Chariton, IA

The Chariton City Council has approved the Chariton City Manager’s list of nine local properties identified as being in violation of the city’snuisance laws. The property owners must take steps to abate the nuisance, or the city will clean up the properties and bill the cost to the property owners. Increasing the number of quality, affordable houses for rent or purchase in Chariton and improving the appearance of the community were two of the goals identified by participants in the Horizons visioning sessions.

On July 12, the Lucas County Development Corporation will sponsor a work day at the Habitat For Humanity house site under construction in Knoxville. This Habitat project is being funded in part through Thrivent Financial For Lutherans and its members in Lucas County. This work day will enable members of the joint LCDC/Horizons Housing Committee to learn more about the Habitat construction process. The goal is to align with the Marion County Habitat chapter to build a Habitat house or houses in Lucas County.

Sue Rae, an instructor for the Chariton School District was instrumental in gathering information for the Financial Literacy Committee.  Sue contacted staff members in grades K-12 and asked them to complete a survey to determine how and where financial literacy was being covered in the curriculum.  As a result of the responses that were received the committee was able to determine where they could have impact to improve what was currently being taught. 

During a March meeting with the Steering Committee Linda Baynes the Volunteer Coordinator for the Lucas County Hospital raised concerns that there were individuals in the community that needed assistance completing their applications for the Economic Stimulus Payment.  To answer this need a work day was set for March 25th.  The Volunteer Program at the Hospital provided advance notification to the community, a location for working with clients, and volunteers lent a hand.  Joyce Lash, a VITA site organizer provided supervision and 37 returns were completed.  One individual who qualified for Earned Income Credit was provided assistance from a local VITA site. 

A local retirement community  also requested assistance with review of 16 applications to ensure they had been completed correctly.  Conversations are being held to determine if a VITA program could be established in Lucas County.   

The Leadership Development work group, a committee that grew out of our Chariton Listens/Horizons program, is sponsoring a Candidates’ Forum on Thursday May 29th at 7 p.m. at the Vredenburg Center in Chariton. All seven candidates for county supervisor listed on the June 3 primary ballots have been invited to take part. Moderator Ray Meyer will ask questions of the candidates, and audience members will have an opportunity to submit questions of their own.

The local Shine group is a philanthropic youth organization with the goal of giving community service.  Discussions are underway with the leader to conduct the Study Circle curriculum to help the group identify ways they can address poverty in the community.

On January 12, 2008 seven members of the Chariton community participated in a meeting held at Carpenter’s Hall.  During the meeting the group learned about projects they could implement in their community to reduce poverty, evaluated their strengths and applied them to their needs, visited with other communities about their Horizons progress, and completed David Beurle’s “Ready, Set, Go” simulation

Participants in Study Circle conversations, led by Barbara Shelton and Greg Neer are developing plans to begin a Youth IDA program.  The local banking and school community have been engaged in conversations to seek support.  The next stage is to meet with experienced support organizations to develop the structure of the program.  Iowa State University Extension will partner with the group to help with education for students and parents. 

Horizons members and the local school district are exploring ways to expand adult education in the community.  The Superintendent Paula Wright, a Vision meeting participant, and other community members are working with the local Community College to expand services in the community.  Kevin Seney, High School Principal, has asked his staff to identify training needs of students prior to graduation that will increase their employment skills.  The focus is to make sure that the community is doing what it can to provide opportunities for education and earning potential of community residents.  

A group of individuals teamed together at the Vision meeting to determine ways to improve the quality of affordable homes in the community.  The group is planning a public meeting to learn about establishment of a Lucas County Housing Trust Fund.  Members of the the Lutheran Congregation are currently working to develop a partnership with Habitat for Humanity in Marion County to initiate a project in the community during 2008.