The Village of Schoharie is looking for help with its to-do list.
With funding from the Department of State, Schoharie's Long-Term Community Recovery volunteers have been working with businesses and groups like Schoharie Recovery and SALT to brainstorm ways to move the community forward post-Irene.
Now that that portion of the project's completed, they're turning to residents for their input.
Planner Nan Stolzenburg, who wrote the grant for the village, said they're asking residents to go online to planningbetterplaces.com/
Schoharievillage and take 10 minutes to fill out a survey.
Copies of the survey are also available at the Village Hall or by calling 295-8500.
Ms. Stolzenburg said they hope to have the LTCR plan wrapped up in time to start applying for funding to start implementing some of the ideas-everything from bike paths to better signage-by fall.
"It's a very action-oriented plan," Ms. Stolzenburg said. "It doesn't replace things like our Comprehensive Plan, but it's intended as a tool," that adds detail and definition to the more than 300 ideas already generated.
For example, she said, though "bringing a grocery store to Schoharie," is an oft-cited goal, the LTCR lays out specific steps to take to accomplish that.
"There's no lack of energy or ideas," she said, "but we need to look at specific steps required to get something like that done."
From the 300-plus ideas generated by meeting with businesses, community organizations and others, the LTCR Steering Committee has created 15 major to-do categories that include things like business recruitment and incentives; marketing and branding; brick and mortar work like plantings, lighting and cohesive signage; pocket parks, and even a bike path along the Schoharie Creek, something the volunteers feel could help drive Schoharie's economic recovery.
"Here's the creek that ruled our lives, but it could be an economic opportunity that's going untapped," Ms. Stolzenburg said.
In order for communities to be eligible for some of the state recovery funding, they have to complete the LTCR plan, and though Schoharie's businesses have embraced it, residents have been slower to sign on.
"It only takes 10 minutes," Ms. Stolzenburg said, "and it's one more step in moving Schoharie forward-a very important step."