GAS – Even when asked, the residents of Gas found little reason to complain and their wish list was not long either.
They are there because they like country life in a small town where the amenities of a larger city are just a short drive away.
At least that was the conclusion of the half dozen people at the Community Conversation hosted by Thrive Allen County on Tuesday evening.
Lisse Regher, CEO and president of Thrive, was not surprised.
“It was pretty much the same for all of you last year,” she said, pretending to be frustrated. “If it were like this in every community, we wouldn’t have to have these conversations.”
The purpose of the annual meetings is to find out how Thrive staff can help Allen County communities address their problems. In over 15 years of conversations, Thrive has helped secure storm shelters, storm sirens, better Wi-Fi access, sidewalks, grants to renovate community centers and more.
I’m not saying that gas is some kind of utopia, but maybe the crowd on Tuesday won’t be inclined to complain.
Larry and Shirley Robertson enjoy their garden and their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In their opinion, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Plus, Larry says, “we have rules and regulations, but not as strict as Iola’s.” Gas residents are allowed to drive ATVs on city streets and raise chickens, the latter of which is an issue that is frequently brought up before Iola council members.
Larry also noted that four homes were built in the city in the last year, which underscores the city’s attractiveness.
At the 2023 meeting, housing shortages, overcrowded yards and patchy Wi-Fi were the three biggest concerns.
Larry, who has been practicing his masonry business for 17 years in retirement, has lived in gas his entire life; Shirley the more than 60 years of her marriage.
Jerald Folk has lived in Gas since 1972. “It’s always been a nice place to live,” he said. “We had our problems. And we still have them.”
Ana Mitchell, a fourth-grade teacher at Iola Elementary School, has been living in Gas for five years.
Pempho Moyo joined Gas this summer when she became policy coordinator at Thrive.
