ROCS holds community meeting

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

A round table discussion on community needs was held July 29 at the Holiday Inn Express.

The meeting was facilitated by the Rural Office of Community Services (ROCS).

Making presentations were Peter Smith, executive director of ROCS and Darci Bultje, community services director.

Smith went over some of the services ROCS provides. This includes transit, dining services, emergency services and weatherization.

Smith said in the area served by  ROCS there are 17 transportation locations and 22 nutrition programs.

The group attending the roundtable did a community analysis of the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in the Winner area.

“This brainstorming session is sort of a snapshot of your community,” said Bultje.

Some of the strengths identified by the group were:

Safe community to raise a family, youth activities, good healthcare system, good law enforcement, good schools.

Some of the weaknesses listed by the participants were:  lack of housing, no shelter for homeless people and public transportation.

Smith explained he is very passionate about transportation and noted ROCS can be flexible with transportation needs.

“We want to help make your community an even better place to thrive,” said Smith.