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Post by Lucky1 on Sept 4, 2013 9:12:00 GMT -6
A friend of mine was home for the weekend from Arkansas. He and his wife had just had dinner at Chix and he called me and asked me why I didn't mention the wonderful bandstand in the park. He was very impressed with how the park looks. I have been to some of the concerts that they have had and I really would like to thank the city and volunteers that are responsible for the bandstand. The improvements in the park are for all ages.
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Post by father of two on Sept 4, 2013 9:15:12 GMT -6
Why is it when you are asked for specifics you avoid giving an answer? I and other candidates have been to two of your forums and answered this question. You asked us to be specific. That was on the spot with not much time to think. You have plenty of time for a well thought out answer. We answered ours in front of a crowd of people, in front of newspaper reporters, live on the radio at one. When you avoid giving specific answers like you ask of people you sound like a well polished politician. You call for making improvements but give no answer of what except to say that an economic person could give more answers. No crap. I'm not trying to be confrontational here, just asking you to give an answer like you asked us to do.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 4, 2013 9:45:38 GMT -6
I told the candidates in advance that details of their economic development plans would be asked.
The details of my economic development plan would be to hire a professionally trained Economic Development Director to study our situation, identify industries that would be a good fit, and recommend strategies to attract more livable wage jobs, so that we could develop a more detailed plan that includes marketing and future infrastructure improvements and then start making a commitment to that plan.
I really just don't see where our leadership has made it a high priority to bring jobs here. It's just one insignificant person's opinion, but I feel it is an opinion that is shared by others as well.
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Post by father of two on Sept 4, 2013 9:47:54 GMT -6
Okay. Thanks for the answer.
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Post by dog on Sept 4, 2013 11:32:17 GMT -6
I told the candidates in advance that details of their economic development plans would be asked. The details of my economic development plan would be to hire a professionally trained Economic Development Director to study our situation, identify industries that would be a good fit, and recommend strategies to attract more livable wage jobs, so that we could develop a more detailed plan that includes marketing and future infrastructure improvements and then start making a commitment to that plan. I really just don't see where our leadership has made it a high priority to bring jobs here. It's just one insignificant person's opinion, but I feel it is an opinion that is shared by others as well. You dont need a professionally trained economic development director to answer the question on infrastructure improvements. You are a businessman in this town. If YOU were to expand your business or start another business, what would YOU need from the city in terms of infrastructure improvements? What is YOUR best possible guess as to what other businesses would need?
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Post by oldtimer on Sept 4, 2013 11:42:28 GMT -6
As for residential sewers, most of the homes east of Ottercreek St. which is outside the city limits do not have sewer systems let alone storm water sewers. No one wants to hear that. It is funny why the EPA made south Streator connect to our sewer system and Ottercreek Township is still in the old mines. Although we don't expect development in Ottercreek Township. FOT I don't agree $100,000 is not alot of money these days. It is a drop in the bucket. You could not pay 2 city employees in the union for a year with $100,000 nor hire an excavator for very long. A band shelter was more important. No more money for beneficial growth. That band shelter has certainly created jobs, and brought in money. Your comment leads me to believe that you have a good handle on the shelter. How much money came out of the city's funds to construct it?
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Post by oldtimer on Sept 4, 2013 11:46:51 GMT -6
Utilities are extended to the perimeter of the south industrial park. The Mayor and SACCI have been to most of the businesses in town to ask what they need and what the city could go for them. I call that business friendly. What would it cost to employ an Economic Dev Director? Where would that money come from? What other costs would there be? What program or dept would suffer because of this new position? We don't need tax increases. I agree that there needs to be more extensive exploration of job opportunities. How do we know that the city and chamber aren't already doing that? Certainly they shouldn't tell us of every business they are talking to or checking on from out of town. If they are trying to get a business to relocate here you wouldn't want that public while talking. The other city and residents would be up in arms. If that business stayed it could create bad feelings in that town. Having the money is key. $100,000 is a lot these days. The city is trying to build up reserves. When the time comes to hire a new City Manager it may be a good thing to find someone who has done that at another city and has the capability to be the Manager. You are right, we do not have all of the information as to what they are doing. We do not know how many potential businesses have come to the City for more information or what restrictions they were given. All the public has to look at is the end result. I think we could have paid more than a couple years of a qualified person's salary with what we spent on the band shell; the funds could come from the same type of places that funds for club houses and band shells come from. I think it is about making priorities. Does our community want amenities like those more than it wants livable wage jobs so that we can prosper? I don't see more amenities stopping the trend of declining population and property values without other major changes. You seem to have a handle on the band shelter. How much came out of the city's funds to pay for it?
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 4, 2013 11:52:20 GMT -6
The City Council unanimously voted to appropriate $75,000 from available cash reserves for the purchase of a bandshell kit and authorized borrowing $375,000 to fund its construction and other City Park improvements, including a reconstruction of the south parking lot.
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 4, 2013 11:53:18 GMT -6
The question I have is, how long will we be paying for it?
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Post by dragonfly on Sept 4, 2013 16:53:12 GMT -6
The City Council unanimously voted to appropriate $75,000 from available cash reserves for the purchase of a bandshell kit and authorized borrowing $375,000 to fund its construction and other City Park improvements, including a reconstruction of the south parking lot. That is just sickening to hear. You have to fix the major problems with a city first, before you worry about decorating it. I know some people like what the park has become, but honestly what benefit is it to a city with high unemployment, and a high crime rate? You have a worry about building a good structure with stability first, then decorate later. It seems the priorities are backwards.
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