Ideas ranged from recruiting with tax increment financing to simply picking up trash instead of walking past it at a town hall discussion Thursday on ways to improve the north side of town.

About 30 people, plus organizers and news reporters, attended the meeting on the back patio of the Mr. Appliance building at the intersection of Rodeo and Jeffers/U.S. Highway 83.

Mr. Appliance owner Chad Fosdick helped organize the meeting, along with city councilman Nick McNew and Mona Anderson, the executive director of Keep North Platte and Lincoln County Beautiful.

Fosdick said the trio recently met with the Original Town organizers to see if their efforts could be merged. Dave Harrold started the Original Town organization years ago. It produced the popular Rail Fest festival.

Fosdick, McNew and Anderson said it is time for north side residents to take initiative and improve the area.

People suggested increasing the number of businesses as well as highlighting those that are already there. One woman said a “Welcome to North Platte” sign would be good on U.S. 83. She said motorists arriving from the north don’t see a clear line where the city begins and are apt to keep moving south.

A McDonald’s restaurant, a new motel or a grocery store would make N. Jeffers more attractive. A woman suggested people post five-star ratings for existing businesses, so travelers will be more apt to seek them out as they arrive.

Developer Mark Wilkinson suggested using tax increment financing to attract new businesses. Wilkinson advising finding suitable spots for new businesses and pitching them to developers, along with incentives. He noted that the traffic count is relatively high on the main streets, and the population of the north side of the city is roughly the same as the city of Ogallala. He said areas of the north side are already considered blighted.

McNew said more education is definitely needed about TIF and Micro-TIF.

Councilman Ed Rieker, who was in the crowd, said it would be good to look for other means of improvement without totally relying on government. He suggested individuals help neighbors mow their lawns or haul off unwanted furniture for those unable to do so. He echoed something Anderson said earlier — take time to pick up some trash instead of passing it by. Those kinds of efforts can be contagious.

Among other suggestions:

• A trash bin and other things for kayakers and tubers on the North Platte River at Cody Park.
• Murals on buildings.
• Flower beds.
• Use empty buildings to Incubate and test businesses.
• A new fence at the North Platte cemetery.
• A skating rink.
• Spotlight and support existing businesses and light industries, such as Huebner’s, Fessler Tire, Midwest Cycle, Birdwood Beef, the Garden Glove and others.
• Form a dedicated core of volunteers to help overwhelmed property owners clean and spruce up their yards.
• Create a good-will, mobile dumpster to take to places that are cleaning up.
• Improve the north side dog park.

McNew noted city and Chamber efforts that are already underway to improve streets and public parks. He pointed to the expanding Cody Park Pool, new pickleball and tennis courts, as well as new homes at Mulligan Meadows and a new city park just south of Madison Middle School, as well as widening W. Ninth St.

More needs to be done to complement those projects, he said.

“Our biggest asset is right here — ourselves,” said Dave Harrold, the director of Original Town.

Those who attended registered on a sign-up sheet. Future meetings are planned at a time and place to be determined.

Anderson also made a list of suggestions during the meeting and said she would share them with the entire group.

It was suggested that everyone invite 1-2 people to attend the next meeting.

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