Armour, SD

Category #4. Sustaining action and creating structural change around poverty

What structures have been changed that will enable your community to address poverty in the long-term?

Our participation in the Study Circles and Leadership Plenty helped us create specific goals to reduce poverty and led us to the formation of the committees that are currently working on completing the goals.

How will you monitor and evaluate your community’s progress in reducing poverty?

Our Strategic Plan outlines methods of evaluation for each goal. We’ve posted the plan online and you can download and read it by clicking the link on the right sidebar. One of the methods will be to interview members of the groups the various projects were trying to help to see if they felt the efforts were successful.

What community resources will be needed to sustain the community plan to reduce poverty?

All of our Horizons committees are vital to the success of our poverty reduction efforts. We need to sustain the level of action we’ve started and we need people to continue to participate in our new committees, plus maintain their involvement in our long-time groups such as Community Club. Our Horizons work has boosted attendance at our Community Club meetings. That’s a good trend and one that needs to continue.

What additional resources would make a difference in your community’s work to reduce poverty?

Money, obviously, is always a big help. We also need to continue to tap into partnerships — for example working with high school alumni.

Category #11. Taking action on community

In what ways is your community operating or working differently?

More people have stepped forward to take leadership goals. We’re also enjoying a greater level of participation because our projects have been well publicized and have broad support within the community.

In what new or expanded ways are people contributing to your community?

We learned a lot about each other’s talents during the Study Circles. That’s enabled us to better tap into what people are good at.

How are low income involved?

Everyone is invited to attend our Horizons meetings. While we are working on issues relating to poverty, there is a community feel to it. So, it’s really becoming things we do to be good neighbors.

What structures have been created or changed that will help your community?

Partnerships with groups like the school have made the most difference so far.

What new partnerships have been created , and what difference have they made for your community?

Well, the Parents-Teachers Together group, for example, has opened the door of communication at the school in a big way. The monthly PTT meetings have been well attended and the presentations have been routinely praised as very informative.

Have you learned anything about how nearby communities like yours are taking action to reduce poverty? Do you see any opportunities to exchange information or combine efforts in this work?

That’s where the blogs have been a big help. I think a lot of people are checking out what the other communities are doing and we get good comments from other towns on our blog. Thank you!

Those of you who know me well, know that I am not particularly political. I can pretty easily look at a political issue or candidate and see both sides. Perhaps it is from years of editorial writing–who knows? At any rate, there is a lot of controversy right now over a local zoning issue that some people say is going to impact economic development in Douglas County. Of course, there are two perspectives on what the economic development impact will be like.

The Douglas County Commissioners are proposing a change to the setback distance required for animal confinements built in the county. Currently, the setback distance for animal confinements of more than 1,000 head of cattle or 2,500 head of hogs is one-mile. In essence, this means that you can’t build a confinement unit larger than this closer than one mile to the nearest home, church or school without obtaining a special permit. To obtain the permit, the effected neighbors have to sign a waiver. Oh, one thing I should add is this: units smaller than 1,000 cattle or 2,500 hogs aren’t regulated under the current zoning ordinance. It is my understanding they can be built almost anywhere.The proposed change to the zoning ordinance would reduce the setback distance from one mile to one-half mile. That means that a confinement unit of any size could be built as close as one-half mile to a house, church or school without needing a special permit. A special permit would still be needed to build closer than a half mile.

Those in favor of the change say that it is necessary for economic development. They say large animal confinement units are more efficient, they will bring jobs to the area, grow our schools and may save our struggling rural economy. While large animal confinement facilities may provide some short-term economic benefits, based on everything I have studied since we began the Horizons project last year, I cannot find any research that show there are any sustainable benefits to local economic development.

During the past year, I have had several opportunities to hear economic development professionals from both inside and outside South Dakota speak about rural economic development. Almost every speaker said that rural communities that have invested a majority of their financial and human resources into “smokestack chasing” (or trying to attract outside industries, investors or corporations to bring in a larger number of jobs all at once) have failed. Each expert cited different reasons for the failures, such attracting blue-collar vs. white-collar industries, lack of infrastructure in communities, lack of housing, insufficient support services such as public transportation, tax incentives cost other taxpayers more, etc. While there are too many reasons to list them all here, I do want to mention the one they all agreed on: a town or a county can’t expect some outside investor, corporation or industry to “save it.” Sustainable growth must build from within a community. Small businesses owned by someone with a vested interest in the community (where they live and their kids attend school) are always more likely to be successful and are a better investment.

I read an excellent article on this subject by John Ikerd, an Agricultural Economist at the University of Missouri at Columbia. The article is long (10 pages, small type), but it details why some people have concerns about large-scale animal confinements, why some people support them and what rural communities must consider as they make their choice whether to invite them into their area. The article reminds people that sustainable economic development must be built on three cornerstones: ecological soundness, economic viability and social justice. These three cornerstones must ALL be present for long-term sustainability, not just one or two of them. The article also reminds us that we must consider the well being of the community as a whole.

If you live in Douglas County and are going to have an opportunity to vote on this issue, I would encourage you to do your own research before the March 4 election. Like we have learned through the Horizons’ project, we need to work together to plan for future development in our community. Ikerd says, ”Rural people must become activitely involved in shaping the destiny of their communities.” I think he’s right. It’s up to those of us who live here to make choices for our community based on research, reason and concern for the long-term well being of our community. We can’t base out decisions on emotion or because short term solutions are often easier.

If you are interested, here is the link to the article by Ikerd. I’m know there are many others, but I like this one because Ikerd is an academic who can afford to be a “neutral party.” So many of the articles I read are by groups or individuals directly involved in the issue, who of course, have bias toward one side or another. I also like the fact that Ikred’s article is written in layman’s terms: http://www.p2pays.org/ref/16/15444.htm 

I’ll be interested to hear what others think.

Well we had another meeting tonight and it was a good one again. It is great to see our attendance increasing. Thank you to all who come and give your input. We discussed the Laptop Initiative tonight. Does Armour School have the resources and drive to put in the work of the application and if accepted the initiative to go with computers in our high school? Yes, we do. We have a lot of support and Capital Outlay Money is what can be used for funding. We can get up to speed on technology and our kids will be learning in a more efficient manner. We already have computers only in some of the classes taught but this would open up many other opportunities for our students. I never realized the difference between Capital Outlay Money and General Fund but I have a clearer understanding after tonights meeting and that is why I am supportive of this venture along with many other parents and teachers. Please talk to your congressman about House Bill 1087 and tell him we support the approval of this money for schools. Our next meeting will be in March with the date to be announced. Thank you again for your support! Nicole

Say, “Hello,” to Bob. Bob is a Horizons participant, Armour business owner and currently serves as the chairman of Armour’s Horizons Planning Committee. Did you know you are the chairman, Bob? Well, you are! We voted on it. At the last meeting, which you missed. That will teach you.

Anyway, I asked Bob what additional resources would make a difference in our community’s work to reduce poverty. Here’s what he said.

Have you checked out the Douglas County Hospital Web site lately? They’ve added a lot of new and exciting features — including information very useful to healthcare consumers. You can see the physicians available for your healthcare needs and also a great picture of Dr. Regg Hagge and Dr. Marlys Luebke with some of the babies who have been born at the hospital in the last couple years.

There is also a cost comparison link to show how much you could save by having your baby locally. DCMH offers great care and givesyou the special attention that you need when you need it. For a small hospital they have a big heart and are willing to give you the care you need. To check out all the hospital has to offer go to dcmhsd.org.

The Armour Parent Teachers Together did not meet in December. We thought we would give everyone a break so they could take care of some things in their busy schedules. The good news is the school received the paperwork on the Breakfast Program and everything is great. The Program will start after the Christmas Break. My understanding is that the first day will be Belgian Waffles so we hope there is a good turnout and sign up for the breakfast. We plan on meeting again in January and we also encourage parents and teachers to notify us if there are any special speakers or topics they want brought to the meeting. We encourage everyone to participate. There is a lot of good information out there and we are always looking for input and participation. Even just coming to the meetings for that hour is greatly appreciated. It is considered an investment in our children. Thank you to everyone and Merry Christmas!!
Nicole Neugebauer
Parent Teachers Together

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded the Armour Volunteer Fire Department a grant of $251,750 as part of its Assistance to Firefighters Program. The money will be used to purchase a new fire engine.

Assistance to Firefighters awards aim to enhance response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public with respect to fire and other hazards. The grants enable local fire departments to purchase or receive training, conduct first-responder health and safety programs, and buy equipment and response vehicles.