January 2018 Monthly Minutes

January 2018 Monthly Minutes

Indian Mound Neighborhood Association Meeting Minutes from January 15th, 2018

Next Meeting: Monday, February 19th, 6:30pm at the North-East Branch Library (6000 Wilson Rd, KCMO 64123)

 

Manny Abarca, IMNA Vice President

  • Update on Thacher School
    • About 3 years ago IMNA worked to get $150,000 dedicated to re-use materials from the demolished Thacher School to build neighborhood markers
    • They will go along Independence Ave
      • 1 each at Wilson Rd, Hardesty Ave, Van Brunt Blvd, and Jackson Ave
  • Announcing the Beans, Beads and Booze event
    • February 13th at the Attrium in the 18th & Vine District

 

Abby Judah, Legal Aid of Western Missouri

  • The house at 415 N. Elmwood is ready to work on
  • Beth asked about house on Windsor that neighbors insist needs to be demolished (structurally unsound)
    • Abby said that someone bought it at the last minute at the tax sale
    • City can’t do anything unless it’s an emergency
    • Neighbors can still call 311 to raise awareness about the property

 

Ana Ramirez, Americorp VISTA w/ NEAT/Mattie Rhodes

  • Ana has been doing outreach with students, administrators and faculty at Northeast HS
    • Students need to complete service hours to graduate
    • IMNA should let Ana know what opportunities there will be for students to volunteer on projects in the neighborhood

 

Jenna Wilkins, IMNA Secretary

  • Parks Committee Update
    • Recap of IMNA requests made to PIAC in 2017:
      • Renovate the main shelter house at Budd Park
      • Establish dog park at the Northeast Athletic Fields
      • Security Cameras at Indian Mound Park
      • Repave the walking trails along Gladstone Blvd and Budd Park
    • The Parks committee will begin meeting quarterly starting in February 2018
  • Community Garden Update
    • To do a better job managing the community garden, IMNA will host bi-weekly garden workdays starting at the end of March

 

Rebecca Koop, resident

  • Asked about the large wall that’s part of the building adjacent to the garden on the west side
    • IMNA would need to locate money to finance a mural
    • KCPD recently made an announcement about volunteer murals?
    • NEKC Arts has free paint
    • IMNA membership needs to brainstorm about this more before deciding

 

Donna Miller-Brown, IMNA Treasurer

  • Review of IMNA’s 2017 Accomplishments
    • 2 neighborhood-wide cleanups
    • Expanding use of Urban Homesteading Program with Legal Aid
    • PIAC requests submitted (continuing to follow up with 2015 and 2016 requests)
    • Grants awarded
      • KC Healthy Kids ($1000)
      • Neighborhood Rising Fund ($3000)
    • Events Hosted (with NRF grant)
      • Budd Park Community Days
      • National Night Out
      • Pumpkin Patch
    • IMNA participated in the Northeast HS Homecoming Parade
    • Attendance overall has increased at IMNA meetings compared to 2016
    • Collected $600 in dues
    • Created Parks Committee and Events Committee
    • Increasing capacity around crime watch efforts

 

Beth Beavers, IMNA Administrative Vice President

  • Brainstorming ideas for what IMNA can address in 2018
    • Problems
      • Engaging youth (high school) – preventing boredom
      • Communication
      • Expanding Block Watch beyond digital
      • Trash
      • Demographic/representation gap
      • Looming Hardesty Renaissance/GSA Clean-up – make sure we stay in the loop
      • BIG neighborhood
      • Stronger engagement needed
      • Gentrification
      • Community Garden upkeep
    • Solutions  
      • Utilize panels more
      • Utilize Northeast library activities
      • Five new Urban Homesteading properties
      • Engage with youth and churches for volunteers
      • Meeting people where they are
      • Work closer with community organizations (NE Arts, Mattie Rhodes Center)
      • Ms. Freeman at NEHS – send communication about service opportunities
      • Create email list of contacts for service opportunities
      • Find right contacts for engagement at KC Public Schools
      • NRF Grant – Block Party kits/groups
      • Block captain training
      • Stronger collaboration with Lykins NA
      • Delegate
      • Watch who is investing and where – and why
      • More neighborhood meetings at the community garden

 

Amanda Wilson, resident

  • Gave a crime update