RANGELY | The Town of Rangely asked and the people answered: 139 households answered the door direct survey and others participated in meetings between October and December 2022 seeking to understand the needs of the community.
Rangely residents weighed in on strategic plans for the future at an open house Feb. 25. Rangely trustees were scheduled to vote on the strategies Tuesday at their regular board meeting.
Those responses would translate into the 2024-2044 Comprehensive Plan for Rangely. This plan analyzes demographics and resources to increase the quality of life of location. These needs include vital elements such as housing, employment, dependent and health care, recreation, education and other factors of sustainable rural lifestyles.
In recent decades, as the population of Rangely and Rio Blanco County have declined, so has the workforce and taxpayer population. Those contributions to a small local economy have a determining effect on economic stability and progress.
The primary concerns indicated by the responses included the need for safe recreational spaces for children in attracting and retaining existing families, employment opportunities that pay respectable cost of living wages, capitalizing on tourism possibilities and the need for housing development.
The results were showcased at the Comprehensive Plan Open House on Feb. 25,2023, at the Early Education Center gym. Interested residents and business owners gathered to view the statistics and were offered another opportunity to voice their opinions on the proposed strategies. These opinions included ideas for implementation of the suggested strategies, especially those that require manpower for their feasibility.
The survey and comprehensive plan were conducted by Robin Hanrahan of Built Form Labs for the use of the Town and Board of Trustees. The Board will be voting on strategies at the Feb. 28, 2023 meeting.
By KATIE KING | Special to The Herald Times
