No growth - No groceries

By Monte Walker, EDC Director - City of Howe

In 2010, The City of Howe put together a Comprehensive Plan formed by a committee of city officials and citizens They sent out questionnaires to citizens which returned these results:

Question #3 was: What would make Howe a better place? Answers:

--Growth: Grocery Store, More businesses, increased affordable housing

--More small restaurants, more restaurant choices

-- Video store

--Grocery store (multiple responses)

--More Chamber of Commerce interest

--Consistent enforcement of codes

--Better street and utility maintenance

-- Streetscaping

-- Sign ordinance to reduce small signage

--Beautification program

-- Tree trimming

--No alcohol sales

-- “Welcome to Howe” sign

-- Stronger leadership

--Better utilities with own sewer plant

-- Less strict building codes

--Doctor’s office, general medical

--More community-wide activities like Fall Festival

--Getting rid of eye sores, i e burned down grocery store on west side of town

--Revitalized downtown while preserving historic charm.

Question #4 had citizens rank a list of business types they would like to see in Howe 92 percent of citizens that returned the questionnaire said that a grocery store was the number one need in Howe

Question #5: What type of housing does the City of Howe need more of? Single family lots were the overwhelming desire of the residents Respondents clearly showed their desire for increased affordable single family housing In general, residents want a wide range of single family housing to meet the varying income levels of families

Question #6: What do you believe is the biggest street or road improvement needed in

Howe?

-- Improvement to older area roadways

--Routine maintenance

-- Fill pot holes and top coat

-- Smith Road area

The idea of a comprehensive plan is to generate the wants and needs of the community and the city and find common ground to reach those goals I'm very proud to see that quite a few of the goals have been accomplished recently and I also see that we have major goals that we have yet to reach

In question #3, the citizens saw a need for more growth and a grocery store. With the announcement of LGI purchasing the remaining Summit Hill phase I lots, the single-family housing needs are in the works With the current population without Summit Hill's soon-to-be new homes, a grocery store was a near impossible feat With those additional 113 homes in the near future, the grocery goal becomes a much more likely possibility I don't think people understand that grocers and retailers do in-depth market studies and know the precise formulas on what will support a store and what will not To this point, our city has not met the criteria of being able to support our own grocer. How many citizens, even if we had our own grocer, would still shop in Sherman to save $0 75? All of that plays into their formulas

As mentioned, I am proud of the things in question #3 that we have accomplished We now have a Chamber of Commerce We have a beautification program that completed some streetscaping We have a "Welcome to Howe" sign, although it is painted in downtown and a need for a highway indicator sign is still needed I feel like strong leadership is in place at the mayor, city administrator and council levels We have had more community-wide activities like Fall Festival, such as an improved Founders Day, Back to School Block Party, 4th of July Fireworks, Chamber Mixers and Hall of Honor Ceremonies We have rid ourselves of eyesores, such as the burned down grocery store and restoring the former First Christian Church And we have revitalized downtown while preserving its historic charm

We haven't solved all of the problems - we've already discussed the grocer issue A city sewer continued on page 13

Howe High School Ribbon

Cutting Ceremony

May 25 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Howe High School Cafetorium, 200 Ponderosa Rd , Howe, TX

Seniors Methodist Church

Banquet

May 25 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

First United Methodist Church, 810 N Denny, Howe, TX

Peggy’s Porch

May 28 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Peggy’s Porch, behind City Hall Howe, TX

Howe ISD Early Release

June 3 @ 1:00 pm

Feed My Sheep

June 4 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Great Days

First United Methodist Church, 810 N Denny, Howe, TX

Howe High School Graduation

June 4 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Howe High School Gymnasium, 200 E Ponderosa Rd , Howe, TX

Howe Chamber of Commerce board meeting

June 6 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Howe Development Alliance, 101

E Haning St , Howe, TX

Peggy’s Porch

June 11 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Peggy’s Porch, behind City Hall

Howe, TX

FBC Howe Vacation Bible School

June 13 @ 9:00 am - June 17 @ 12:00 pm

First Baptist Church Howe, 100 W Davis St , Howe, TX

Keep Howe Beautiful Meeting

June 13 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Howe Development Alliance, 101 E Haning St , Howe, TX continued from page 5

Community Bible will have the youth of their church participate as a service camp

"When I saw all of the kids east of town working after the tornado, it was inspiring " said Farrer "I'd love for the kids to work together until lunch everyday and then go get cleaned up and go have fun "

Local Church Calendar

The committee is currently seeking donations of materials and money to help with projects that they are actively seeking.

Those that would like to participate in any way can contact Clyde Hepner at 903-814-5753 or clyde@wildblue net

Or contact Jesse Farrer at 903-8184391

7:00 pm - Howe home group Bible Study

Times are subject to change. Please check with each church for any possible changes