Survey to shape plans for county's future

By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com

   A "Take Stock in Your Community" survey by the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce's Visioning Committee could help shape the future of Carter County.
   The survey, according to C. Keith Young, Vice President of the Chamber's Leadership Development Council and Chair of the Visioning Committee, is an effort put together by the Visioning Committee under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce.
   "Our goal is to uncover and articulate a vision for Carter Countians," Young said. "We want to find out the values, the hopes, the dreams, the disappointments that local residents have about living here.
   "We're asking people to tell us what their vision is. What do you like about living in the Elizabethton/Carter County area, and what would you like to see changed or improved to raise a family?
   "It's our firm belief that Carter County is a great place to live and raise a family, but many of the residents realize that there seems to be a lack of clear mission and vision for the future of Carter County."
   Community input and support are "critical" to the success of the visioning effort, Young said. "The information will help us to better understand the challenges of the daily lives of the respondents."
   Respondents are asked to state the reasons they like living and working in the Elizabethton/Carter County community. They are also asked to list the changes and improvements they would like to see in the local area.
   Completed surveys may be left at various drop-off points throughout the community. Drop-off points include Brown's Store in Hampton, WBEJ radio, Elizabethton Lumber Company, Elizabethton Star Newspaper, all Carter County Bank locations, the Carter County Courthouse, all Elizabethton Federal Savings Bank locations, Elizabethton City Hall, all Citizens Bank locations, Northeast State Technical Community College at Elizabethton, Food City, Betty's Burger Hut, Ingles Foods, Elizabethton Electric System, the Chamber of Commerce, The Coffee Company, Laws-Troutman Insurance, Amoco Food Shop, Stoney Creek Volunteer Mart in Stoney Creek, Milligan College Bookstore, Watauga Community Courthouse, Beasley Home Cooking & Catering on the Erwin Highway, and Sycamore Shoals Hospital.
   April 12 is the deadline for responding to the surveys, which will be printed numerous times in the Elizabethton Star Newspaper. Local residents are encouraged to complete the surveys and mail them to Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 190, Elizabethton, TN 37644-0190.
   For more information, call 547-8450 or e-mail ckyoung@northeaststate.edu.