Steele, ND

Many thanks to all you great people in Kidder County who took the time to fill out a survey to help us write a business plan for Golden Manor, in the event we are granted our nursing beds back.  The results of the survey are listed below. 

In early December, the Citizens to Save Golden Manor conducted a random survey to determine the preferences of Kidder County residents, in regards to nursing home care.  A total of 363 adults responded with 56% of the respondents being 64 years or younger while 37% were between the ages of 65 and 84 years of age.  The survey was conducted before or after church services and all churches in Kidder County, with the exception of the Lutheran Church in Tuttle which declined, participated along with one church in Burleigh County, the Lutheran Church in Driscoll.  The results of the survey are as fallows.

When asked if you are no longer able to care for yourself and would require 24 hour nursing care where would you want to reside, 82% of the respondents would want to reside at Golden Manor if given a choice as compared to 5% who would prefer the Bismarck/Mandan area, while another 11% would prefer moving out of the area completely to be closer to children or other family members.  2% of the respondents chose not to respond to the question.

When asked whether the respondents had long-term care insurance, 22% indicated that they had insurance as opposed to 77% who indicated they did not have long-term care insurance  .  1% did not respond to the question.  About 1/4 to 1/3 of the respondents who said they had long-term care insurance indicated they did not know if their policy included coverage for assisted-living or home-care.  In addition, of those who said they had long-term coverage, only 77% indicated that their policy included nursing home care.  Thus, one must conclude that possibly there was some confusion between long-term care and life insurance of other insurance policies since normally nursing home care is covered , but assisted-living and home care coverage may or may not be covered.  The older the policy the more likely assisted-living and home care are not covered.

When asked which factor you consider most important when choosing a nursing care-facility, 59% of the respondents indicated that being close to family was the most important factor while 37% indicated that receiving quality care was the most important factor.  only 3% of the respondents indicated that having private room was the most important factor and less than 1% indicated that a variety of activities or beautiful new surroundings were the most important factor.  It should be noted that 36 of the 363 respondents checked more than one factor and of those 36 who checked more than one factor, 5 checked all factors listed even though they were asked to check only one.  There fore their responses are not included in the above percentages.  However, if all their responses are included the data would indicate that being close to family (224 of the 363 respondents) and receiving quality care (155 of the 363) were the two most important factors.  A variety of activities and  a private room was indicated by only 19 and 22 of the respondents respectively while 9 of the 363 respondents checked beautiful new surroundings as a factor.

Based on the results of this rando survey, one must begin questioning the wisdom ofmoving nursing homes to urban areas when the survey clearly indicates that the respondents thought being close to family was the most important factor when deciding where they would want to reside if given a choice.  Also, who benefits the most from building nursing facilities that emphasize private rooms when only 22 of the 363 respondents considered having a private room as an important factor?  Finally, what actions should be taken so that the residents of Kidder County and the surrounding areas have a choice as to where they want to reside and how can their preferences be relayed to those making decisions about the future of the nursing home industry in North Dakota?

One of the loveliest places on the prairie lies just southeast of Steele on the Kidder and Stutsman County line.  In 1977  the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center (CGREC) was built 6 1/2 miles northwest of Streeter. It serves 18 counties in what is known as the Missouri Coteau region, an area bound by the Missouri River on the west and the James River on the east. This is a land of rolling hills and shallow wetlands.  Hence the name so familiar to birders “the Prairie Pothole region”.

 Although I was swamped with things to do last Thursday I decided to attended the Grasslands annual field tour and I came away with a much deeper appreciation for the land and it people.

I love the prairie with its changing seasons.  Spring always brings the birding migration of literally hundreds of birds.  When I tell you I need a check list to just to keep track of how many different species I see while birding I am not kidding.  Summer brings the smell of clover and alfalfa being made into hay under the blazing prairie sun and clear blue sky.  Sometimes the heat is so intense that just for a split second it takes your breath away. Then fall comes and trees shimmer with gold, red, and green leaves as the migrating birds say good by and make the long trek to warmer lands in the south.  And who can not love winter? The howling winds, the dark nights snuggled under a quilt drinking hot chocolate and watching all the movies you didn’t have time to catch in the summer. 

Perhaps living here I may miss out on some “cultural” opportunities that large cities offer but my life is rich and full. 

Bill Well from Medina summed up my feelings with this quote, “I came to Medina to teach Vocational Agriculture in 1956 and I’m still here.  The Coteau is where my wife Janet and I built our homestead and raised our family.  The Coteau offers such a variety of opportunities to raise crops and livestock that is almost unequaled.  The wildlife and migratory bird populations on the Coteau has been a definite influence on our family as they grew and started careers in agriculture and education here in North Dakota on the Coteau.  I wouldn’t have traded my life and my experiences on the Coteau for anything.”

During a recent visit to the Kidder County Community Health Clinic in Steele, I asked a waiting patient what it meant to her to have the clinic.  “I love it and I’m glad we have the clinic.  It is very much needed and it saves in time and travel,” said Dora.  Since I had heard the great story of how the community came together to open the clinic I wanted to see the clinic first-hand.  Both patients and clinic staff talk about the benefits of having the clinic.  According to Anna, the clinic receptionist, “The clinic offers a service that really benefits the community.  From our elderly population to our young families, the clinic provides access to basic health care.  It’s also about being convenient, keeping jobs in the community, and saving long distance travel expenses for our patients.”  The Clinic opened in December of 2006 and the people of Kidder County will tell you it was a true Christmas present.         

If you are looking for a fun family sport try disc golf.  I found a new twelve-hole disc golf course nestled in Steele’s Four Seasons Community Park.  The twelve hole disc golf course is designed for a novice beginner like me and the most avid Frisbee golfers.  Named after the heritage of many local area residents and funded in part by the Horizon Program, the ‘Norse Course Disc Golf Santuary’ is also becoming a popular spot for birding information.  I found information on 48 different birds that can be found and heard around the Steele area.  At first, the word ’sanctuary’ seemed a odd word for a place to throw a flying disc into a basket.  However, the more I tried to get the fewest number of disc throws into the baskets throughout the course, the more I was also learning about birds.  The combined challenges of improving my Frisbee skills and expanding my knowledge of birds brought about a new appreciation for the the word ’sanctuary.’   I could have spent the entire day in Steele at the Norse Course Disc Golf Sanctuary.  It’s free to the public.  Bring your own discs, family and friends and enjoy a great day of golfing and birding in Steele. 

Congratulations to the community of Steele on your recent selection as one of the top three finalist for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines’ Capital Community Award.  This award recongizes Steele’s strong commitment to economic development and their efforts to creating innovative solutions to small community challenges and building a lasting future for their residents.  It is exciting to hear that Steele was selected from a five state nomination list that included the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota.  More details on the award are available at www.fhlbdm.com

I have enjoyed the whole experience of the Horizons project.  It has not only challenged me to totally re-evaluate my thinking about the definition of poverty but it has challenged me to grow as a person.  So I must admit that at times I feel a bit dazed.

Think what this program has done for our community. 

Over 40 people, young and old, took part in a six week study circles.  27 people took the LeadershipPlenty Training.  Over 200 people took part in the community survey.  Our library is stocked with some of the best self help books in the country. These are marvelous resources. We have an extremely efficient, user friendly, digital camera to take pictures for the blog, which I plan on mastering in my life time.

The Kidder County Food Pantry stepped out from under the umbrella of the Ministerial Association to create their own board to better serve those in need.

Last fall we reached beyond our own comfort levels  nearly a hundred people listed to Carrie Gross describe her role in keeping homeless kids in school in Bismarck.

We have a gorgeous new disc golf course and the school will be helping us sell the Frisbees here in Steele.  This course is at one of our most beautiful parks.  What a great way to utilize the park!  What a great way to spend family time! 

The Ministerial Association is planning to start a SADD chapter to give kids the tools to make better life choices.

And the movie theatre project is slowly moving along in spite of various challenges.  We will be holding a town hall meeting in the near future to get volunteer input.  So watch for ads in the Ozone on times and dates.

Many thanks to all of you who have made Horizons happen.  July 9th will be the wrap up meeting in Bismarck at the Ramkota so please let me know if you would like to attend.  We can all be proud of the hard work that has taken place!

During a recent community rural forum, representatives from Steele discussed what it took to keep medical services available in the community.  The partnerships formed and the combined efforts of individuals and businesses to open a medical clinic to ensure access to basic medical care deserve applause.  Their story is an inspiration for those who want to learn what it takes to retain basic services in a rural community.

Hi Kathy,

Thanks for the post. 

We are very proud of our community clinic and we were one of the first cities in ND to earmark 1% of our city sales tax for health care.  I’m not sure if you are of aware of this but the repayment of medicare and medicaid do not keep up with today’s cost of medical care.  Health care facilities are only reimbursed a percentage of the actual billing.  So having this little cushion of tax money every quarter is most helpful.  Plus being able to use our sales tax money like this lets everyone in the community support the clinic.  Each time we fill gas, buy groceries or eat at the cafe we can say we have “donated” to the clinic.

Alva

I have long been a great fan of rural communities.  I was born in one.  Raised in one. And when our children were old enough to start school my wife, Alva, and I made a decision that we wanted our children to receive their education in one.

At first the transition to rural living from city life was a little difficult.   But I became ingrained in the slower pace of rural living. Over the years my joy in living here has continued to grow until, now, I find it hard to picture myself living anywhere else. 

On Friday June 13th Alva and I attended a rural community forum in Bismarck sponsored by the ND Community Foundation and facilitated by Cher Hursrud.  The purpose was, not only to give rural communities a chance to share their success stories, but to encourage us to network and problem solve. The room at the Heritage Center was infused with the kind of positive energy that successful adventure always brings. 

We heard how Reeder, population 150, has renovated their old school into a multi purpose building that houses rental rooms for hunters, a first class work out room, commercial kitchen, and a gym.  It is the gathering place for the community.  We were cheered by the success of New England in starting a community owned store.   We marveled at the creativity of North Dakota folks as Annette Schilling from ND Tourism, shared information on learning based vacations now offered in the state.  We were challenged by Cheryl Planert of Beach and her quest to  organize organic farmers and spread the word about the benefits of knowing where our food is grown.  (Consider this fact: most of the potatoes we buy are sprayed 10 times before they find their way to our local grocery stores.)  Patti Pettri inspired us with her report the Bowdon Development Group who are working on keeping their meat locker plant and grocery store open since the owner suddenly died this spring. And, lastly, we were given pertinent information about starting a community Foundation by Patricia Bowen of Ellendale.

Yes, Friday was a refreshing day.  A day that was spent with great people who have great vision.  I am more certain than ever that the future is bright for rural communities who will accept the challenge of finding new ways to grow.

We would like to share our community vision with you.  It is a combination of the 1999 Steele Strategtic plan and the Horizon community surveys you completed last fall.  Please blog your comments and suggestions.  Also about how consider volunteering for one of the committees?  Many hands make light work.

Steele, North Dakota

Strategic Plan Summary 

Vision Statement:   

An ideal place to shop, live, and raise a family and a clean, safe, prosperous, and growing community that welcomes new residents provides excellent shopping and leisure-time activities, offers choices of quality employment and housing, and maintains the highest level of services, including health, education, and public infrastructure to all its citizens.   

 Goal #1:  Mobilize local assets in business and tourism development to help ourselves and each other and to provide access to services for everyone living and working in the community.  

Action Steps:      

Develop a ‘Shop Steele Campaign” to keep money and jobs in the community and demonstrate other benefits to the community when shopping is done locally.       

Develop promotional material, advertisements, brochures, and presentations to be distributed to surrounding communities and used at local and special community events.       

Partner and work with the North Dakota State University Extension Services, the Tourism Committee, and the Economic Development Business Sector Committee to identify needed services and retail business to meet the needs of citizens and to help build and retain community assets.        

Study the feasibility to develop a small industrial park that would serve the needs of new industries and businesses.          

Partner with the North Dakota Department of Commerce, Lewis and Clark Regional Development Council, North Dakota State University Extension Services, and the Community Economic Development-Ag Committee to discuss agricultural-related and value-added expansion and development opportunities from dairy operations and irrigating to organic farming.        

 Coordinate and partner with available resources in developing a business-to-business training program to help people be successful and to build leadership potential among all ages and income levels.       

Offer adults education classes in partnership with the Department of Public Instruction and the North Dakota University System to help people obtain computer skills for job placement or retrain to ensure skills are meeting job requirements.        

Get the word out about the quality of birding in the community so more people will travel to Steele.       

Communicate to potentially new businesses the benefits the community offers to help facilitate the creation of more and better jobs.     

Goal Responsibility: 

 Community Promotion Committee in coordination with the Economic Development Business Sector Committee, the Economic Development-Ag Sector Committee and the Tourism Committee. Expected Goal Outcome(s):      

Our economy is diversified and we have quality jobs and a trained and educated work force.        

Shopping and buying opportunities have expanded and essential services are readily available to everyone living and working in the community.      

Keeping money in the community is helping everyone and people and business are benefitting from the development of leadership and technology skills.      

The community has teamed up to get the word out about local business and services and more people are buying at home.  

More leaders are stepping to the plate and new people are getting involved in recruiting and training leaders in business development.     

Business owners are mentoring new business owners and passing on important skills to be successful.  

 Goal #2:  Provide safe and affordable housing choices for all residents to ensure basic needs are met at all income levels. 

 Action Steps:       

Develop a housing study and work with state and local resources to identify immediate housing needs and to create affordable housing for low-income people.  

Explore the development of affordable single-and multi-family housing so shelter is available for everyone living and working in the community.     

Capitalize on expanding community assets to include available housing for people choosing to live in Steele and commute to work in surrounding communities. 

 Goal Responsibility:  Housing Committee Expected Goal Outcome(s):  

Available housing in Steele is meeting the needs of all families at all income levels. Ø      More people are building and owning their own homes. 

Federal, state, and local officials are working with the community to develop a basic resource in meeting shelter and housing needs for the well being of everyone.     

Goal #3:  Provide and maintain safe, adequate, and efficient public services, activities, and facilities to ensure basic resources are available for all people living and working in the community.                                           Action Steps:       

Explore options to develop and expand the Community Center as a community asset and facility that provides space for businesses, special activities and public services for everyone.       

Develop an in-door movie theatre and disc golf course to ensure different activities are available for all ages and income levels. 

Partner with local, state, and federal entities, from our local schools to the State Historical Society and USDA to leverage resources in providing and maintaining public access to services and facilities. 

Develop and structure the local food pantry to maintain continued operation and help people meet their urgent needs.  

Start a local ‘Students Against Destructive Decision’ (SADD) Chapter to help youth and families deal with conflict and to face hard issues. 

Form a welcome committee to greet and welcome new families of all different cultures to the community and to provide a list of resources where people can go to get help if needed.  

Goal Responsibility: 

Community and City Coordination Committee  

Expected Goal Outcome(s): 

Community assets are strengthened and the historical value of the Community Center is maintained. 

More people are donating food and other basic essentials to the food pantry. 

Access to services and assistance is available to everyone in the community.

Poverty is being addressed at the grass roots level and the number of partnerships, volunteers, and leaders continues to grow through comprehensive effort to provide basic services.  

Everyone has access to affordable leisure activities and entertainment which helps maintain the well being of every community member at every age and income level.    

Jr. Betterment previously known as Kidder County Jaycees has become part of the Steele area Betterment group. The Jr. Betterment will continue to have the goals of being leaders in our community by helping in anyway they can.

Monthly meetings will be held every 2^nd Thursday of the month.

Jr. Betterment will kick off the New Year by heading the “Steele City Clean Up Week”. The tentative schedule is going to be April 30^th for City Clean Up Day and May 3^rd for the curb side pick up. Last year was such a success and we are hoping for another great year.

Anyone interested in joining Jr. Betterment please feel free to contact Sonya Larson at 387-4784 or Alva Schoepp at 475-2133.