Petrolia’s needs were addressed at the Thrive Allen County meeting Monday evening. Sheila and Haley Schlotterbeck’s back porch was the meeting place and Thrive board members and staff met with residents.
In the small town some neighbors walked from their homes, a couple drove their cars and one woman drove a golf cart over to the home.
Though the town is small, and the newest member of the town has lived there more than 10 years, a few of the residents still found themselves having to be introduced to one another.
Though part of Allen County, Petrolia residents feel they are sometimes overlooked.
“We are Allen County residents, we pay our taxes, but we are an afterthought,” resident Mike Bright said.
“Your strengths will work against you,” John Robertson, Thrive’s grant writer, said referring to its close location to Chanute.
Board member Brian Wolfe started off the meeting with introducing Thrive to the Petrolia community. Among the group a handful of people did not know what the organization was.
“We want to know what the different towns might need,” Wolfe said. “What can we do to help the communities.”
Program director Damaris Kunkler explained the different projects Thrive has been working on, such as the rail trail and the Charley Melvin Mad Bomber Run.
After the group became more familiar with Thrive’s purpose and accomplishments, Wolfe opened the floor to allow the townspeople to express their needs.
Petrolian Sandy Stewart began by explaining the need for walking trails.
“We would like to have some walking trails around here as well,” she said, referring to the new trail extension being built from Iola to Humboldt. “Now, we have to walk on Plummer, a freeway, and the streets are just not very good.”
The trail’s future in Petrolia seems grim since all the lots in the town are private property, and the chances of someone lending over the land for use is slim.
Larry Manes brought up the town’s ongoing problem of speeding. He believes having three maybe four speed bumps might help alleviate the problem.
“The speed limit is supposed to be 20 mph, but I guarantee you people go faster,” he said.
Robertson inquired about sheriff patrol and in unison the group let out a laugh. “Are you sure you want to hear this?,” Bright said.
