Advertisement

With factory shutdowns and empty buildings downtown, the Deckerville Community Development Corporation asked for ideas to turn the town around.

The goal is to "see Deckerville come back to life," said Don Wixson, co-president of the DCDC, whose members Elaine and Bob Phillips organized the meeting.

"This meeting is not about history. It's about the future. We're looking for a bright future for Deckerville. This is about planning for the future."

"Our whole idea is to generate ideas that would have a positive impact on Deckerville," said Joan Nagelkirk of Clear Ideas, the public relations company that ran the meeting.

. "This is not a problem solving session. We just want to generate a lot of ideas, " said Nagelkirk.

She wasn't disappointed. There were dozens of suggestions.

The three ideas that generated the most support: utilizing empty building space to sell locally produced goods, such as a "craft town"; enclosing the community swimming pool at the school for year-round use; and opening a youth center.

There were many other ideas as well, as residents looked for ways to bring people and business to the area. The suggestions included: train rides from Deckerville to the Minden swamp, dinner trains; horseback riding trails and bike trails; cultural activities; corn maze; agriculture hall of fame; farmer of the year award; farm implement museum; incentives for home-based businesses to move into town; promote low water and sewer rates; convert empty factory into convention center; indoor water park; bingo; adult dances; welcome to Deckerville packet; etc.

Every idea, plus a long list of suggested positive strengths the town offers Ð from work ethic, good schools and clean and safe town, to better drinking water than Sandusky Ð will be compiled by Clear Ideas and submitted to the DCDC for their next meeting.

At that session Ð Nov. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Center - the DCDC is hoping for another large turnout from the community.

"We were very happy with the atmosphere in the room," said Elaine Phllips after last Wednesday's session. "It was a ...positive attitude. Deckerville is a good town to be in."