc.)10. Other 12%

Which of these are most important approaches to job creation in Hardee County?1. Attract new industries and businesses. 74%2. Expand and enhance existing industries 20%and businesses (agriculture, health, mining, etc.)3. Increase tourism in the area 6%

Which one of these initiatives do you think would most help the county?(First Choice)1. Develop incentives to promote new 60%businesses or expand existingbusinesses2. Promote Tourism through Peace 3%River/new Heritage corridor3. Develop marketing cooperatives to 14%promote agricultural products regionally,and nationally

4. Promote light industries/commerce by 24%creating a Hardee Commerce Park

(Second Choice)1. Develop incentives to promote new 0%businesses or expand existingbusinesses2. Promote Tourism through Peace 8%River/new Heritage corridor3. Develop marketing cooperatives to 30%promote agricultural products regionally,and nationally4. Promote light industries/commerce by 61%creating a Hardee Commerce Park

In your opinion, which of the following options would be the best use of reclaimed mine land?1. Cattle ranching 5%2. Citrus groves 3%3. Other agricultural uses (nursery, 11%aquaculture, alternative crops, etc.)4. Sites for new housing units 15%5. Parks and lakes for recreation 8%6. Cargo airport & related uses 41%7. Nature preserve 6%8. Industry (manufacturing) 10%9. None of the above 2%

Where do you live in the County?1. Wauchula 53%2. Zolfo Springs 8%3. Bowling Green 9%4. Elsewhere in the County 29%

Was your home severely damaged or destroyed by thestorm?1. Yes 56%2. No 44%

If your home was severely damaged, are you living in it?1. Yes 73%2. No 27%Response Distributions Meeting:AmericaSpeaks11-16 Date:November 17, 2004Questions file:Question Untitled 1 Page:10Data set:1© Option Technologies, Inc. 1999

When deciding where to live, how important is it to you tohave community services (such as schools, library, groceryshopping, etc.) within a short walking distance from your home?1. Very Important 19%2. Important 12%3. Somewhat important 16%4. Not very important 29%5. Totally unimportant 24%Response Distributions Meeting:AmericaSpeaks11-16 Date:November 17, 2004Questions file:Question Untitled 1 Page:11Data set:1© Option Technologies, Inc. 1999What are the top priorities for building housing for theCounty's long term recovery? (2 rounds of votes)1. Mobile homes 1%2. Manufactured homes 3%3. Apartments 10%4. Town Homes 11%5. Single family detached homes 75%

What are the top priorities for building housing for theCounty's long term recovery? (2 rounds of votes)1. Mobile homes 3%2. Manufactured homes 13%3. Apartments 32%4. Town Homes 51%5. Single family detached homes 0%

Prioritize where we should build new housing in theCounty? (2 rounds of votes)1. On vacant parcels in existing town 40%neighborhoods (Zolfo Springs, Wuchula,Bowling Green)2. Historic Downtown Wauchula 3%3. In new subdivisions 47%4. Elsewhere in Hardee County 10%

Prioritize where we should build new housing in theCounty? (2 rounds of votes)1. On vacant parcels in existing town 0%neighborhoods (Zolfo Springs, Wuchula,Bowling Green)2. Historic Downtown Wauchula 0%3. In new subdivisions 0%4. Elsewhere in Hardee County 0%

How important is it to create and enforce standards forrental housing?1. Very important 75%2. Important 15%3. Somewhat important 5%4. Not very important 2%5. Totally unimportant 3%

Before the hurricanes how often did you visit Main StreetWauchula?1. Never 3%2. Very rarely 14%3. Less than once a month 10%4. Once or twice a month 14%5. At least 1-2 times per week 23%6. Numerous times per week 36%Response Distributions Meeting:AmericaSpeaks11-16 Date:November 17, 2004

Before the hurricanes, what were the reasons that youwent to downtown Wauchula?1. Restaurants 35.7%2. Church 2.3%3. Shop 11.3%4. Banking 19.2%5. Doctor and other professional services 10.8%6. Entertainment 0.0%7. Kids activities 1.4%8. Meet friends/family 2.3%9. Community center 0.5%10. Other 16.4%

What would attract you to go downtown Wauchula moreoften?1. Restaurants 19%2. Movie Theater 16%3. More Shopping, including specialty 32%shops4. Bookstore & coffee shops 11%5. Arts & Museum, Theater, Etc. 6%6. More convenience shopping 6%7. Bars/Clubs 6%8. Services like dry cleaning, barber, nail 0%salon, etc9. Parking 3%

Which project best addresses revitalization of downtown

Wauchula?1. Build apartments above downtown shops 10%2. Restore historical buildings on Main Street 24%for use3. Expand the downtown along the new US 17 33%corridor4. New streetscape improvements (widen 11%sidewalks, new lighting, new paving, streetfurniture) on Main Street from the east of 17to the west of 175. Improve appearance/entrance to Wauchula 10%with new gateways/entrance parks6. Create Farmer's/Flea Market 13%

For economic development, how important is it topreserve the buildings in the heart of downtown? (on ascale of 1-5)1. Very important 26%2. Important 23%3. Somewhat important 24%4. Not very important 17%5. Totally unimportant 9%

On a scale of 1-5, how much regulation should there beto preserve these buildings?1. No Regulatory Protection at all 8%2. Minimal Regulatory Protection 11%3. Some Regulatory Protection 41%4. Significant Regulatory Protection 21%5. Full Regulatory Protection 19%

For the long term development of the county, what is thetop priority for community facilities in Wauchula?1. A new community center 12%2. A new library 6%3. A new multi-purpose indoor arena 54%4. Renovated high school stadium 24%5. Train depot 2%6. Biking trails 2%Response Distributions Meeting:AmericaSpeaks11-16 Date:November 17, 2004Questions file:Question Untitled 1 Page:23Data set:1© Option Technologies, Inc. 1999Do you have a car?1. Yes 93%2. No 7%

Would you use transit (e.g. shuttles, vans, etc.) if it wereavailable to you?1. Yes 31%2. No 69%

How important is it to manage the development alongthe US 17 corridor going forward?1. Very Important 56%2. Important 26%3. Somewhat important 14%4. Not very important 3%5. Totally unimportant 1%

You use the roads - How important is a new east-westhighway?1. Very Important 63%2. Important 18%3. Somewhat important 10%4. Not very important 6%5. Totally unimportant 4%

How much did you learn this evening that was importantfor you to know?1. A great deal 52%2. Quite a bit 29%3. Some 14%4. Not very much 3%5. Nothing 2%

How much did the keypad polling contribute to yourexperience in this meeting?1. A great deal 88%2. Quite a bit 9%3. Some 3%4. Not very much 1%5. Nothing 0%

Hardee CountyLong-Term Recovery Community Meeting

Citizen Comments

October 25, 2004

HARDEE COUNTY..........................................................................................................4

BOWLING GREEN..........................................................................................................7

WAUCHULA.....................................................................................................................9

ZOLFO SPRINGS...........................................................................................................13

HARDEE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ISSUES & CONCERNS.......................16

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/ JOBS AND EDUCATION.....................................20

JOB CREATION AND ECONOMIC BENEFIT......................................................................21AGRICULTURE................................................................................................................23MINING...........................................................................................................................24TOURISM AND RECREATION...........................................................................................24TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE.....................................................................24EDUCATION....................................................................................................................25JOBS FOR YOUTH/YOUTH PROGRAMS.............................................................................25HOUSING........................................................................................................................26MARKETING...................................................................................................................26REVITALIZATION............................................................................................................26OTHER............................................................................................................................27

AGRICULTURAL ISSUES............................................................................................27

CATTLE ISSUES...............................................................................................................27CITRUS...........................................................................................................................28FARM LABOR.................................................................................................................29INSURANCE, TAX, REPLACEMENT ISSUES......................................................................29NURSERY........................................................................................................................30AIRPORT.........................................................................................................................30ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.............................................................................................30

HARDEE COUNTY AIRPORT....................................................................................31

MINING RECLAMATION............................................................................................34

TOURISM........................................................................................................................37

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES / COMMUNITY SERVICES........................41

QUALITY OF HOSPITAL..................................................................................................42QUALITY OF HEALTH PERSONNEL.................................................................................43OTHER HEALTH SERVICES.............................................................................................43PRE-NATAL, OBGYN & PEDIATRIC CARE.....................................................................43TEEN PREGNANCY..........................................................................................................44YOUTH SERVICES & PROGRAMS....................................................................................44CHILD CARE...................................................................................................................44MIGRANT / FARM WORKER NEEDS................................................................................45HEALTH CARE FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE....................................................................45

SENIOR & ELDER CARE SERVICES.................................................................................45MENTAL HEALTH...........................................................................................................46SPECIAL NEEDS..............................................................................................................46VETERANS NEEDS..........................................................................................................46OVERALL COMMENTS....................................................................................................46

CIVIC FACILITIES, PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACES.....................46

STADIUM........................................................................................................................47RODEO............................................................................................................................49RIVER.............................................................................................................................49MISC. SPORTS FACILITIES..............................................................................................50CULTURE........................................................................................................................52

REDUCING FUTURE DISASTER LOSSES...............................................................52

PLANNING AND ZONING/CODES AND ORDNANCES........................................55

WATER, WASTEWATER, STORM WATER AND FLOOD CONTROL..............56

STORM WATER...............................................................................................................58

HOUSING........................................................................................................................58

RENTAL:.........................................................................................................................58HOMEOWNERSHIP...........................................................................................................60ELDERLY AND DISABLED...............................................................................................62FARM WORKERS AND MIGRANTS...................................................................................63PLANNED DEVELOPMENT...............................................................................................64Code Enforcement and Permitting:...............................................................................66

Hardee CountyModerate income housing “apartment complex”Not thinking big enough—diversify economy/add jobsStay small—farm based economyProvide financial support so existing businesses can rebuild.Provide federal and state incentives for businesses to locate to HardeeProvide a downtown re-development workshop/studio sponsored by a college/universityAirportNeed for high speed internet/DSL over the entire countyFiber optic not current in Hardee County, but is necessary to bringin industries and education and jobsWe need a movie theater downtownUse downtown 2nd floor for residential rentals/apply strict code enforcementConcerned that citizens were “over charged” for electricity by the City of Wauchula after the storm.In order to have future opportunities—we must have more housing. If we have Economic Development, we want those employees to live here rather than elsewhere.4-laning Hwy 17 will ruin downtown/Downtown should be restored.More training to existing persons/Customer service needs work.We need a community center that provides for arts/crafts/activities for all ages at a reasonable rate.Insurance coverage is insufficient to cover the cost of re-opening my business.There is a lack of trained employees and training opportunities.If we do not attract business there will be no need of housing. After jobs, then housing.Need more and affordable migrant housing.We already have enough migrant housing.Rebuild Main Street.Need grants from city/other? to reopen businesses. Cargo airport and strict adherence to mining reclamation laws and regulations.Restore downtown.We need to provide opportunity for our youth so they will stay.Make Main Street Wauchula a real development agency with real powers & give Meagan some assistance.More diverse community/Ownership of business/Community planningFour lane Hwy 62 to accommodate new airportGreat idea! Rebuild Wauchula into a vibrant business center JBring jobs and fun things will follow.We need middle income housing, jobs and opportunity to be available.Build an evacuation road from Coast east to west.Downtown Main Street, empty buildings need to house City and County offices so they are not vacantExpand the o-tech school in conjunction with the college.Hardee County has a lot of amenities. Teach us to market our assets.FEMA is doing well. But the housing needs to be better.Improve phone system. DSL not available 4 miles from Wauchula

Multi-purpose building with arena under 4/H. Great economic opportunities for our community.We need good clean industry that will keep the $ in our county.Please build stuff for our children to have instead of them leaving to Sebring or Lakeland or Braden.Where can we live? There are no more homesAffordable childcare. Not just for migrants and low income. We need something for middle class.We need rental units located somewhere near a community center.Cargo airport ASAPCreate new residential areas/better medical facilities/bigger library.Put a movie theater in historic district.Widen state road 62Lets create new clean neighborhoods. Ditto ! Ditto !Think of our migrant workers. They are the ones that pick all your fruit for growers!!! Yea!This town needs to keep your farm workers happy. They do all the hard labor.Some one needs to crack down on landowners who take advantage of migrant workers in a negative way.Rebuild/Cleanup/Encourage business to comeFor those who have lost jobs in citrus & agriculture—employment is needed—in order to keep those families in the community.Steak houseHelp in upgrading hospital facilities. Develop new, desirable residential areas.Definite need for nice, middle-income housing!Need to 4-lane 17 and 62, will open up for more commerce!Need rapid completion of Hwy 17 4-lane. All the way to Punta Gorda.Spearhead involvement in the proposed airport and bring to completion.We need a faster way to get the temporary mobile homes. Some people are still waiting from Charlie. I myself don’t have a house since Jeanne.We need more motels here in Wauchula so when hurricanes come we will have a safe place to go.We need more schools for shelters.Federal and State governments need to assist in bringing in businesses to our new industrial park and other areas.None unless we have a viable and stable economyWe have some migrant housing need more or farm workers will need to leave County.I want to keep Hardee County small. I work in Lakeland. I hate it. I don’t want Hardee County or Wauchula to wind up like Bartow or Lakeland.We really need to grow and have better jobs for our children to stay here.All roads in Hardee County need to be paved.Sell County equipment or use it.Need to recognize Magnolia Manor (we do exist) (Commissioners)

Bowling GreenIncrease law enforcement presence

Do away with dirt roads in Blowing Green. Pave over streets so that we may value our homes more!Make easier and safer means of children getting to schoolsDemolish old buildingsCode enforcementNeed to recognize Bowling Green area especially Denver Ave, Dade St. no more captive dirt Roads.Our streets in Bowling Green need paving. No more dirt roads.No more used car dealershipsNo reason Bowling Green could not have quaint shopping areas (antique shops, etc.)Need a restaurant and a hotel in the northern entranceThis is our northern entrance, clean it up. Currently have bad first impression of the city and countyWe need or dirt roads in Bowling Green paved. When it rains it turns into a mess. Thank you.24-hour child cares. Several hundred people work in facilities.Bring a fire department back in Bowling Green.Water, sewer, storm-water improvements.Need more dollars in Bowling Green and Wauchula.To make Bowling Green buildings look more modern open more business. Open a grocery store, fast-food restaurant. Build a youth center for the teens. Renovate the neighborhoods to make them look better.Property owners who rent should be fined for unsafe structures.Home-owners need to be fined for yards being unkempt along 17 – long before hurricanes.Clean Bowling Green up – entrance to count from north. Better housing.Clean up parks.Help them clean up the mess and rebuild good buildings and businesses.Clean up Bowling Green. Make the town presentable!Citrus-processing plant or maybe a coop.Low to medium income housing.Small business and light industry.Fine those who have old broken down cars.Go door to door and see the needs of people’s homes and help us restore houses that are in bad and unsafe condition in all communities – white, black and Spanish in Bowling Green.More jobs!Pave dirt roads.Have more sidewalks in community. Plant some of the trees back that were destroyed. Create jobs on the outside of the city, factories, etc.Fix problems in the Villa. Move druggies out. Have them tested.Lower insurance deductible for schools.Enforce codes.Pave dirt roads that are a total mess when it rains.Give people a reason to stop here.Enforce laws and think big!

Bowling Green needs planned neighborhoods, not projects. Mid-income housing!Need a citrus place to process fruit juice.Better zoning laws and have them enforced.Clean up and clear out the trash and make it all beautiful.Job opportunities, such as airport, widen Highway 62, and water and sewer improvements.Use money from insurance on Bowling green to rebuild/upgrade school. Demolish old buildings.Affordable child care. Four-lane 62. Agriculture is waning. Need new economic engine. Industrial park and airport.Bowling Green’s future is as a quaint community with a small front porch feel where people feel like one community with our own schools, recreation and jobs.

WauchulaWe need better job opportunities for middle age residents who have been downsizedGrants to assist local businesses to repair and rebuild structures, especially those without insurance, to revitalize downtown areas. Unique historical structures devastated. Increased parking downtown.More business, less eateries in downtown. Businesses that will bring in tourism to county.We want people from Orlando and all around to want to move to WauchulaTear it down and move onCity water improvedCome on Wauchula Wakeup Modernize!We need shelter for the intercity and very safeFinish downtown restoration that was started. Help downtown businesses in their restoration process.I see Wauchula as a city full of lights, model buildings, subdivisions, and recreation on a large scale, public transportation, and people loving people. Get rid of the ruined buildings that are beyond repairDue to the devastation, a tax relief would help out this yearMore incentives/assistance for new businesses starting here in Hardee County – grantsTo help our business get back in operationNeed complexes for new businessesWe all need to stay positive!!Combine city/county services. Why duplicate water/sewer/code costs!Need middle income housing (2 comments)We need shelters in several placesWe need more Hispanic teachers or helpers/tutors in the High SchoolThis is a great community! Let’s work hard and get it going again.To remodel downtown Wauchula and Bowling Green buildings and make them look more modern and updated and make it look appealing like we’re in the 21st century!Financial assistance is crucial for development. Existing businesses need grants to train and recruit higher skilled labor. Best structured to help growth.More safety patrols!!!Clean your own damage please!Carriage rides through historical Wauchula.

Bring downtown Wauchula back to the historical look!Storm shelters in facilities other than schools. Quaint towns are becoming a thing of the past. Why???? In favor of restoring our downtown area but requiring owners to maintain exterior.We need a plan to get new businesses to move to Main StreetWe need bigger schools, we’re too crowdedWe need new streets and new houses. Fix the fallen down stop sign. We need more street signs.Better roof inspections!!New City Clerk pleaseWe need a person who can coordinate events for the City Hall Auditorium, the Civic Center, the Cattleman’s arena etc.Speed up, clean up, reduce smoke from fires.Zoning – bricks on Main Street.Take asphalt off Main StreetNeed Highway 17 finished from Polk County to I-75Job opportunitiesMore restaurantsMore hotels and restaurantsAs old buildings are repaired/replaced, insist on a particular color scheme (flexible but no outlandish)Clean countyClean it! Clean it! Clean it! Clean it!Lighten code enforcement on downtown businesses (two comments)Preserve downtownTwo-story parking garage downtown districtBuild on the river and its qualitiesReroute trucks off Main Street to diminish noise, dangerous fast trucks.We need help in preserving our historic buildings; the depot, the “Checkerboard” building, the old Carlton Bank building, and Royal’s buildingPreserve historical elements of Wauchula by historically restoring downtown buildingsThe City needs to get out of the electric business and let TECO take over. Electric rates are so high it discourages people and businesses from moving here.Need to sell the electrical distribution system to TECONeed housing – nice apartments at fair prices.Amen! Housing!Need a vocational school so our students can learn a trade and better themselves. Necesitamos mas trabajos con mejor pagos para hombres y mujeres (We need more jobs with better wages for men and women.)Que nos arreglen las calles (They should fix our streets).Would be great to have downtown apartments over buildingsWebsite for disaster recovery presentation of needs and documentation of progress.More drainage and jobs and parksHotels, one is not enough. Need restaurants (2 comments)Better zoning laws and have them enforced

We need more schools and transportation for our children. Here in Wauchula, most of our children are walking to school because we live in a mile but it is still dangerous.Out with the old and in with the new.Downtown rebuilt as authentic as possible. Keep it personable, productive, family friendly, attract tourists from all over.Rebuilding a business from zero up is VERY expensive. We already have debts, loans are not what we need or want.Need to have a city manager who has the experience to run the multi-faceted system.Need more businesses. Restoration is important, but isn’t this the responsibility of the owner.Need storm shelters.Please hurry up the people who are in charge of our clean up. Our town [is not desirable].More stores in Hardee. We need the roads to be fixed.Need single-family homes for middle and higher income families. Also need multi-family housing.We need to develop a triangle of Sarasota to Arcadia to Wauchula and back to Sarasota to visit antique shops, Solomon’s Castle, rodeos etc.ParkingNeed help (money) in long term clean up for business and residentialNeed code enforcement please!

Zolfo SpringsClean up all abandoned houses and house trailers.Need more medium-priced housing ($75,000 to $100,000). Currently, there is very little new housing.Help to clean up Zolfo Springs.We have a large Hispanic culture. This is not bad – Help the community to capitalize on Hispanic community. Tourists travel to Miami for Cuban experience. Help us capitalize on Hispanic community.Restore local roads.Zolfo need to be more than a way to get from DeSoto to Hardee County. What about a Main Street in Zolfo Springs? Quaint shopping district, restaurants with atmosphere, grassy parks, etc.More children’s playgrounds and parks.More businesses in Zolfo Springs. Need a chain-food store.Clean Zolfo Springs up from south entrance. Make it look welcoming.Better equipment to maintain park.Build open pavilion in Pioneer Park over old swimming pool for use during Pioneer Park Days.Need new stadium. Need rodeo arena for 4-H. Zolfo Springs is a grate candidate for housing. The infrastructure needs to be upgraded.Pioneer Park needs to be restored with trees.More buildings to rent for businesses.Need more lighting along 17.Restore Heritage Park with trees.Need better grocery stores.

Need recreation for youth, including after-school activities.Thank God for the hurricanes or we probably would have never known our neighbors. God bless ya!Rebuild cities as community centers.We need the citizens (all of them) to start participating in the city government.Stronger ordinances to clean up debris.Zolfo Springs needs a major clean-up. Encourage citizens to take an interest in their community.Need business parks.Clean up debris!Better zoning laws and have them enforced.Need more business opportunities and housing.Industrial Park in old spray field.Small businesses should be encouraged to open up shops.Police department and City Hall in old police department building.Plaza with shops for lease.Move cattlemen’s arena to Pioneer Park and use for other events.Utilize Pioneer Park for fairgrounds, rodeo arena and entertainment facility.Bring more animals for Pioneer Park.Build large enough building to cater to needs of citizens.More exotic animals like elephants and cheetahs for Pioneer Park.Better roads and drainage.Plant more trees in Pioneer Park.Keep Pioneer Park days.Make Pioneer Park days great again.Get it cleaned up – Pioneer Park needs to be restored quickly.Clean restaurants.Clean up. Rebuild. Give people a reason to stop off Route17 and not drive on by.Restore Pioneer Park with debris removal.We need a steak house.Leave corner at Pioneer Park alone. Historic value of Pioneer Park should be kept.Are we going to have Pioneer Park days?Tear down and clean up.A larger post office and use Pioneer Park for rodeo arena and fairgrounds.Transportation would be great but we need business first! Need to expand sewer and water plants for more people.Public transportationWe need immediate public transportation – bus or train

Hardee County Transportation Issues & ConcernsClean Economic Transportation for seniors.Install “People Movers”.Need a Transportation System - Buses.We need affordable transportation for elderly.Public Transportation. (2)Senior Citizens Bus System!

We need some type of shuttle bus for those without transportation or do not drive, other than taxis. (4)We need a Transportation System that is affordable for everyone. Maybe up and down Highway 17 as pickup stop, Bowling Green – Zolfo Springs.Public Transportation is needed.Need Buses.We need Buses for the county.Hardee County needs a couple of City Buses to run through the County.Public Transportation needed Real Bad.We need some type of Bus to help people get around in Wauchula.Public Transportation is non-existent. We need buses.We need some sort of transportation for the elderly and handy-capped people.Public Transportation good idea.We need Low Cost Public Transportation. (2)We need Public Transportation.We need Transit ServiceNesesitamos transportacion para el Pubico que no tiene mveble (we need transportation for the public who have no mobility). Los que Vivimos en Wauchula nesesitamos transportacion (Those of us who live in Wauchula need transportation). Transporte Publics disponible Para La comunidad en general.(Make public transportation available for the community in general). Necesitamos transprote publico acesible a la gente pobre. (We need public transportation accessible to poor people.)Wauchula necesita mas parques recreativos. (Wauchula needs more recreation parks).Blacktop roadsWe need 4-lane SR 64 and 62.Improve Infrastructure, 4-lane SR 62 We need to 4-lane 62We need 4-lane an East/West Corridor. (4)We need East/West Corridor from I-75 to I-95.Need to Four Lane SR 62 and others E/W across the State.Construct 4-Lane SR 62 from E/W CoastAny remote chance we could consider a straight shot highway to Sebring?Develop 4-Lane Highway 62 from US 301 to US 27 or all the way.Four-Lane 62 for Cargo Airport Development.We do not want Hwy 62 4-Laned; we’ve got enough traffic already. Besides it will take too long to complete.Develop 4-Lane and extend SR 62 eastward to US 27 and beyond to Sunshine Parkway.We need infrastructure improvements SR 62 4-lane.Highway 62 connecting E/W corridor, this would help the Airport Project, which would do wonders for the County and Region.Expand 64 NOW!We need a 4-lane East And West route.Construct a Four-Lane Hwy 62.

We need to4-lane 62 and 17.There is a desperate need to 4- lane highway 17 from Wauchula to Arcadia.Also, need SR 62improved to 4-lane to start Cross State Link.4-Lane 62 or 64We need SR 62 widenedImproved Infrastructure, 4-Lane SR 62 and complete Hwy 17.We don’t want Hwy 62 4-laned too much traffic already.Need to Four Lane 62 and others E/W across State, will help with airport project, Possible Loop I-275 to I-4 in Polk City.We need 62-17-66-64-66 East/West 4-lane corridor.Construct a 4-Lane 62 and complete Hw. 17. (3)Begin 4-Lane Hwy. 17, completed expeditiously.Need US 17 completed Polk Co. to I-75.Need US 17 4-laned from I-4 to I-75 ASAP!Completion of Hwy 17, needs to be done rapidly all the way to Punta Gorda.Expedite Hwy. 17 NOW!Construct 4-Lane Hwy 17Develop 4-Lane U.S. 17 SouthExtend 4-Lane to DeSoto County.Complete 17 and do it quicker. (9)Pursue 4-Lane of 17 from coast to north.Finish Hwy. 17 4-Lane.Please help us complete the US 17 Highway.Hwy. 17, 4-lane finished.Need more North/South highways besides US 17.Expedite completion of 4-laning Hwy 17 from Arcadia to Zolfo Springs.4-lane 17 (3)4-lane Hwy 17, finish it!Four lane Highway 174-lane US 17 from Zolfo Springs to DeSoto CountyBuild a great infrastructure and include road building – new roads and 4-laning existing one such as Hwy. 17 and possibly Hwy. 62.Improve Arterials into County for incoming small to medium Manufacturing Facilities and cooperate distribution centers. A red light will be needed for Hwy. 17 N. and Will Duke Rd. intersection!Funding to pave the balance of County’s dirt roads.Pave all roads in Hardee Co. especially those near K-8 School in Wauchula Hills.Pave All County roads.Need to pave 205 miles of County Roads.More roads in WauchulaWiden East Main St. to 7 miles.Wider Streets in Wauchula.When Repairing Roads do it correctly, ST. Rd. 663, where it joins 62 always has mud holes AFTER RAIN.Road and Bridges need Repair.We need bike-lanes on our out of City Roads. (4)

More sidewalks and parks.Fix the bridge on 664Better Roads and BridgesBetter Maintenance, Cosmetics and (1) Drainage Fixed.Need to fix roads the right way so they, so they don’t have to redo them.Wider StreetsBetter intersections and quicker ways of getting around.Have better Road on Osprey Lane in Wauchula Hills. Need Better transportation. Mott Rd floods whenever it rains.Finish Ollie Roberts Rd., needs paving and Bridge.Keep in mind we are rural and want to stay that way.Connect Steve Roberts Special thru Sebring.We need more traffic lights in Wauchula and Hardee.Magnolia Manor Community needs Street Lights Desperately!!!!Street Lights for Magnolia Manor – PLEASE!Magnolia in Wauchula needs more lights.Need Street Light in Out of City Communities - Magnolia Manor.Need Street Light and better Roads in Magnolia Manor.Pave Streets and Lighting in Magnolia Manor.Don’t forget Magnolia Manor.Cross State Interstate through Hardee County.Need to make sure major entrances to City/County are landscaped to the fullest.

Economic Development/ Jobs and EducationNeed businesses.We want more jobs with better salaries in Hardee (2).Create economic development that will enhance the community.Better jobs and opportunities (like the airport).Cargo airport. ASAP. (2)Better job opportunities (4).Support agriculture and businesses – so as to keep present jobs.I want Hardee County to grow to be better than ever and to help the small business to be able to stay alive.More retail so people don’t have to go out of town.More Industry - For everyone increases tax basePenalize people who take FEMA or insurance money & leave their mess for us to clean up.PopashStop paying out monies to people that don’t own a house or any property. Just because they rent doesn’t mean they should get the money to repair.Need to recognize Limestone.Micro businesses Loans & Advice – Grants.More loans and grants for Black Community. (Amen) (Amen) (You are so right)Need airport in Hardee CountyWe really need the airport and all supporting industries. This will help more than anything else.Go for airport industrial park/We want and need it (6)

An airport would put us on the map (2)Finish industrial park.Heavy industry industrial park.

JOB CREATION AND ECONOMIC BENEFITCounty on knees/deathbed – need to be innovative – new industries, what are the damages/asses need for new civic centerBuild up and safeguard the county’s resources and heritage while expanding the markets for good and services.A federal package to make Hardee County look attractive to small industry. The best car salesman to sell Hardee County to that small industry. Federal advertisements to help that wonderful car salesman.We need diversification for new industry and aviation facilities.Put businesses on SR 64 or SR 17 will look like SR 27 in Avon Park-Sebring.Diversification on businesses.Need to have grants not loans for small existing businesses – businesses are severely damaged.We need and economic base that provides year round jobs that are non-agriculture (let FEMA provide $10M in grant funds)Utilize industrial corridor and western Hardee County to attract more industry.With airport and SR 17 finished it should help bring in more businesses.Keep jobs in town.Need additional insurance.Professional jobs.Don’t forget the needs of the winter visitors. They bring needed money into the countyNeed entertainment and other opportunities (shopping etc.) for community so our money is spent hereManufacturing plants/industries needed (5)Manufacturing plants – places that will employ several hundred people (national companies)What will be available to finance / help new businesses?We need to consolidate the county because when outside businesses look to move here, they don’t see a county with a market population of 26K. They only see Wauchula with 4K and think we’re too small.More black owned businessesBuild a fast food restaurant in Bowling Green (3 comments)Find small business endeavors with grant supportMore Hispanic business to create jobs for Hispanics.We need Hardee County cleaned up.Provide year ‘round jobsNew Civic CenterNeed great jobs with benefits and good wages. Jobs that will keep our young people here.Grant money, not low interest loans, are needed by small businesses damaged by the stormsWe need a full service drug storeNeed to create new jobs and assist small business owners to create these jobs Attract small to medium size manufacturing companies.

Wauchula business need grant money to clean up their premises.Are any of the stores uptown getting help to fix these stores?Logistics. Corporate distribution centers.Help on the IDA Park for small manufacturing.Bring computer industry to central Florida.We need some good clean industries to provide job opportunities for our community but maintain our rural life that we provide here.All members of community need to pay into the tax base more.

AGRICULTUREMake Wauchula a model of agriculture (three comments)We need to keep some farming/No airportPay people better in agriculture.Promote/maintain agriculture (2)Provide support for financial support for Ag businesses

MININGWork with mining industry (2)Limestone – is in Hardee County.Help us reclaim and clean up distressed lands.Reduce political interference for mining industry.

TOURISM AND RECREATIONHave tours like Amish country does.Ecotourism/reclaimed phosphate land.We need a large lake/park recreation area, which would serve Hardee County residents and tourists.Develop Peace River for tourism/eco-tourism centered on the Peace River.Water air strip for float airplanesEquestrian center (4)Cattlemen’s Arena (2)

TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTUREExpedite 4-lane Hwy 17 from Arcadia to Zolfo Springs. Four lane and extend SR-62 East to Sunshine Parkway and/or I-95. (3)Complete countywide utilities (sewer/water)Widen SR-62 (3). Expedite SR-62 as east-west connector. (2)Need a bus transit system/public transportation (2)Transportation for the elderly.We need help in providing infrastructure to support new developmentCountywide utility services.Add state-of-the-art high-speed communications.Provide utilities to prepare /attract future development.We need transportation (2)Need all private roads taken over by the county.We need road and waste/sewer for growth.Water in the community would help.

EDUCATIONDiversify teachers, administrators and public officials to represent entire County

Vocational skills taught in High SchoolA multi-level age care, education and providing jobs and training for adults in the community. Youth development and trainingRedo schools – more education.We need a vocational high school to develop skills other than going to college.Teachers that reflect our community culture and make up.We need undergraduate education in our community.Public and Social ServicesYouth services for children at risk (Hardee has more per capita by county)More help for people with diabetes or a special clinic.

JOBS FOR YOUTH/YOUTH PROGRAMSContinuing care facilities from cottages to nursing homes.Use senior retired individuals to teach youth trade skills.Create retirement living community.Fix playground for our kids.A more diverse police department.More parks and youth programs.I would like to see a facility to meet the needs of low-income parents in Bowling Green. A day care center complex with a Christian emphasis. Hardee County needs a second nursing home facility.Need facilities for Alzheimer care in county.

HOUSINGCreate jobs and more housing (low to moderate incomes)New housing opportunities/Create clean industry.More housing for migrants.No more projects! We need moderate income housing.Transitional living.Homes for migrant workers – affordable homes to workers that stay here all year.We need middle income housing for business professionals.

MARKETINGDevelop a slogan – make Hardee a special place for visitorsNeed to market Wauchula, Bowling Green and Zolfo Springs together as one drawBowling Green needs it’s own identity with schools, downtown and emergency services.Why isn’t Wauchula on maps? On T.V. we aren’t on it.

REVITALIZATIONIn revitalizing downtown. Owners of these buildings need to be responsible not tax payers.Focus on rebuilding downtown and center of reconstruction.More residential housingBefore Charley our community looked undesirable. Help us make it more desirable place in which to live for our grandchildren.Could we get rid of junk cars etc in people’s yards?Affordable housing within walking distance of activities and churchesWe need a shopping mall. Keep from driving out of town.Let’s plan for a revitalized downtown.

I love our Main Street and we will rebuild it- it’s the heart of our town.We need a movie theatre in historic district.Farmer’s Market.There is only limited parking for our restaurants. Beautification of downtown. Antiques/Retail areas (2).Antique mall (2)Place to shop for food, clothing and home furnishings.Build up and develop downtown (3).We need a community theme surrounding our businesses.

OTHERHardee County needs a comprehensive planIt would be positive to build alliances (cross county boundaries) to attract new business.What about Magnolia ManorBaby boomers will impact Hardee – build structure to support.New Football stadium.Baseball fields and more parks are needed.We need a large multi-purpose facility to be used for all events.Youth center in Bowling Green.

Agricultural IssuesCATTLE ISSUES

Cattle were stressed and lost weight – help for ranchers?Small cattle operations will need assistance with fencing, loss of grazing lands, some have even lost cattle. State of the art livestock market and slaughterhouse in Ona/Fort Green area. (Railroad availability) (3)Yeah, put everything in Fort Green that stinks is noisy and criminal. How about giving us a break for a change? Put it on 64 east.Make sure the range cattle station stays in Hardee County.

CITRUSCitrus packinghouse in Hardee County…American owned.Help us until we get our groves that are going to have to be reset, to maturity or production years. (3)Citrus workers housing has bee drastically reduced. We may lose many entire families that have worked in Hardee County for years. Get the good groves growing better, take out the ones that aren’t and use the land for something else. Orange juice plant to help the small growers of Hardee and DeSoto counties compete with major corporations that would rather sell Coke and Pepsi and also deal with very large growers because of the cost of doing business with one versus hundreds. Focus marketing efforts to schools so that kids have good quality juice versus cheapest product. Building ProjectsRebuild the Hardee Cattleman’s arena. (313 signatures/e-mails from a multi-county area) Need a multi-purpose facility.

Need to build a multi-purpose building under air that will benefit our whole community and will bring dollars into the county.New multi-use building to house indoor arena w/heat and air. Will open a lot of economic opportunities for our county.Hire an events coordinator for the multi-use building and pay base salary – but give percent of gate of everything brought in.Farm IssuesNeed more development for agriculture – tomatoes, citrus, strawberries, squash.Enable us to be able to ship tomatoes and citrus anywhere in the nation without first going through a packinghouse or state inspection. (2)State Farmers Market needs updating and extensive repairs. (3) Go organic. Grow specialized crops and target nearby specialty restaurants and markets. Inclusion of specialty crops such as herbs, fisheries, shrimp, etc.What about our aquaculture/tropical fish farms? (2)Need relief for grass seed lost in the storm…200 lbs to the acre at $2.00 lb at 160 acres equals $60,000. (3)We need agriculture. We can’t live without it!Small operations need a voice. We’re facing the same issues with less money.

FARM LABORBetter benefits and pay for farm workers. Have farm owners that people work for pay some of their bills…like housing, etc.Need migrant housing…good, affordable.Los trabajadores del campo necesitan casas y major tra to el trabajo.(The field workers need better housing and better treatment on the job.) Guest worker program to better regulate migrant labor and cut down on the amount of illegal immigrants who flood Hardee County and are a strain on county services. We need migrant workers but should be better controlled and regulated. Hardee County spent $500,000 on indigent health care for migrant workers. More money to growers and equal time and pay for the workers.Let’s think about the people that pick our citrus tomatoes, watermelon, etc…not just the growers.

INSURANCE, TAX, REPLACEMENT ISSUESThe USDA disaster relief fund for citrus growers is good, but the percentage that goes to tree loss and tree damage needs to be tax free – fruit replacement OK to be taxed. (7)Price supports for all ag products grown in Hardee County for 5 years…until we are back on our own feet.Should be no tax on disaster money. More crop insurance.Crop insurance needs to be revamped – needs to cover lost labor and structure for nurseries. (2)Replacement cost of structures, ground cover, irrigation, etc.

NURSERYDisaster insurance to cover labor and shade house replacement and the plants.Financial help for nursery worker’s lost wages.Compensation for labor to cleanup nursery property and repair damage. All requests must be documented by records.

Utilize local plant nurseries in reclaiming land from mines.Plant nurseries repaired and expanded.

AIRPORTNo on cargo airport.The cargo airport could revitalize ag. (9)

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTBuild a research center to show what can be done on land after mining. There are so many ag opportunities that can open new doors for the five county area. (4)Deregulate like other NAFTA countries so we can compete for dollars. Support and rebuild existing businesses… Keep jobs in county.Rebuild ag business. Large ranches can become great tourist attractions. Convince ranches to diversify.Programs that will help market product from Hardee. Product guide for wholesale buyers up north. More hotels not motels.

Hardee County AirportAirport would serve as a base to attract new businesses and jobsWe desperately need an airport…not only for jobs, but to help us growCargo airport could and will open a lot of opportunities for our communityYes, yes, yes. Our economy of the future depends on it!We need it!We need the airport for the future of our community, kids, grandkids and so on …The airport will help the job marketGood jobs, good pay, good things will follow!Yes to the airport – and more will followA great use of [the northwest] part of the county; we need to move into development ASAP!Put a classification that must hire so many Hardee people if not it won’t help usYes! (14)Airport would be an asset to the economic marketWe want jobs the airport bringsYes! Airport = JobsThis one project would have a great effect on the economy of this county and would crate many jobsWe don’t need an airportWe need a cargo airport! (2)We need this to happen very soon, we need to make it happen (5)Please build the airport and very soonDesperately need the mega-airport and related industriesSome people like to be left in the countryIs it a scam? Are [the planners] just getting wealthy?Yes, yes, yes, please bring the airport! For the jobsI vote for the airport and jobsThe airport means more jobs, yes, yes!

No! Use the money to build Hardee County. Build an infrastructure to encourage new businesses to come. Also, help support those existing businesses – people will leave if no jobs are hereAirport will promote economic growth (5)Four lane Hwy 62 (3)I am tired of seeing year after year, Hardee graduates leaving the community due to lack of jobs. The development of a cargo airport will create jobs for the community. Along with jobs, comes better housing developments, retail businesses, infrastructure, and improves the variety of health care options. Bottom line: We need to keep the future of Hardee from leaving by providing a reason to stay. Jobs, jobs, jobs. Go Airport!!!The one project that could make a differenceYes. Please build the airport so we can have more jobs for adults and teensGet-R-Done!Need to get this done immediately (5)I lived close to Alliance Airport in Ft. Worth (this airport is supposed to be modeled after it). The noise was unbelievable and property values plummetedGood way to use reclaimed landThe airport is old news. All talk and no actionGood idea. Get some good airlines in hereAirport will bring job opportunities for manyHardee needs development. The airport will create jobs crucial to the vitality of this countyJobs, jobs, jobsThe airport is just the thing we need to help our economy here. Good luck!We need it…something besides social programs!Need to have strict regulations on what comes in the airportKeep it coming, do it, quit talking about itLet’s get moving!We need a rallying point, such as an economic engine we can all support. Get the airport going it helps in disasters, brings business to city and makes jobs!The airport will create jobs for the “twenty-something’s” and recent college graduates to apply. Far to often this key demographic is forgotten in this county and this project will help this demographic stay in this county pumping their paychecks in this county and not somewhere else. Everyone winsAirport needs to be privately funded – no local funding11/2 years have gone into this planning. Any assistance that can shorten its planning from government entities would be most beneficial. This is the opportunity of Hardee County’s lifetimeCargo airport to include: planned community (similar to “The Villages” in the Ocala area); state of the art schools, hospitals, multipurpose complex, cultural center, sports arena; neighborhoods developed for singles, young families, retirees, etc.; historical museum with local and state artifacts; shopping options – boutiques/specialty types as well as a Mall with anchor stores; restaurants; airport related businesses; access to major roadways – cross state highwayThis airport is very, and I stress very important for this county to have any economic success. The jobs and the businesses that this airport would created would be like nothing

this county would have every seen. We need projects like this for this county to be around in 50-yearsWhen I finished college I struggle to decide whether or not to come back to Hardee. I knew the opportunity for success was limited. My family is here so in the end I came back. I am fortunate to have found a good job. Most of my friends are not; they have left and not come back. The Airport would created the jobs needed to Hardee does not have to lose its young people. In fifty years without the airport, Hardee will only be a memory. We have a chance for success; Let’s not let it pass us by!!!Stop and think of how it will be with jumbo jet cargo planes roaring over Wauchula 24 hours a day and night; plus, all the truck traffic tearing up the roads. There must be a better plan to attract light industrial and business other than a mammoth airport

Mining ReclamationReclaim and develop for community uses.Reclaim phosphate land for farms and housing.Make sure mining areas are cleaned up.Lakes to be made from exited mining areas.Mines must be regulated and controlled.Use of industrial parks from used mining areas.Design clay areas for waterfowl and public duck hunting.Hold the mine accountable to keep our land beautiful and livable.Put prison on this land.Mining companies should be required to strictly adhere to the legal requirements and regulations.Hold mining companies accountable.Mining is and has been an important entity in Hardee County. However, will this entity be in Hardee County when our grandchildren and great grandchildren have a seat in County government? We must also think of diversification for the future.Keep their feet to the fire. Mines must be accountable.Better use for reclaimed land- industry.As a result of the industry merger, issues between county and mine officials should ease because of new companies stability.Mines should stay, more reclaimed land for parks.Water resources development, lakes for recreation, regulation changes.Work with mines, find use for byproducts alternative energy.We need more housing.Wait 30 years to open up western Hardee County to any development.Explore opportunities through research for businesses/industries that will use industry byproducts and clay.Make sure that mined land is reclaimed quickly and maintained. Too many mining companies have gone broke before completing obligations.No clay waste unless beneficiation and infrastructure is located here.People need to look at our county’s future and not at just money and instant gratification! The mines won’t be here forever.They rape the land.Find a beneficial way to use reclaimed land that provides jobs.

We need jobs.We need jobs, period.Lakes for development, higher income homes for tax base.Nice lake for recreation.Diversify!Diversify, Diversify, Diversify (3)Reduce bureaucracy in the mine permitting process.Mines mean money and jobs for Hardee.Ban mining and starve in the dark.Use some phosphate lakes for aquaculture, fish farms, and shrimp farms.Look at potential agricultural research on reclaimed lands.Very productive clay soils can be used for agriculture.Water resource development.Build research station for farming.Meaningful reclamation.Mining very important.Important tax base, land use vital for recreation and housing developments.Phosphate research center to show agricultural opportunities after mining. A lot of new doors could be opened for the 5 county area.Hay, forage, cattle, sod, horticulture, aquaculture, trees, wildlife.Need best reclamation available, but plan to allow mining to proceed as fast as possible.Comprehensive approach to reclamation.Mining is important, land should be reclaimed ASAP for economic development.Mining provides economy, a lot of jobs with good wages. I don’t feel it is an environmental risk.Biomass production.Stricter regulations on mining companies, Hardee County is a beautiful place- can’t we co-exist?Ain’t it pretty? This is what happens when you sell your soul for money!We need to reclaim land for uses that will benefit us.The mines pay good wages, what we need is better paying jobs.The mines should be responsible for reclaiming the land in a timely manner, not 25 years from now. Working with the community is a must.Phosphate companies could reclaim land into lakes fro recreation. This would attract people and development.Utilize reclaimed land for agriculture and recreation.Research center for: forage, cattle, aquaculture, trees, farming, etc. on reclaimed land.

TourismBeautify City & Encourage InfrastructureWater theme parkNatural Environment. A place that brings people back. Weekend getawayMulti-Cultural activities festivalA petting zoo & Bed and Breakfast communityNeed bigger and better hotels, restaurants, and shopping mallsRecreation centers for family activities. Mini-golf, race car, water slidesNeed more parks & recreation at each community

Eco-tourism, horseback riding, canoeingWater and theme parkTheme park on outskirts of the countyFocus on rural county tourismCentral Florida Historical Museum (We are rich in Florida’s historical development)A permanent facility for the “story of Jesus” to bring folks to this areaBeautify downtown – plant trees, clean image, and benchesTheme parks needed pleaseTheme parkMore family activities to fit the family budget to get all to enjoyParks!!!Shopping MallParks for our kids pleaseBetter recreation parks and place for teensClean up the mess and make the place attractiveAgro-tourism – wilderness, nature tours, fishing, water recreationWould be nice to be a place where people want to comeLook what Arcadia did with their main street. Create an old country main street with stops, stores, and cafes to attract day-trippers. Fund these efforts to help small business to get started. Try using college students to come up with a unique design for Main Street.We need an area of unique quaint shops with lovely seating nearby to bring people in “one day trip”We say “yes” to all of the unique attractions!I’d like to see Wauchula/Hardee retain its country charm of antique districts and quaint restaurants. Keep park pioneer day.Agro-tourism, ranch, dairy tours and bird watchingAfter someone visits our community… they will remark to others how neat, clean our downtown area was-buildings well maintained.Clean up the area so people want to comeFarm type Bed and BreakfastWe need casino gamblingDowntown revitalizationImprove lodging for visitors – bed and breakfast, hotels, and campgroundsRails to trailsDo not forget the winter visitor, they bring money into the countyTheme park, water attraction – we’ve got plenty of landAgro-tourism –milk cows on farmVibrant Main Street, festivals & fairs, more bed and breakfast innsDowntown boutiques and specialty shopsCorporate retreat locationMilk cowsNeed RestaurantsKeep quaint rural atmosphere with small pioneer attractions keeping agricultural focusRecreation and eco-tourismA little more western old town

Outdoor sportsman facility around Hardee Lake and proposed airport propertyFarmers marker (Dade City is a good example) antiques, restaurantsRebuild existing businessTheme park and name it Hurricane Park!Promote fish campsMall and theater, better hotelsEco-tourism focused on Peace RiverDowntown similar to Arcadia with lots of shops, promote eventsPromote small townOutdoor sportsman paradise (Hardee Lake) and sporting facilityParks for our childrenNature walks, airboat rides, eco-studies by UniversitiesA Bass Pro shop theme park like Disney World at Hardee LakeSpecial design relative to our historyBuild up Historical featuresLet’s get as big as Bradenton.Restore downtown- more festivals!Nature/ wilderness tours; Agro-tourism.We need some more activities- theater, parks, and museums to give residents things to do at home. Tourism can be over done (seconded).Bring a couple more hotels to choose from.Don’t want too much traffic- brings crime in.Do not forget the winter visitors.As many retirement communities as we can handle. Develop the county service industries to the extent the people do not have to leave to go to other cities for the same services.Necesitamos mas trabajos que los hispanos podamos realisar no solo en el campo si no tambien en la ciudad como fabricas, hoteles y restaurantes. (We need more jobs that the Hispanics can hold that are not just in the fields, but in the town as well, such as factories, hotels and restaurants).Nice place to live with adequate shopping and good recreation. Youth need recreational places to go. Downtown restored. Better schools. Stadium. I prefer a quiet quaint environment that is conducive to raising a family. Tourism is available within 1 hour in every direction. We can’t possibly compete. Need to clean up the unsightly environment. Air shows, hotels, festivals. Would like to see tourism combined with citrus/ farm tour- we feed the world, let the world know it. Similar to tours in Amish Country, etc.Expand outdoor sporting events: hunting, fishing, and dog park. Improve campgrounds and public parks. No Old Folk Town. More big museums around the county. Bring a theme park to DeSoto County. Improve roads leading into Wauchula. I spend more of my $ out of town than in town due to evening activities.

Keep rural areas rural. If you let a subdivision in then have roads up to code for county to maintain. We need more stores around the City, more and better jobs. More restaurants and sports. Bring a shopping mall. I am interested in Hardee County being on the high level of tourism meter to prevent travel to larger cities that are frequent now. Retirement type community. We want to keep things moderate, not extreme. Mix of restaurants. More small hotels or motels (reputable). Hometown feel with places to go and shop- restaurants, bed and breakfast, etc.We need progress! More stores and recreation for local people, not having to go out of town.Want to keep the quality of rural environment- but yet open doors for economic growth. Eco-tourism.I’ve worked in Brandon, I currently work in Lakeland. I hate the traffic and bustle and noise and crowds. I love Hardee County. I was the Hardee County of my childhood (60s) back. It was wonderful then, before the Wal-Mart put every small business out of business. We were a thriving little community. Bigger is not better. Not a retirement community.

Health and Human Services / Community ServicesCommunity center – so kids will have a place to go besides the streetNeed better fast food places – most of them are closed or the service is badCreate more jobs – there are no jobs for our parents or us who want to workWe need more shopping places – we only have Wal-MartImprove our hospital so you don’t have to go a long way when you have a babyAfter school programs to tutor us, to improve our FCAT scoresMore affordable housing. Some are too expensive for poor people.Better police protection and service Enlarge our public library. We don’t have enough books or computersCreate more activities during the summerSpray all of Wauchula for mosquitoes.

QUALITY OF HOSPITALNeed to support the financial needs to replace current hospital facilitiesNew hospital would help handle county growthMore hospitals and doctors for people in HardeeBuild new hospital – pleaseBuild new hospitalWe need to build a new hospitalNew hospital New hospitalNew hospitalOur hospital is like a band-aid station – we need a real hospital with doctors who operateModernize hospital medical facilities so that people do not have to go out of countyNeed quality ER – up to date with quality equipment and qualified doctors, we drive to Sarasota for help

We need to stop funding local hospital. Patients are being sent to Highlands Hospital. We need better facilities.Bigger hospitals with doctors that are specialists of different health problems – and affordableNeed hospital for Hardee – full service, attract MDs, etc.Our hospital is a joke. Overpriced & poorly staffed.Would agree to: “Some of our county hospitals need better facilities & more doctors.”More adequate health care – less wait time in ERQue Hardee tenga un buen hospital porque el que esta no sirve y tambien necesitamos una Buena clinica dental en Hardee (We want Hardee to have a good hospital because the one now is not adequate and also we need a good dental clinic in Hardee)Necesitamos un hospital completo contados los servicios con personal bilingue (We need a complete hospital including services with bilingual personnel)If not a new hospital, improve the service of the one we have.Problems with Adventist as hospital operator – building old, bad quality care, no sliding scale for low-income people without insurance

QUALITY OF HEALTH PERSONNELWe need real doctors & updated equipmentWe need more family practitioners and a new state-of-the-art hospitalWe need more access to doctors and health care.Doctors in Hardee County that specialize in their fieldsMr. Gill, our physician assistant, is sensitive to our needs, also Gary Gossman, with Pioneer Medical Ctr. Need more physicians like them.

OTHER HEALTH SERVICESUtilize the current community health center (CFHC) to provide ancillary services beyond the hospitalBetter transportationDo something for middle income. Make prescriptions affordable.We need a drug store

PRE-NATAL, OBGYN & PEDIATRIC CARENo place to deliver babiesFull service hospital with delivery of babiesNeed hospital to deliver babies and serve needs so not sent to other hospitals out of countyUn hospital para las senoras que dan luz (A hospital for ladies who are in labor / giving birth)We need good baby doctors so first time mothers won’t be afraid when they go to the hospital to have their first babyNeed pediatric orthopedic doctors in this area!

TEEN PREGNANCY Being number 1 in teen pregnancy is northing to be proud of!Teen pregnancy is rampant – Help!More activities for our youth combined with education could slow down teen pregnanciesWe have teen pregnancies because of not enough community activities for our kids. Also need parent involvement programs.

Need program with parents and children (boys & girls) to teach them about making good life decisions about jobs and when to start families – will help with teen pregnancyNeed programs that teach kids about taking care of babies, using an artificial baby that cries and wets. Will help teach responsibility and how hard it is to take care of babies

YOUTH SERVICES & PROGRAMSPediatric developmental services at school levelNot many services for kids – preventive, health, behavioral. Young people need more helpHave after-school programs for our childrenMore entertainment for youthFunding for after-school programs sponsored by libraryIncrease size of libraryNeed 4-H exhibit building at the county fairgrounds. Could be used to showcase all 4-H projects and exhibits during the fair and throughout the year for special events, meetings, seminars, workshops. Also a place to display plaques, trophies and awards presented to 4-H teams. Also a place for year-round storage of supplies and equipment.

CHILD CAREAffordable child care for lower income familiesMore affordable child care for all income levels

MIGRANT / FARM WORKER NEEDSNeed evening clinics for migrant workersClinics open later to serve farm workers & those that cannot miss time from workMas personas bilingues en las clinicas (More bilingual people in clinics)Necesitamos que no nos cobren tanto en las clinicas para los que no tienen meriquey. (We need that they don’t charge us so much in the clinics because we don’t have Medicaid.)Bi-lingual support

HEALTH CARE FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLELack of money to go to doctor – If you don’t have a Social Security number, no medical services availableExpand current local health care programs for indigent population – primary care network & improve access to specialty care & outpatient surgical center

SENIOR & ELDER CARE SERVICESWe need a nice new nursing home for our elderlyNeed assisted living – holistic approach, extended care, graduated levels of care, integratedImprove senior service in the countyMore assisted living facilities neededNeed assisted living & retirement areas for our peopleAssisted living care facility – will also provide jobsOnly two assisted living centers – both damaged – need more & other nursing homesMeals on Wheels – care & service to the needy elderlyElder care services at all levelsWe need more assisted living facilities & nursing home facilitiesWe desperately need some assisted living facilities & more awareness of senior services

Continuing care facility – independent cottages / various costs to traditional assisted living to nursing homes

MENTAL HEALTHMental health services at hospital underutilized, even though we provide transportation and accept Medicaid. People go outside the county for therapy, maybe because of small town stigma or perception of better servicesMore information about mental health care for the elderly

SPECIAL NEEDSMore services for disabled. More jobs for all.Paraplegic careWe need a better transportation system for the handicappedAdult training centers (ARC already here)

VETERANS NEEDSLocal clinic, something for veteransHospitals and service for veteransHealth Professional DevelopmentMedical scholarships for years of service in rural communities

OVERALL COMMENTSIntegrate entire community health care system (hospital, clinics) to support community needsBetter more improved health servicesNeed designation as front porch communityWe’re facing the greatest challenge the county’s ever had – we need to create a new Hardee County

Civic Facilities, Parks, Recreation and Open SpacesWater Park!More improvements at Roosevelt Park.Importance of the Library in the community.We need the Forestry Division to help us figure out what to do about resetting pines & cleaning up the woods – fire hazard will be great this year.Bigger library with Spanish books.

STADIUMPlenty of properties, better than anywhere else.Plan, plan, plan – no knee – jerk reactionOne large facility is a fine idea, but will it eliminate some events because of costs?If stadium repairable, fix bit. If not, replace it. Need facility for big events, such as graduation.Rebuild the stadium & arena with insurance funds, but include building multi-purpose for other activities. (second)Stadium – replace; repair if cost effective. New place to hold graduation, not at Pioneer Park, not the Rodeo ArenaRebuild stadium & fix ballparks. Kids need it.Rebuild all new sports facility.Sports complex to everybody.Move all sports activities out to high school & civic center. Move arena & fairgrounds to Pioneer Park.

Rebuild arena in same location with improvements.Sports complex - it is better to build more schools & sports fields than jails.Sports complex – soccer, volleyball, basketball, swimming, etc.Replace stadium please.Large, multi-purpose facility for all events.Repair stadium.Best for county schools.Replace stadium closer to high school.Move stadium & turn into parking area for teachers of both schools so parents can actually get into school to pick up their children.Better arena & ball fields, stadium (as nice as before)The stadium - build it bigger & better. If the city or county owned it we could attract tourism; shows; college football; state bs championship, etc.Rebuild & consolidate playing fields, swimming pools & provide countywide transportation to these venues.Great idea if funds available to consolidate stadium / ball fields at the old fairgrounds. I like the idea of combining the fair, ag & Pioneer Days at ZS. Multi-use buildings would be great.Sports complex “we use the sports against the crime” Hardee Co Soccer League.Sports complex, sports complex, sports complex.Football stadium needs to be near school. Need better acoustics & bigger civic center.Relocate stadium to area near high school. The idea of consolidating the community centers (arena, complex, etc) & fairgrounds. Story of Christ. etc. is a very practical one. Many people from out of tow now must obtain directions to different facilities.Yes, not in Zolfo Springs.Move stadium & ball fields to high school area. Relocate arena to Pioneer Park.Have multi-plex for sports/entertainment.Relocate stadium arena etc.Repair this now so we can have home games next year.Rebuild at same site with a multi purpose buildingReplace stadium (fifth)New & Improved consolidated sports complex.Sports facilities & support to young peopleRebuild the stadium. I miss the games here. (second)Rebuild the stadium and arena and still build a multi-purpose structureReplace stadium closer to high schoolNew stadium at high school. New fairgrounds & rodeo arena at Pioneer Park & amphitheater.

RODEOWe need to keep the arena where it is. The agricultural complex needs to be expanded with horse barn and cattle barn. This is Hardee Co heritage.When planning new stadium or Cattleman’s Arena – let’ have a facility large enough to host concerts, rodeo events, etc. (second)Rebuild or build new covered horse show/ rodeo area with enough horse stalls to have state shows. Hotel to accommodate attendees.

Need better rodeo.Cattleman’s arena needs to be a separate facilityBuild better rodeo facilities & other events will come to our community. We need horse barns and cattle facilities.Better rodeo, better stadium or place where children have activities, a better park.Plan for a civic center & rodeo arena in paper was good. Get it done!Rebuild rodeo in same location.Rodeo must be a multi-purpose center.The Civic Center should be expanded & relocated if necessary to host a variety of civic events. Not necessary to associate with arena.New arena pleaseArena – new fairgrounds that can be utilized for education for IFAS, 4-H, FFA & community events

RIVERRiver restoration, more boat rampsPromote the river and natural beauty of the river – ecotourism.Clean the trees out of the river.Something done with Peace River for recreation instead of floodingPublic ownership or conservation easements of Peace River corridorRiver activities & riverside businesses. We need to promote what water we have. (second)

MISC. SPORTS FACILITIES Need an after school recreation center for help kids with school work in Magnolia community.An Olympic size public pool, bike lanes on all roads (second) We need ball fields fixed, after schools are done, & a playgroundWhy doesn’t the Army let migrants play soccer on fields?How about soccer fields around the HS as well?We need a soccer field & lights for children in community.We need a place for the youth at this community to have a meeting place.Need soccer fields for migrant workers with lightsSoccer League (children, ladies, and adults)Soccer fields and other sports for everybody.Baseball parks, soccer, volleyballOther sports – need big supportSports fieldWe need sports facilities for our youth. Give them something to play and a place to play and keep them off the street.We need a lighted soccer field for migrant children.Move Roeler grounds to Pioneer Park, stadium to high schoolNeed more recreation spaceFamily parks where men & women are active as well as childrenComprehensive Sports Center – tennis courts, wall ball courts, softball fields, little league fields, soccer fields, repair, repair county pool or add facilities to this complexWe need more youth programs and activities & money to fund them. Not just 4-H, but other programs as well.

We need affordable rental buildingsCenters within communities.Sports complex for Wauchula for soccer, volleyball, basketball, swimmingHere in Hardee County, there is a lack of activities. Help for children so their parents can support the children.Hardee has been a recreation wasteland in the past. We need more emphasis (second).Parks area – walking/running area, playground, swimming pool, roller-skating, skateboard areaNeed RV parks where they allow children no matter the ageRecreational park for our familiesWe need better parks with more toys here in Wauchula, and a zoo if possibleNeed for updated & more diverse activities for both kids & adultsAnything that will be good entertainment for families & kidsParks for the familyFitness walk, hiking/bike trailsJogging trailsWe need a theatre and a playground for children.Develop recreational opportunities – walking, biking, horseback riding, etc. associated with Hardee Lakes, Payne Creek EcoCorridor, Peace River Park area. Address quality of life issues so people want to live in Hardee County, e.g. library expansion, nice parks & recreation facilities make the County look good.Add tennis courts to recreation area, could be used by HS PE hereSwimming pool at Pioneer Park in Zolfo Springs

CULTURECounty auditorium with large capacity seatingButterfly gardenCultural centers & museumsWalk-in theatre in Hardee Co., well managed.Large multiple use building; Nice facility on river for special events – weddings, etc.Use old airport land on East Main for new “civic center”Community facility in underdeveloped areas/ communities in the counties, e.g. Bowling Green, Wauchula, Magnolia, etc.Expansion of County library – better computers and Internet connections – Fla. History section.Cultural center and recreationalWe need community & multi-purpose centerNeed a larger civic center/arena for community with programs. Recreational facility.Bring a water park to Hardee Co, something similar to Adventure Island.Support to sports & culture, activities

Reducing Future Disaster LossesWe need grants to help damaged small businesses in the county.Provide financial support so existing businesses can rebuild.Basket Ball Court for Kids.Public Swimming Pool for Everyone. (3)Remove destroyed buildingsTear down old buildings and neglected structures.

Condemn dilapidated buildings now before the disaster! Same for houses.How are we to pay for demolition and removal of buildings?We need more jobs for fixing schools and homes.Not enough shelter space.Need a shelter, of solid construction, in a larger complex.Limestone needs a comprehensive shelter.New structures (public) are needed to provide shelters for future storms.Need pet friendly shelters.Need animal friendly shelter space. An animal friendly shelter could possibly be built at the South Florida Community College.Quicker response in obtaining shelters.It has been a nuisance to miss many days of school—but the bottom line is saving lives by offering secure shelters.Churches, rather than schools need to shelter. We lost 17 days this year—not all due to damage.We need shelters that don’t disrupt the schools when the actual storm is over.We need shelters that are not part of the school system.Need critical facilities that are self-contained.Don’t build homes where water marks are on trees.I live in Riverview, the drainage has been awful. Culverts need to be re-dredged.Following WW II, everyone put electric utilities underground. Putting electric utilities underground will make them less vulnerable to hurricane damage.Put electric utilities underground.Schools should be built safe and secure.Need more fixed schools, stores, and homes in Hardee.Our schools need to be rebuilt with better safety codes. We need more schools and damaged schools should be replaced.We owe it to our children to reduce future school losses.Glad this happened, if we get real school(s) out of it.Facilitate a place where children can wait on parents while parents are waiting in long lines to receive relief items.Create incentive programs so that churches and schools are built well so they stand up to hurricane strength winds.Better buildings that are stronger.Better roof inspections!When rebuilding, we need to combine buildings and bring them up to code, such as the Ulluch-Nickerson Building in Zolfo Springs.Mandatory code enforcement for life safety, American with Disability laws, and fire/building codes.The new hurricane codes have proven to work. Let’s make sure repairs meet codes.Strong building codes.Code enforcement.Build a Senior (64 and up) facility in Zolfo Springs that is not under water for weeks.More industry, bigger tax base, more schools, and better facilities.Grants to enable historic structures to be rebuilt, yet strengthened.An effort should be made to preserve historic buildings.

County and city keep saying it’s not their responsibility.Put in place ordinances and rules for keeping businesses and industry in line for what Hardee/Wauchula wants for its community, so no one gets out of hand.We needed precious time to prepare after Charley changed course, but lost all media coverage when power was pulled two hours earlier to landfall. We did not know a Category 4 was coming right for us.Have not considered providing first responders (law enforcement, fire, rescue) with such items as food and water.They need to go door to door and check on people in outlying areas. We didn’t have a soul from the county come and check on us in Ft. GreenGovernment needs to have a post-mortem to see what did/didn’t work. Don’t be afraid to talk about failures.Help to determine if our present structure is storm worthy?What can we do to prepare for other disasters?

Planning and Zoning/Codes and OrdnancesStronger enforcement of codes and zoning (15).Lack of proper zoning has turned Hardee into a rural ghetto of sorts. We need stronger zoning here.If needed, change and city charter to enforce a better code, which hasn’t been developed yet.Help get rid of ruined buildings.Follow through with enforcement of building codes. What has happened with the deterioration of some highway business in Zolfo.Quit running people out with your restrictive and anti-growth procedures.Change zoning laws to allow new buildings to replace the ones that were destroyed regardless of acreage owned.Get copy of Punta Gorda’s code enforcement laws and standards. Show leaders in Hardee County how to implement the above statement.Make new laws with higher standards for getting ride of shanty houses all over Wauchula.Not necessary – the 5 acres per home zoning.Keep the 5-acre per home zoning. It ensures that quality people will settle here.Enforce clean-up issue (2).Make zoning codes to fit the economy of community. We need fair input for entire community.Wauchula used to be such a pretty place. Now many areas are slums and dangerous. Enforce zoning code laws and bulldoze any derelict housing.The county should do all in its power to allow the city of Wauchula to move its city limits northward on US17 so that the city includes Wal-Mart, etc. The city of Wauchula is perceived by the outside world as too small. Too small = no new businesses.Teach new residents the local laws re: codes-------so when you fine them, they’ll know why.Help repair the damage the storms did. Most of the issues here have nothing to do with the storm damage.

Water, Wastewater, Storm Water and Flood ControlWe need a water treatment plant and system for each community that can be self sustaining during storms.Build infrastructure to include water lines and sewer lines as well as storm drainage control to eliminate flooding.We need healthier water in Hardee.Healthier water in Hardee County also a better water system for our county.Need to complete county wastewater and water system immediately. Work to consolidate Zolfo Springs, Wauchula, and Bowling Green county system into one water and sewer system for county.City sewer, water in the whole county!Affordable hook ups on 62Limestone water test!!!Expand the water and sewer systems countywide for health and expanding housing.Limestone needs water tested.Better water in Magnolia Manor Community and drainage systems.I am concerned about the safety of our drinking water. Septic tank effects?To upgrade our water system.Upgrade!Need expansion of water sewer facilities in the county.Magnolia Manor city water and sewer.Magnolia Manor community!! Please.More industry bigger tax base more $ for infrastructure.WastewaterWater and wastewater plants needed to grow.Need further expansion of facilities.Magnolia Manor needs better access to city water and sewer.Build all utilities with growth in mind!Hire more help for Bowling Green upgrades.Countywide sewer and water are impractical at this time.Eliminate effluent disposal into Peace River.Improvements to infrastructure need to bring in more businesses.Grants to complete countywide utility infrastructure. Revamp SWFWMD to make more “user friendly”.Underground utilities Electric lines.We need facilities adequate for new housing.Eliminate city utilities, it costs citizens too much. Make more affordable.Municipalities need to work together. We do not need 4 sewer plant operators.Have City of Wauchula stop ripping people off in their utilities.Sewer plant not big enough for growth, Zolfo.Lower fees for industry on 62 and 17.Hardee county utility common with taxing authority.

STORM WATERClean up the small creeks and roadsides to make water get away sooner.Need better drainage for streets. We had problems before the hurricanes.

State Rd 64 E in Zolfo in low part of road needs to be built up so road does not flood or Cracker Trailer Park does not either.Clean ditches, fix culverts, water stands in grove. It did not 20 years ago.SWFWMD take action to make runoff and flashflood water able to leave the roadway and more bridges instead of small culverts.Water drains need to be cleaned regularly and have continued upkeep.Improve drainage to improve flooded roads.Better water drainage and ways of highways need improvement.Lack of cleaning out drainage ditches.Flooding is a problem for our housing development. Do not sell subdivisions where flooding occurs!Money for solar energy, which does not go down with power outages.

HousingHelp homeowners---- make it a priority!

RENTAL:Garden apartmentsApartments for all income levelsSpacious apartments – blockMore affordable homes for young families, better choices of rental propertyApartmentsMore affordable housing – many are low income familiesHousing units for all income limits Apartments and single-family residencesSection 8 vouchersAffordableWe need work and rental choices for all economic groups We need more affordable single-family homes that young families could be attracted toNeed moderate income housing Better low-income housing and homes for middle incomeWe need a mixture of apartments, garden apartments and single-family homesNeed more rental housingNeed affordable housingAffordable housingNeed all housing for migrant and low income residentNeed rental housing for moderate-income working and low incomeWe need more apartment complexes in Hardee CountyLack of rental housingThere is a need for, affordable senior housing, multi family units, upscale condos and apartments Rental units that exist are damagedHousing for all income levels – apartmentsReplace “slum housing” with better housing for low income and middle incomeMore housing for lower incomeMore apartmentsNeed housing complex in Bowling Green for moderate-income familyNeed more for those who can’t afford it and peace with RV for travel trailers for kids

Increased funding and support of Hardee County Housing Authority by County and local governmentMultifamily homes, condo’s More apartments with playgroundsFarm labor, median income, and rentalMigrant or low-income housing Low income would be niceAffordableHousing for families of little resourcesOpportunity for better housing at a price accessible to lower classMore apartmentsRestore housing over retail downtownSubsidized Housing!!!!Low –income family houses!!!

HOMEOWNERSHIPSingle-family homes1500 – 1700 square ft. homes ($75,000 to $125,000) pleaseHousing from $80,000 to $100,000We need loans to buy a house with interest, etc.Single family for working peopleWe need affordable single-family communities and duplexes with playgroundsCondos at this time would possible be out of our community’s price rangeNeed more affordable housing for all ages and incomesMore industry, more jobs, more money for employees, more affordability. Middle class and up housing, to attract people who work an attract professional school teachers Single family housingHard to find good starter home from $80,000 - $90,000We need more single-family apartments such as duplexes and one family homesAffordable homes for people of low incomeCondos for seniors close to stores and neighborsSomething affordable, livable Like modular housing, less restrictions holds values better Would like to see more affordable family housingCondosSingle-family housingMore housing is needed for single professionalsNeed to be able to provide middle-income housing neighborhoodsNo more mobile homes. Build homes worth $75,000 to $150,000Homeowners need to clean their own yard, make out town prettySingle-family homesMiddle income housing (nice)Middle-income housingModerate income to low-income housing. Available rentals are for low-income agricultural/farm laborersApartments for varied income with services (day care)

Need more average to high income housing Some low-income housing We need middle income housing so that business professionals can come to this areaWithout affordable housing how can we hope to grow? To me that is a necessity because you can’t expect to attract industry without housing. Condo’s and apartments for middle incomeNeed smaller lots for affordable housingModerate prices homesNew subdivisionsNeed more choicesWe need housing for moderate to middle class citizens in Bowling GreenContact Polk County Builder Association for expansion into Hardee CountyHousing repairs – if the home is too poor to live I, could they be demolishedLand needs to be appropriated for housing – land developers need some type of benefit to develop affordable housing subdivisionsHousing and lights for Magnolia ManorClose to schools and shopping center!!Housing needs to be located in Hardee County and in Magnolia Manor areas, areas where land is easily accessible for utilitiesHousing in towns, country (not far), clean areas with zoningHousing needed in Hardee CountyHousing within the proximity of schools and shoppingMoney for Habitat for Humanity homes, low income families, no interest loans for homes will help eliminate substandard housing.

ELDERLY AND DISABLEDThe needy and elderly needs more help in housing and more in home care as a group or double familyHousing for seniorsWe need moderately priced homes for the elderlyNeed elderly housing ALF & nursing home, adult daycare Lost Forest Glades (Senior Housing Complex) and disabilitiesNice neighborhood, better housing less expensive or better housing for migrant workers Our elderly population needs affordable housing under $80,000Develop affordable/accessible housing for all agesWe need more for the seniors who built this town! I’m 34. If you came to this town contribute!Elderly health care with housingHelp people that need the most help and resemble ????????Transitional housing which moves these people in the low income housing to real homesTransitional livingSenior housingWe need economic housing for the elderlyIndependent living for DCF or At Risk Youth in Hardee CountyQuality senior housingElderly and disabledHardee County is lacking considerably in its nursing home/assisted living facilitiesAccessible so people without transportation can get to stores easier

Affordable living facilities for middle income families We need senior citizen community housing – close to Post Office and grocery storeAll types of individual housing needed in Hardee County. Especially middle class, elderly and disabled affordable housing. Not necessarily apartments.

FARM WORKERS AND MIGRANTSFarm worker housingNeed migrant housing, low income and the elderly close to servicesGreater participation by farmers in Hardee County Housing Authority No more farm worker or low income, we have enough of that now Need housing for migrant workersMore housing needed for farm worker, one apartment complex is not enoughRent to the equal wages would be an improvement; the workers don’t make enough to pay the way the price of rent is. Help the underprivilegedHousing for migrant workers is neededWe need more houses for farm workers, there are no good places now and they are still coming from up NorthHousing for our migrant workers, help! Help!More higher income homesI am a worker in the college doing a study of farm workers and what I have seen is very sad because the conditions of the houses and mobile homes are very bad. The ceilings are leaking and they have the mattress in the living room because the bedrooms are leaking and the fridge doesn’t work. The landlord charges $140 per week. I think that these people who come work here deserve a good place to have their family because they contribute so much just to have their family because they contribute so much just so we can have a glass of orange juice with breakfast.

PLANNED DEVELOPMENTPlanned communitiesIn the outside part of community not on major highway such as US17 and SR62 or 64Block Swap Reinvest in developing community pride in housingIn nice areas that are controlledPlanned communities attract developers mostly for retiredHousing needed in Wauchula and Magnolia ManorWe need all kinds of housing All types of housing is necessary Some housing or business could be located on old airport property owned by the cityNeed better plannersHousing needed between Hardee and Manatee CountiesWe need quality housing in Bowling GreenAffordable housing in Magnolia ManorNeed more housing on the west side of the county (Bowling Green, Wauchula and Zolfo)Planned community – similar to The Village in Ocala area, Raise standards/quality of housing in communityMore parks to play on with lots of safe and fun stuff; want more room for kids to go to school, more teachers, more classrooms and more jobs for grown ups.We definitely don’t have enough farm workers and more farm workers are needed now! We need migrant housing for grove workers and harvesters

More planned developments that are affordableMore places to playA recreational park would make all sad recovering kids happyWe need an efficient City clerk More nice affordable housing, nice neighborhoodsParks with lots of safe equipmentTransportationComprehensive plan for houses is 5 acres – too expensive for some people to buy landWhen doing plan please consider the low-income families here in HardeeNeed to identify other large landowners along with phosphate land holdingsNice affordable homes in nice neighborhoodsThe hurricane did a lot of damage and there is barely enough decent housing stock availableNeed to have more decent, safe and sanitary housing in Hardee CountyMore housing in Wauchula Hill or anywhere in Hardee County also close to the grocery storeNeed for more housing in WauchulaThe housing in the area is targeted towards low-income familiesGood neighborhoodsRebuild Wauchula Hills CommunityMake comprehensive plan to raise standard of living in Hardee countyDevelop highway 64 between here and E. BradentonNWES I would like to see our kids play in the playground not on a slab of cement!Needs access to water and sewer

CODE ENFORCEMENT AND PERMITTING:Keep building codes strict for rebuilders and repairs Stiffer code enforcementsNeed property owners to be aware of codes and the government needs to enforce them!Most homes that are affordable are in neighborhoods that need to be cleaned up – code enforcementThe majority of landlords are not fixing their properties at levels where people/families are comfortable to live in themMake permitting easier to obtainPowerful, wealthy citizens can circumvent codes and allow rental housing to fall into disrepair. Slum Lords (Everyone knows who they are but can’t do anything about it on the community level)Better garbage pick up and lightsSlumlords are a problem– need good homes for migrant workers PermittingWe should work on improving “eye sore” homes that already existWe need for them to help us repair our houses be better in HardeeWe need to enforce building codes, clean up homes in bad shape or remove, clean up Co.Need home repair program and homes with more roomsAssistance to local contractors to get supplies (shingles, etc.) to repair damage, also assistance to local contractors to expand, we just need help with the construction industryBetter communication with commissionerRaise standards of code enforcement immediately!

Tear down older home in all cities and rebuild – improve the housing and looks of our cities, beautification of our cities!Housing was terrible before the storms, now there is no housingPeople need to get out and help clean up and fix up elderly housingRebuild all of our cities- tear down the houses and build new ones. Beautify Zolfo and Wauchula.

UPDATED, FINAL PUBLIC COMMENTS SUMMARY through November 2004.

Here are updated reports on comments received from citizens of Hardee County since the Oct. 25 public meeting.

The comment period was open until Nov. 22, but we continued to receive additional comment sheets through yesterday. The report includes:

1. A summary of comments on the 275 yellow forms we received from and since the Nov. 16 meeting. 

2. Typed versions of the yellow stickies from the 450 people who attended the Nov. 16 meeting; and miscellaneous other comments, including email, hand-delivered notes, and typed versions of the notes on the yellow forms.

Summary: From the yellow sheets, the top five citizen priority projects are:1. Promote small business and enterprise development2. Determine airport feasibility3. Build and rehabilitate local housing4. Expand higher education5. Tied for fifth place:

- Grow downtown businesses and farmers’ market- Rebuild the stadium and athletic facilities

Many respondents also want to attract new industry, enhance the Highway 17 corridor, build affordable housing, expand vocational training, and provide better health care and social services.

Key economic incentives were ranked in the following order:- Incentives for new and existing businesses- Creating a Hardee Commerce Park- Developing marketing cooperatives to promote agricultural products regionally and

nationally- Promoting tourism through Peace River/ new heritage corridor

More than 95 percent of respondents believe the planning process has identified important projects needed to help Hardee County recover from the 2004 hurricanes.

LTR Rough Draft  

Comment Sheet - TALLY  

Hardee County  

a/o: November 30, 2004  

        After      

  At the meeting: Sub the GRAND    

#1 - 5 most important recovery projects: Ann: Rodolfo: Total: meeting: TOTAL:    

Promote small business & enterprise development 40 22 62 46 108 1 1

Airport feasibility study 30 22 52 24 76 6 2

Improve internet access 13 9 22 11 33    

Develop Peace River Corridor 6 3 9 10 19    

Expand higher education 13 10 23 32 55 3 4

Develop & enhance agri education 2 1 3 2 5    

Enhance downtown 14 10 24 10 34    

Grow downtown businesses & farmers' market 15 10 25 25 50 5 5

Improve regional access & transportation 14 10 24 8 32    

Improve local access & linkages 4 2 6 5 11    

Expedite 4-lane US 17 27 14 41 10 51    

Build & rehab local housing 22 15 37 34 71 2 3

Improve health & human services 12 4 16 10 26    

Youthbuild 7 2 9 3 12    

Support regional housing orgs. 3 1 4 3 7    

Provide affordable housing 13 9 22 16 38    

Inclusive communities 1 2 3 0 3    

Launch two-one-one Helpline 2 0 2 2 4    

Mobile health clinic 4 2 6 1 7    

Expand/enhance library 6 1 7 16 23    

Rebuild the arena 7 3 10 10 20    

Rebuild the stadium & ath. Facilities 12 10 22 28 50 4 5

Construct a community center 12 5 17 14 31    

Update mitigation strategy & sheltering plan 1 1 2 0 2    

Unify public safety & EM facilities 7 4 11 1 12    

Improve water & wastewater facilities 10 5 15 13 28    

Develop storm water master plans 2 0 2 2 4    

Reduce risk of wildfires 0 1 1 0 1    

Develop agri coops 0 3 3 7 10    

Build research center & demo farm on mined land 4 4 8 10 18    

Develop agri water conservation 2 1 3 1 4    

Develop water flow & resources 5 0 5 2 7    

Enhance mining reclamation 12 7 19 19 38    

Assess water quality & environ issues 2 1 3 2 5    

               

               

#2 - Most important projects - expanding bus. & job creation:              

Re-dev US 17 26 12 38 30 68 25%  

Incentives 42 23 65 57 122 45%  

Tourism 8 1 9 5 14 5%  

Farmers' Market 8 4 12 11 23 8%  

Hardee Commerce Park 18 10 28 19 47 17%  

          274    

#3 - Job creation:              

Construction trades & management 26 15 41 26 67 1  

Agriculture 10 6 16 22 38 3  

Healthcare 15 6 21 16 37 4  

General bus. Management 20 7 27 19 46 2  

Diesel/auto mechanics 3 1 4 4 8    

Teaching & child care 10 3 13 13 26 5  

Computer Tech 12 3 15 10 25 6  

Criminal justice 2 0 2 4 6    

Cosmetology & culinary arts 3 2 5 2 7    

          260    

#4 - Revitalizing downtown:              

Very 48 19 67 48 115 66%  

Moderately 12 10 22 17 39 23%  

Somewhat 3 1 4 10 14 8%  

Not at all 1 4 5 0 5 3%  

          173    

#5 - US 17 corridor management              

Yes 55 29 84 64 148 93%  

No 5 3 8 3 11 7%  

          159    

#6 - Affordable housing:              

Very 45 23 68 48 116 69%  

Moderately 13 8 21 12 33 20%  

Somewhat 8 1 9 8 17 10%  

Not at all 0 0 0 2 2 1%  

          168    

#7 - Health & human services:              

Surgical 14 9 23 21 44 5  

Expanded urgent care 24 11 35 25 60 3  

Family practice 24 11 35 35 70 1  

Prenatal, obstetrics, etc. 15 3 18 8 26    

Specialty services 13 7 20 25 45 4  

Senior care 22 12 34 34 68 2  

Childcare 5 0 5 10 15    

Mental health 3 6 9 6 15    

Mobile clinic 9 3 12 6 18    

Dental & vision 7 9 16 6 22    

               

#8 - Community facilities:              

Very 24 20 44 29 73 43%  

High 27 11 38 34 72 42%  

Medium low 10 2 12 10 22 13%  

Very low 2 1 3 0 3 2%  

          170    

#9 - Public access:              

Very 20 8 28 11 39 24%  

High 22 10 32 22 54 33%  

Medium low 16 11 27 29 56 35%  

Very low 5 3 8 5 13 8%  

          162    

#10 - Overall on the Draft:              

Most 35 22 57 57 114 75%  

Some 11 3 14 10 24 16%  

Missed 7 3 10 3 13 9%  

          151    

YELLOW STICKIES FROM NOV. 16 MEETING, HARDEE COUNTYCommunity facilities- Option #1 seems to offer more choices for the community and the athletics. Important for children

to feel things are moving back to normal.- Relocating the stadium and other sports venues seems reasonable at the high school. New

tradition will be created.- Stadium need upgrading, not rebuilding.- Need to construct at high school rather than jr high.- Athletics is a great drug deterrent. Why not have facilities in each community?- Build a separate school and stadium in Bowling Green on a smaller scale.- All children and citizens deserve recreation and community center – not just Wauchula!- Don’t forget about the rest on the county!!!- There are more cities in Hardee County other than Wauchula. What about the rest of our cities,

lake Bowling Green, Zolfo, etc.?- What about recreational facilities in rural communities?- Would this include retail space, like coffee shop. Definitely need new library.- We need to make the best use of our resources and money.- Let’s not forget facilities for our other sports programs as well.- Do not reconstruct in same location. Move closer to 17 and give greater/ easier access to it!- A large arena would be a good idea!- Arena is good idea. If it will equally service all of the county.- This project has been long overdue in updating. Now is the time to have it recovered for all

events; Christian as well as grade, rodeo and social. Better and more parking is needed.- Option 2 better for the economy. May need more parking.- The cattlemen’s arena needs to be rebuilt – But separate from a nice meeting, multipurpose

building. Who intends to run, pay, and do the upkeep? The cattlemen don’t need a high-energy cost.

- Option 1 on arena.- Upgrade facility with additional space for bathrooms, meeting rooms.- Stadium could have been repaired in two weeks by locals. What is wrong with us?- Very good idea.- Love it! Very good idea!- Children’s library in Bowling Green.- Excellent idea! Beautiful architect, large facility for expansion (easy access from 4 sides?) will

draw visitors and locals to the downtown area.- Very nice and badly needed! Love the architecture. It will make a great place for community

gatherings.- Very important for our children to have access to books during the summer months.- English needs to be encouraged. We had a wonderful library.- Stop, please stop the negligence of authorities of the county – sport complex.- The county had been making plans for sport facilities – we want results! Stop complex.- Sport complex – not only the students play sports!!!- Sport complex- sport complex – sport complex. Why not? It’s very important!!- Sports s crime. Please, believe it! Leisure and culture = less drugs and gangs.- Please support all citizens in their sports – sports complex. Sports complex.- This county is the only one never supports their sports. Sport complex!- If you build sport facilities, you’ll have less crime, less drugs and a better citizens.- Sports complex – we are hundreds of sports families. We need your support.- Sport complex – not only the students play sports. All ages people need practice, too.- Sports complex, sport complex, sport complex, sport complex. Don’ forget us, please!!- Sports for everyone!1 sports complex.- Our people make sports in the streets & highways. Is correct that? Sport complex.- If you don’t support the sports, you’ll support the bad life.

Reclaimed land

- SWFWMD – currently working on MFL establishing. Also studying use of phosphate lands and CSAs to supplement storage of water and/or supplement Peace R. flow.

- A_________ are okay but we need some ________ here.- See if seniors would be interested in doing free work @ water plants to free up employees.

Health and Human Services

- Currently there is a federally funded community health center that serves all.- Consider Manatee and Sarasota, also. Fred Grady, FINR- Coordination needed!- The Meals on Wheels program has been up and running two weeks after Charley.- New facilities attract qualified doctors.- Need to build new hospital. Old hospital has old infrastructure, too expensive to renovate.- We do good in this area!- Yes, need to do surgery here. Need specialists like dermatology.- Need pediatric services for non-medicaid. Even couple of days a week.

Housing

- Bring it on. We need it NOW!!!!- Focus on middle income is important. We have been overlooked long enough!- We have started. Thanks for your support!- Charlotte County should not be in this regional project.- Excellent. Good for kids in trouble. Sentencing alternative.- Great idea for youth in our area. Get started ASAP. Already started? Where?- We have started. Thanks. GREAT!!- Need master planned communities for moderate-income families.

Housing #2- Enforcing the landlord’s maintenance is a huge problem.- Code enforcement (strict) necessary to attract new residents to our county.- Address concerns about middle and upper housing needs along with rental properties for this

population, also.- We need housing!!!- Citizens, Christians, and all people leaders of God need to strongly embrace housing, affordable

and other shelter needs for this county.

Transportation and roads- Real paved roads! Not half way.- Magnolia Manor needs sidewalks for our children. Is this important?- 4 lane is good, but homes and development is better.- Recommend routing US 98 down 66 and north on 17 for federal funds and a shorter route would

bring people through Wauchula.- Much needed! NOW!!!- Clean up looks of buildings on both N and S 17 lanes – outlayer flat roofs that blow away.- There are 2: Classy and Hays Medical Transportation.- How about Dial a Ride for elderly. Handicap transport.

Downtown- All the downtown development is geared to Wauchula. Where is the rest of our downtown? - Children’s Museum in Wauchula. What a great idea!- Love the children’s museum idea- Excellent! In Wauchula. Give children’s library to Bowling Green.- This is a beautiful example of what downtown could look like. Yes!- For all cities. Thanks!

- Great idea!- Make available for small businesses.- All downtowns, ie Bowling Green, Zolfo, Ona! Too!!!

Mitigation, Public Safety, and Water- Need communication system that covers the whole county and then some with latest high-tech

features.- More shelters in each community!- Coordinate with SWFWMD in development of LMS.- Community needed that have hurricane construction, homes schools, etc.- Need a repeater in BG for communication, possibly on water tower.- Important to have individual structures in each community, especially Bowling Green, Ona,

Limestone, Zelfo.- Study important to be done on drainage development of Hardee, throughout the county.- Find source to clean Hardee County’s creeks, rivers, and drainage canal from storm debris.- Long-term planning necessary for Hardee growth. A phase process needs to be put into place to

accommodate future growth of Hardee.- Necessary.- Upgrade necessary.- Water supply to Fort Green Road corridor is also desirable for encourage industrial growth along

that corridor.

Jobs, Small Business, Broadband, Airport, Peace River, Education- Small business. More jobs.- Need Japanese car dealers, garage door bus., etc, so money will be spent locally. Encourage

people who work here to live here.- Grants for small businesses.- A need for more small businesses. A micro process works in 3rd world countries, I’m sure Hardee

can use it.- Industrial corridor should be adjacent to water, sewer, rail, and natural gas.- Telcoms DHS need for entire county. Much needed here in Hardee Co. This is attractive not only

to the business owner but to the potential employee. My question – how possible is this? Time span?

- Airport – do study, true study, and cost long-term to citizens.- Airport – much interest. Most in favor. Reps from Polk County getting involved.- Peace River – develop master-planned communities around nature reserves and Hardee land.- Love the Heritage Park idea.- Not what you’re currently thinking. However, an (sort of) eco-tourism idea (a pre-hurricane idea):

Western counties (Sarasota) had VERY CONTROVERSIAL Myakka Forest idea of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) because of eco issues. How about ATV park on reclaimed land phosphate etc., land? There are many ATV enthusiasts (me too!) who would pay to ride and in general a GIANT GROWING industry. Fred Grady, 941-322-6100. (PS – A neighbor who works in Hardee)

- Educate Hardee Co. residents (all) to the value of buy in the county and keep our money local. Teach them economics.

- If education is so important, then why does it take 3 or more years to finish an AA or AS at SFCC?

- Cultural studies and plans needed reflective to the county.

Agriculture- Using IFAS will provide the unbias opinion.- Independent studies aside from those of the mining industry need to be done to determine a true

unbias affect of mining on Hardee Co’s future.- See DeSoto comments regarding FARMS program.- On farm demo projects can potentially be funded through the SWFWMD Peace River Basin

Cooperative Funding Program and FARMS program.

Hand delivered from newspaper comment sheet

Comment A1. Change Wauchula’s name to “Buzzard’s Nest”2. Quit talking – start cleaning up this dirty town.3. Quit using our tax money on illegal aliens. Round them up & send them home. 4. Get the destroyed houses down.5. Get roads paved in Wauchula. They have not been paved in 40 years.6. Inforce the laws in this town. 7. County was dirty and in need of cleanup & houses in need of being tore down before the

hurricanes.8. We need cleaner stores to shop in.9. We need better nursing homes for our elderly.10. We need better management at low income housing here.11. We need people who really care about this town & county to run it and take care of the needs of

the people.12. We need to be able to see progress in growth of jobs. Cleaned streets that should be paved. A

cleaner town to live in.13. We need fir these people who run this town to get out and ride every street every road here in this

town & county & see how nothing has been done to improve the looks and quality of living here.14. Stiff fines for unkept houses & yards.15. Load limit signs on our city streets – no more semi going down our streets tearing them up.

COMMENT B1. I’m writing with red as if I was using my blood because that’s how upset I am. Charley on Aug.

13 took out our homes of Forest Glade Apts. It’s been now over three mo and we feel we did something wrong cause we all can’t go home. They put new roofs on – had the sideing put up. No I hear they can’t get permits to put our walls, cabnits, paint and carpets in. Why? Why? We want to go home. I wrote govern Bush about this and waiting to hear from him. Where do we go when our relative’s are tird of us and want us to move on?

The many of us who meet at the mailbox and talk, or one saying how they have to walk on egg shells or get out. Why are we told we’ll be back home by Jan 1 now it’s I don’t know when. My mother being placed in Lakeland knowing no one and want’s to come back to Wauchula. I heard Roam wasn’t built in a day – but Charley took out a town in one. And simple thing’s like all the garbage still at Forest Glade can’t be cleaned up. I know FEMA has been like a miracle worker but still waiting to hear from them on a fraud case. I agree this was a devastation but spell backwards is: No-it-at-saved. But saved at what? A Circle K can be put back but not our homes. We the people of Forest Glade Apt’s want to go home and not interested at the cattle issues to the sports.

Miscellaneous comments written on yellow comment sheets after 11-16-04

- Mining reclamation land must be able to support housing and commercial developments or our property values will only decline and we won’t see development.

- Have the phosphate industry store their clay where it is processed. The industry creates undevelopable land on 40% of what they mine. They also ship (export) over 70% of the product they dig up in Hardee County. Phosphate is a limited resource and exportation should be limited.

- Place less focus on Main Street Place, less focus on mining. It is up to that industry and government to focus on reclamation. Economic development/growth will encourage quality reclamation.

- Bring K-Mart, Checkers Restaurant, ice cream parlor, Long John Silver’s restaurants.- Beautification of entering and exiting highways and downtown.- I agree that now is the opportunity to restore and replace with great vision – A more accessible

Main Street, better planning for commercial parking in downtown area. We need someone or a group to encourage businesses to take a positive attitude toward locating in a smaller community.

- To me the airport is the most important project that the county can invest into its future. It will provide jobs and the potential of side industries.

- Include GED/High School equivalency program into education program.- Promote agriculture and cattle industry.- Support and help local existing business get back on their feet – if you can’t help them, how are

we to help new ones.- Clean this place up – enforce codes & clean up the junk.- Our infrastructure needs major repair. Electric, water, sewer, streets, garbage, etc. We need to

start here first, or we won’t be able to meet our future demands.- East-west corridor of SR 62. People should be encouraged to clean up and beautify their property.

Tax credits or some other incentives or zoning enforced. Properties are too junkie.- Extend Highway 62 to the east coast.- Give more consideration to ag. Ag is the main for Hardee and DeSoto Counties and need your

help.- More inspectors – people are being held up getting jobs done because of this.- Fraudulent insurance claims- Some larger businesses and major restaurants.- Need major industry to come in for more jobs.- Middle-income housing.- Housing.- Need to concentrate on all communities in Hardee instead of mostly Wauchula. The rest of the

towns are just as important.- Look into transportation for children (ex: Walking in rain, no sidewalks).- More focus needs to be made on things other than Main St. There are more important things that

are being overlooked. Main St has been a huge effort in Hardee Co and other projects are being ignored!

- Focus on health care rather than transportation as key issue! Health care; more ?s on housing.- Construct a community center – not just one large center, several centers!- Work on the phosphate co. to have a no clay policy. Do a better job in maintaining reclamation.

Get their property on the market for sale quickly.- Public access and public transportation are very very very very high priority. Include re-education

of residents to shop at home.- Focus on Florida’s fastest growing and largest business: tourism.- Should get the arena rebuilt as a multipurpose facility.- Use existing programs and funding.- The library is great – downtown would benefit greatly from the proposed plan shown.- Reading is the key to all learning! Love the drawing – Library Community Center!- Need to include concepts, projects, that can spark development.

- Tie projects to potential funding sources.- Expanded health care opportunities will attract new residents and economic developments.- Missed a few vital recovery projects such as Need to look at garbage problem. Need incineration.- Addition of stalls and other improvements for cattlemans arena.- Add stalls at cattlemen’s arena.- Horse stalls/improvements to cattlemen’s arena.- Getting permits volunteers to clean up, fix up Forest Glade Apts so we can go home.- Look at economic devel first to help county grow.- Need a vocational school for our youth to learn a trade and receive as education at the same time.- Need a vocational school for our youth to learn a trade and get an education at the same time.- Special recreation areas on reclaimed lands hunting, fishing, biking, hiking, canoeing, shooting.- Partnering with phosphate industry to reclaim land into lakes for recreation which would attract

more tourism, retirees, and development.- Cargo airport and industrial park as co-located on major road.