Who: Susan Gilbert.
Neighborhood association: Enterprise/Paradise Point.
Neighborhood location: North Clark County, south of La Center.
Position: President.
Tenure: 15 years.
Lived in neighborhood: 19 years.
Outside job: Retired.
What she likes best about the neighborhood: “I love the rural country atmosphere and down-to-earth people,” Gilbert said.
The biggest challenge facing the neighborhood: “Keeping growth attractive and welcoming” is at the top of Gilbert’s concerns. She feels that rural Clark County — including Enterprise/Paradise Point — is often stuck with things that urban areas need but don’t want. “Anytime there’s something the city doesn’t want (within the city limits) it gets put in a rural area where they think no one will complain.” She said the most recent example is a cell phone tower that is being put in her neighborhood to improve service in Ridgefield. “If an urban area wants a service, it should be put in the urban area.”
Listen up: Gilbert said the county should take advantage of the slowed growth period and evaluate the last eight or nine years of development to see what was done right and what was done wrong. “Some things were done right, and some things were done wrong. What’s wrong needs to change.” She added she would like to see the county take a stronger stand on code enforcement and architectural integrity as the county grows.
Head of the Hood is an occasional Neighbors feature profiling a Clark County neighborhood leader. If you’re interested in participating, contact us at neighbors@columbian.com.
