1994-1995 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest

Alternatives: Proposals For Local Governments Struggling With Limited Resources

Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Oregon

  Teacher: Sue Churnside

1st Nicole Hughes           2nd Deanne Heckart       
3rd Kimberly Blinn   3rd Jennifer Lynch 3rd Cary Richardson  

"I have several students whose words were exceeded only by their enthusiasm. The students who exceeded the 1,000 word limit were astonished when they finished counting! So was I!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading their essays...It was exciting to see them excited and making 'real world' connections.

These essays say a lot about what students can do in a group and individual setting. They have even talked about presenting this proposal to the real city council! You can see why I'm supportive of their efforts."
Teacher--------Sue Churnside, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Oregon

"The cost of the land may be reduced if the land owner can be persuaded to sell at a discount because of the great benefit to the community. The difference [between] his original price [and his selling price] may be a [charitable] tax write-off. Corporations and private citizens may also contribute in donating to this community service as a tax write-off."
Michelle Knutson, Harrisburg Union High School, Harrisburg, Oregon

"If the town owns the [proposed] center, taxes would be saved. Also, declaring the lot where the center is located a recreation district, would change the tax base and decrease any taxes the center would [otherwise] pay."
Nicole Hughes, Harrisburg Union High School, Harrisburg, Oregon

"My class and I came up with a plan to build a recreation center that is built and owned by the community. Its revenues can go to the city to help pay for roads, sewer, schools, etc."
Jeremy E. Riley, Harrisburg Union High School, Harrisburg, Oregon

 "The complex won't appear out of thin air; it will take a tremendous amount of community support. We will need about $2,150,000 (this amount was estimated by the class) to build the center."
Jeremy E. Riley, Harrisburg Union High School, Harrisburg, Oregon

 "With every new idea comes the question, where can the money for this project come from? There are of course the regular routes taken by a town when they need funding. These are applying for grants and starting a donation program."
Nicole Hughes, Harrisburg Union High School, Harrisburg, Oregon

 "The class looked into applying for state and federal grants. They found that Harrisburg had received 12 grants from 1993 to 1995. Harrisburg received a grant for a family resource center based on financial need. To qualify for a financial need grant, a town has to have 51 percent of the population in the low and moderate income bracket (less than $23,000 per year). With the new housing developments the chances of Harrisburg receiving a financial need grant was not very promising. They found several grants available for community development and gang prevention, a growing problem in neighboring Eugene and Corvallis. Lottery money was another option they looked into. Harrisburg applied for lottery money to help pay for a water front project in the fall of 1993. The only restriction put on applying for the Oregon lottery money was that the money had to be used for economic development. The Harrisburg Recreation Center [should qualify.]"Angel Lundeen, Harrisburg Union High School, Harrisburg, Oregon

 "We would reduce the total cost of the recreation center by pulling together our community resources; ... skilled carpenters, legal representatives, knowledgeable landscapers, and trained contractors who would volunteer their knowledge and time to improve their community. In return the rec center would issue free passes to the volunteers. É Also the land is owned by a resident of the community who just might give a reduction on the price. In exchange he would be recognized for his part in the project."
Tom Sheffield, Harrisburg Union High School, Harrisburg, Oregon

 "In Poll 2 we discovered there are many steps we have to take to ensure safety. We would have to have the area surveyed. Every step we took would have to be inspected in construction of the building. The kitchen in the concession stand would have to be inspected and  we will have to buy safe play equipment and anchor it properly. We will have to provide adequate parking and handicap accessibility. People may object to [such a large] building."
Reed Langdon, Harrisburg Union High School, Harrisburg, Oregon

 "Valuable advertising space could be given to those who donate equipment, or sold to those who would pay to have their logo displayed. If Spalding donated some racquetballs and racquets, we would paint an ad upon our racquetball courts."
Michelle Knutson, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Oregon

 "We want to stress the importance of the community's involvement in this project. There cannot be a rec center without a community ... We would like everybody in the community to talk over the present proposal. We feel that in order to accomplish this goal we need to express the importance of volunteerism in the community."
Tom Sheffield, Harrisburg Union High School, Harrisburg, Oregon

 "Depleting funds and budget cuts in all levels of government are causing everybody to look for new and innovative ways to solve community problems. The more conventional ways of raising funds for community improvement projects are becoming less and less effective. People are becoming less willing to pay taxes for community services and more cynical of the system that manages these funds. For this reason citizens are looking more to the private sector to get community projects accomplished. I feel this is when the innovative and creative ideas come together. When a community comes together to solve a problem or make a project, they feel very strongly about it. They also might feel more secure in the fact that they know where their money is going, see the progress and, more importantly, are less likely to take the service or project for granted."
Doug Heckart, Harrisburg Union High School, Harrisburg, Oregon

"We have to buy a lot of equipment and hope the companies that sell equipment will give us a discount in trade for advertising. The pool tables will cost us the most and we want to talk to the company and offer them the opportunity to sponsor a big pool tournament and also [to get] free advertising in our recreation center."
Jamee Nerdin, Harrisburg Union High School, Harrisburg, Oregon

 "Many grants require that 51 percent of the population earn a moderate to low income. Harrisburg has only 48 percent of its population in a moderate to low income classification. Our status is a hindrance to receiving grants."
Deanne Heckart, Harrisburg Union High School, Harrisburg, Oregon

 "Reaching out to other cities who have also built rec centers for their communities will help us [learn from] the loopholes and obstacles they faced in building their centers. By using the same contractors, we may save a step and money in each stage of planning."
Michelle Knutson, Harrisburg Union High School, Harrisburg, Oregon

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