Citizens responding to a recent survey by the Lovell Inc. economic development organization said they liked the quiet, small-town atmosphere of Lovell but would like to see a more active business climate and other amenities.


Lovell Inc. Director Sue Taylor said most of the comments provided about the community were very positive. There were 71 returned surveys that Taylor compiled.


Asked what they like about Lovell, most respondents said they liked the friendly people, small-town atmosphere, well-kept yards and homes, the quiet and peaceful atmosphere, community safety and a low crime rate, the town rose gardens and flower planters, the town’s location near recreation and the mountains, a good hospital, nursing home and doctors, an excellent fire department, good schools and ball fields, nice wide streets, the Hyart Theatre, Big Horn Lake, the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, the new recycling effort and the town’s progressive attitude.


Asked what they wish they could change, respondents mentioned a greater variety of businesses and shopping, a wish to grow the population to between 4,000 and 5,000, the look of Main Street with empty buildings, an improved economy, better housing, a full-service restaurant, more activities for youth, lower prices, the need for a clothing store, curb and gutter on all streets, the need for the sugar silos to be painted, longer hours for stores, a need for sidewalks and walking trails, unkempt homes and property, the need for a discount department store, better community leadership, adult educational opportunities, more cooperation and less back-biting, more local industry and more loyalty to local stores.


As for the question of what products or services respondents would like to see in Lovell, the most common answer was a desire for a clothing store and a full-service restaurant. Other desires included an additional grocery store, small engine repair, specialty shops, a discount department store like Pamida, more retail stores, more activities and things for people to do, a bus to take senior citizens to the lake, college or public classes, a teen center, a book store, more lodging and accommodations, a thrift store, a health food store, a miniature golf course, more opportunities for recycling, the return of obstetrics at North Big Horn Hospital and more county services at the annex including the extension office.


Finally, the survey asked respondents: If money were no object, what is the one thing you would like to see happen in Lovell?


Some of the answers included:

• A youth center for a fun, safe place for kids to hang out.
• A business that would offer good jobs to local people.
• Cleaning up Main Street businesses.
• Support to add more businesses in town.
•A stop light at Main and Shoshone.
• Painting the sugar towers.
• Downtown shops filled and no empty windows.
•A fall sugar beet harvest festival with contests, games and prizes.
• A nice full-service restaurant.
•A rec center with an indoor walking path, arcade and public swimming pool.
• Affordable housing.
• More hotels for hosting events.
•Removing the median strip.
• The return of businesses like the Co-op and Sears.
• A Target store or small mall.
• More tourism promotion.
•Enlarge and improve the golf course.
•More stores and places to eat.
• More culture and diversity.
•More marketing skills for businesses.
• An organization to help people keep up their homes and yards.
• Better veterans services.
• A water slide park.
• Two or three nice subdivision.
•Better weed control.
• Better sidewalks.