I just got this information, and not in time for the paper today, but wanted to get it out there.
Don't know if this will temper anyone's feelings, but it turns out that Winfield did reject a similar deal with the same developer - and with Lowes - three years ago.
Last night Mel Kuhn grilled the developer and his attorney on this question. The attorney and developer were very vague and never answered the questions.
Kuhn's questions were :
Did you go to Winfield first?
DId you propose this to Winfield first ?
he never got a straight answer last night, though the developer did imply that he did not. He said he "did not recall" whether they stopped in Winfield on their way to Arkansas City.
Here is what we found out from Winfield City Manager Warren Porter.
A Lowe’s home improvement store was the object of a Winfield City Commission meeting three years ago.
When business developers Kessinger-Hunter, out of Kansas City, informally proposed to commissioners that a Lowe’s be built at the intersection of Country Club Road and U.S. 77, Porter said the developers wanted an incentive in the form of tax increment financing (TIF) for that particular district. However, city commissioners didn’t oblige.
“They knew what was and was not on the table,” said Porter. “They knew the city wasn’t interested in doing a TIF for that particular development.”
“It was a tax equity issue,” said Porter. “It would’ve created an unfair competition balance.”
Whether Kessinger-Hunter will reattempt the development in Winfield is still in question.
As an aside, this is a huge reason to have openness in government. And a reason for city's to not have executive sessions.
This information was not available last night, and of course the lawyer and the developer were not going to give it out if they could help it.
Does this change anyone's feelings ?
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Absolutely NOT! This would still have been a great boon to Ark City. Hopefully that means that the developer will not go back to Winfield. That would have been a double kick in the pants to lose it here and to have it go to Winfield.
The commissioners still had no right to make a decision against the people of Ark City. No matter how it happened or who talked to who first, the commissioners turned their backs on the people.
ok
i just wanted to get that information out there.
That information does not sway my opinion of last night's meeting nor the decision that was made against the will of the majority of people. What the commission did was unacceptable, regardless.
This is not about Winfield but about the future of our community. The split between those that want to see us move forward and those that are against every project that has come to town is very discerning. The commission set us back for another 20 years with the decision last night. They chose to not even consider a future proposal and there will not be a developer...industrial or retail..that will spend time and money to look here especially after the treatment our commissioner dished out. The future is bleak and I challenge this commission to prove me wrong.
Nope - my mind isn't changed. Our City Commission committed a grave error last night in not even allowing discussion to continue. I could understand, if after careful consideration a nay vote might be cast. But no way do I understand shutting the door at this stage. The so-called "three amigos" are anything but friends of our community. They are a disgrace and have set us back at least another 2 decades. Ark City may never recover and that's the real tragedy.
It certainly doesn't change my opinion on the proposal. It most definitely doesn't change the fact that three of the commissioners went down a road of their self interest, and not the direction the public has asked them to travel.
I agree! It doesn't change a thing in the fact I feel the three of them voted their personal feelings instead of the majority. If there was a concern about the majority, then it should of been left open to the public to have a simple voting procedure done and voice their true and accurate opinion. How blind and personal to not even want to listen to a proposal! Thats absurd and shows their true feelings!
It does go to show that the public rarely knows all the facts. This is especially true in government decisions. However, when your team is losing, a good coach takes a chance and changes something. We didn't take a chance and there is every likelihood that we will continue to skid. WHY would someone else be attracted to us now? We have had Blue Sky meetings to discuss ways to bring business to AC and surveys that show it to be the people's desire. The commission rejected the possibility of potential growth. Just what do you want for our town? And if you don't support "Box Stores" or shopping out of town, I dare you to do all of your purchasing locally but not at WalMart!
I absolutely agree......I daresay if I should meet any of our "honor bound" commissioners who voted against the public opinions or ANY of those who were against it at Lowes in Ponca........you will see the news here....they are a disgrace to our city!!! I know for a fact that several who spoke against it shop regularly at Lowe's, even some of the business owners who were there against it...and let me say, thanks for keeping your tax dollars out of our city I am PROUD to say I DIDN'T VOTE FOR THOSE THREE!
As Mayor & Commissioner, I spent the last weeks seeking & collecting yes & no votes from our citizens. The no votes did outweigh the yes votes that were voiced to me. I cannot speak for the other Commissioners, I can only speak for what was said to me. I also counted the votes at the public hearing and when I removed the votes from people that are not Ark City citizens (I represent the citizens of Ark City, not the county or other cities), I came up with an equal vote from the hearing. I even spent my time during the two breaks speaking with people in the audience, soliciting their votes. I did exactly what I promised I would do from the moment I registered to run for this office. I voted by the majority of the votes that were made known to me. My integrity is intact. My job is to research the issues, educate our citizens and listen to what they want. Your job is to question, listen and make your will known. I have made myself available and accessible. My personal phone number, email address and mail address has been available to anyone that wants it. I did my job. Did you?
Please remember, I cannot please all the people on all sides of an issue. I absolutely believe in representative government, although there have been some citizens these last weeks that have told me that I am not to listen nor pay heed to the citizens, and have worked hard to make your Commission available to you. Come to the meetings, ask questions, expect answers. Use the citizen comment forms and box. Instead of complaining when an issue doesn't go your way, become part of the process. I welcome you.
Mayor Dotty
DMS, You three have embarrased our community you have manage to tear this community apart with your unwilling attitude to simply take the steps to listen to a proposal. You have failed our community. I was a supporter of yours and I am ashamed of myself of my wasted vote. I found it interesting that you stated we needed to increase jobs that provide benefits and insurance to the employees, but yet you were apart of taking benefits from the partime city employees and raising the cost of insurance to other city employees. All three of you are hipocrites and should resign before you do more damage to our community. You cheated us out of the opertunity to even here the proposal you have faild us all!
DMS....you did NOT open your ears to the public....I could tell when I talked to you that my affirmative vote was not going to sway you. I have talked to three people today that called and left their phone numbers for you to call them that NEVER heard from you. YOU are not a lifelong resident of Ark City....as most of the people that spoke last night are. So PLEASE don't try to say that you were speaking for the majority last night.....because nobody believes you anymore.
DMS, you cheated all of us! All you had to do is listen to the proposal. You are not a home town person and will never be welcomed into my family. All three of you have embarrassed and tainted our community. If you would like make things better QUIT!
Please move 55 times, we would be better off!
OH Mayor Dotty..isn't that cute?? Geeez...what an ego trip
I can not belive that we the people of Ark City was dupped into voteing for the three people that campained they wanted to be the voice of the people.Man did we have the wool pulled over our eyes.Mel Kuhn for one was so rude to the people when he was asking his stupid questions.Its really bad when the person he was asking the questions to was laughing at him.And did Mr Kuhn think it makes him inportant sitting at the commision table with his buisness shirt on whats up with that.And to sum up how I fill about this decision the three had their minds made up before they made the meeting because why else would they vote no. Only someone or three would so they can fill inportant (Look at me we have all the power)We need to look hard at these three are they who we want running our City
DMS even the paper came up with a different total than you did. And what happened to the petitions. We heard nothing about those other than what we saw taken up to you at the start. Did those people have any voice? Or did those not count as the people who did speak out? If you want to say you miscounted there might be something to listen to, but if you want to pass it off as not being heard, maybe you just didn't want to listen?
I've lived in this town all of my life and I believe this is one of the biggest mistakes I have seen our City Commission make. There was proof in a survey that a major majority of VOTERS wanted to give a tax incentive to have new business or industry come to our town. It also showed that millions of dollars are spent on home improvements outside of this town that could've been spent here. It could have also brought a new eating establishment to town that we desparately need. The commissioners will find out just how this community feels during the next vote! I personally was appauled at the editorial in tonights paper of how a voter was treated when they emailed the commissioners. Sure wish they would've named names!
I'm sorry I left Scott and Dotty out of my comments because I do not want them t o fell left out.Scott how can you sit up there and say you probably no better then most on this matter.You moved here for a job you did not work for it was given to you by your in-laws and in a building that was revamped by tax incentives so how could you vote na!!!!! And Mayor Dotty what can I say I think you are true for politics we can't belive a word you say and it makes you feel BIG to have all the power enjoy while it last because it may not last much longer.
The Mayor and City Commission could have atleast voted to go to the next stage and listen to the proposals. Atleast give us a chance! Maybe on an issue of this magnitude...the VOTERS should be allowed to vote and not let the Commission vote however SUITS THEM BEST!
DMS cannot seriously make those statements that she went with the majority opinion that she was made aware of. I'm sorry, did she not see the multiple petitions? Did she not see the OVER 400 names? Do we not count? Seems petitions worked a couple of months ago and now, all of a sudden, they are obsolete?
Well i guess ill have to go to ponca to buy my next rideing lawnmower when i need it since are leaders wont even take a chance of finding out more about it. its time to get a recall in the works
To DMS- With watching the so called public meetig for the Big Box which I thougt was a one sided meeting with the three of you had already made up your minds because the meeting went your way.So could you explain to the people that voted you into office why a lawer that Mr. Eaton hired was alotted 15 min. to speak and the people of this town were given only 3 min.Was it because he was speaking agaist the big box seems one sidded to how about you.
I agree. Commissioner Kuhn was rude and acted like he was looking for a fight. I'm sorry but Mayor Smith's comments are nothing more than trying to ask for forgiveness for her lack of poor judgement. The correct decision should have been to proceed and get all the facts in order to make a informed decision. Maybe this wouldn't have been a good decision but we will never know because we didn't get to hear all the facts. I see Ark City as a dying place and how sad for all of us truly lifetime residents to have to watch it continue to fade away.
I thought it was interesting that Ralph McDonald and the entire audience were chastised by Mayor Smith and were told we were not allowed to personally attack the commission. Yet when Margolious proceeded to blather on and then attact the Traveler for no reason not one word was sent his direction as to his behavior. I have no use for him and will not vote for him or his wife EVER. The only reason he is in this town and able to sit on the commission is because he married the bosses daughter!
Well, I didn't know if I wanted this to come to our city or not. I listened and herd good arguments on both sides. What I wonder is, if the developer wouldn't tell us this what else would he not tell us? That does make you wonder if it was as good as it was cracked up to be or if there were truth to what some said. I want good things and not to be tricked.
Would you awnser any question ask of you from such a rude and unprofessinal person as Mr Kuhn.I know I would not if I were the developer I would of turned and waked away.And just think Mr Kuhn is suppose to be a represenative of this town. So think what the developer thinks of our town now
Trust me...that developer thinks we are a backward and slow thinking town right now..thanks to MARGOLIUS, KUHN and SMITH. They will talk to other developers, who will say "well dont waste your time on ARK CITY, they are a bunch of HICKS there (your words Mr. Kuhn, not mine) and never come back again. They will never know that the majority of people here are way above these three commissioner's calibur...and they welcome and BEG for their developments. We were just LIED to and voted for the wrong people. How sad that we lose our opportunity so easily for such a great advancement for our city. Imagine what it could have been..people from Cedar Vale, Oxford, Winfield, Newkirk, South Haven and even Wellington driving here and shopping not only at our new Lowe's store...but then going downtown and spending money at Graves, Bryants, Sport Shack, Accents Too and the MANY other stores we offer. And then eating lunch at one of our restaurants. Of course, Mr Margolius told me in an email that these arent' real jobs...the retail i.e. service jobs...no no, only industry jobs are real. So I guess all you people with RETAIL jobs at the downtown businesses that are so close to his heart...that he never shops at (when was the last time anyone saw Scott or Kasha buying clothes in our little town??) you dont have real jobs. How sad our town has gotten to this point??
Who was the attorney that Curis Eaton brought in and how did he get time with the big box guys. How did a private citizen get an attorney (who works only for who hired him) to speak out BEFORE the public hearing? Was this a setup? They did not ask to speak, the Mayor specifically called them to the microphone.
I want to know more about how this was set up and who all knew about it. Why did Curtis Eaton and his lawyer get special treatment?
The Commission talked about a level playing field at the meeting Tuesday night. I understand that at the next meeting Janaury 2nd they are willing to sale a piece of property in the downtown area for less then it is appraised for which is against City policy and provide a 90% tax abatement for 10 years. This new business will compete against current businesses. Commissioner Kuhn indicated that he had a pesonnel interest in seeing this project happen. Where is the level playing field they were talking about? Does it only apply when you do not have a personnel interest?
Anyone can ask ahead of time to be put on the city meeting agenda and get 15 min. to talk. The developers took way over their 15 min. to lie to us and Eaton's lawyer only spoke 8 min. and was only giving general TIF info. Why are you so upset that the truth about TIFs came out. Don't you think we deserve all the info. on TIF we can get before we set a precedent with one? Eaton's lawyer was also very open about who hired him and why he was there, He was the only lawyer there who was open with this type of info.
Is it a level playing field when you open a business in a building that is already standing, streets that already have traffic and programmed attractions, water and sewer already connected, sidewalks and streetlights compared to starting in a field a block away from all utilities on a barely improved road?
What's more is that the big box was coming on it's own dime. It would have had to pay full taxes plus collect additional sales tax. They would have had to purchase the land from the developer and pay for all of the building construction. Level playing field? I think the downtown would have had the advantage. But after watching the commission Tuesday night I have to believe that downtown already has the advantage... and maybe the control. They even found a way to be recognized before the public hearing. Level playing field? The developer was going to spend $24,000,000 on top of the TIF, who downtown is going to inject that kind of money into our community? Level playing field? When was the last time you saw ANY of our downtown stores put development into the community. You don't even see them keeping up repairs on their own buildings. Level playing field? I have nothing against Zach and I think he is doing a wonderful job starting out, but come on folks, the rest of the downtown wants anything but a level playing field.
If I remember right, Eaton's lawyer has represented cities working with the developer on negotiating TIFs. If he is so opposed to it why has he worked with cities to get the best deal. Why didn't he just tell them it is bad and not worth the effort? He was hired to represent an individual and press the case only for the individual. Just like the lawyer in a criminal defense case. It doesn't matter what reality is, his job is to show only what is best for his client. As for the developers, we'll never know the real case because the proposal and negotiations couldn't start until the next step. But we'll never know because the commission wouldn't try to find out.
AND NOW, the rest of the story. So the citizens of this town will know just how this city operates sometimes...the employees of the city were immediately told yesterday that they cannot sign a petition for recall and their names better not show up on one!!! So, I guess Mr. Russel is protecting his raise givers??? CAN WE RECALL THE CITY MANAGER ALSO???
Gee, I'm a City Employee and was never told I could not sign a recall petition. Please state facts not rumors!
By the way so you don't start rumors a city worker is using the city computer, I'm on vacation!
If you are on vacation, then you weren't there to be told yesterday were you? If you are on vacation, then you don't know if it's fact or not, but it is fact. You sound like someone on salary....
As a matter of fact yes I was at work yesterday! I happen to take today and friday off to spend with the family. No I am not on a salary, I work by the hour. I've worked for the city almost 15 years and have nerver been threatned or intimidated by any city manager or department head. I have always had faith in our commission until now!
I agree that the 2nd step of this process should have determined the fate of the big box, but if their feasiblity study looked as good as they say it did, why would they let this decision stop them from coming? There were just too many questions left unanswered. Look at our new strip mall, mostly vacant. What ever happened to the new warehouse North of town that was recently proposed that was going to bring 300 new jobs, which received tax incentives? Must be dead in the water as we haven't heard a thing about that and How in the world do we compare a big box proposal with a business that is replacing a business that closed down? That lot on S. Summit has been off the tax rolls for at least 15 years. Local proprietors! 100% of their income will stay in our community. They'll buy insurance locally, they'll buy supplies locally, they are locals!!! This is not a start up to compete with others, this is a start up to replace one that we've lost and need. How do you not support that? I'm sorry to dissappoint most of you but the success of this town is not going to be determined by the loss of this store, it's going to be how we respond as a community in the absence of it. Sure we can set back and gripe all we want, but that won't change a thing. The tax incentives are gone, but the possiblity is not. This store would have been nice, but there should be more pressing things to think about, like taking care of the ones we have FIRST, then soliciting new. Just think of the economic impact of losing GE? 1,000 jobs at probably an average salary of $50k? 50 million dollars that stays here and majority of it spent here! Take that out of your economy, how does that affect all of us? We need to focus Industry. Retail follows industry!! not vice versa. Big Box would've been nice........but if we want a positive future for this town, we need to shut up and move on, not knock down those around us.
I disagree. We can't just go on. We were shut off from learning what might have happened. What might have been worked out. Who else might have come. What other things could have been provided. How much we could have cut the TIF down to.
Besides ignoring the people, the commission made certain we would never know what the potential or possibilities were.
Can we trust them to represent us in the future? Will they continue to make decisions ignoring the people? They seemed quite blatant on it this time. Why should we think they will do better in the future?
I think they have made it clear. This is their town and they are going to run it their way. What the people want doesn't count. And I believe they will try to keep things from us in the future that they kept from us this time. A chance to find out more.
Maybe it would have been bad for some. But at least we could have found out. There are all kinds of things I couldn't even guess at that we will just never know. I really liked the idea, but I might have changed my mind with more information. But the commission made sure we will never know.
I'm sure there will be rumors. Some good some bad. But the fact is the commission decided that they could ignore us and that they didn't want to know.
Will they make up their minds without all of the facts every time? Will they ignore the people every time? Can we afford to take the chance?
It has not changed my view at all - I am for allowing lowe's into our community.
But...
Now we can watch our neighbors in the north jump on the chance to add more growth to their city. I am rooting for them, and hope it happens.
I will truly enjoy going to Lowe's in Winfield, after all it only takes about 5 minutes to get there. I will probably stop while I am there and grab a bite to eat or at least something to drink - Perhaps I will eat in one of their up-to-date food chains, and then maybe browse some stores downtown. If it is summer I could stop by their fabulous ball park complex to watch a game. Hey, maybe by then they will get another a cool new "big box" store that The Arkansas City Commission turns down! (Hmm - does it sound like Winfield might benefit from me going to their Lowe's - of coarse it will and I won't feel bad spending my money in Winfield instead of Arkansas City!
Disappointed, Lifelong resident of A.C.
I AM PROUD OF OUR COMMISION AND THINK THAT THEY DID THEIR BEST WITH THE FACTS AND OUTCRY OF THE PUBLIC. I KNOW THAT PEOPLE DON'T TAKE ME SERIOUSLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS COMPETITION BUT PEOPLE PLEASE JUST LOOK AT THE NUMBERS. HOW CAN ANYONE FEEL THAT THESE DEVELOPERS WERE NOT LIEING TO THEM? NOTHING ADDED UP AND THE OPPOSED MADE THAT VERY CLEAR. AND TO CLEAR THE AIR I BELIEVE MEL SAID THE DEVELOPERS THINK WE ARE A BUNCH HICKS NOT THAT WE ARE SUCH.
Lowes is perfectly capable of both building and paying taxes like any other business. They are a strong corporation, and post very good profits. They deserve absolutely no special treatment, they are perfectly capable of carrying on without taxpayer help. Their profits will not stay in Cowley County. Local individuals wanting to start a business get no help, why should a major, successful corporation get any breaks? Everyone knows we could use such a business, especially in Winfiled, but we should not have to give them anything, they can afford to do business anywhere they care to build. And they can pay for their building the same as any other business, with their OWN money!
How can anyone know? We never got any of the information. They had to pass this step to get them to lay their cards on the table. If the commissioners have some information in writing about the specifics they should have shared it. Now that it is over they could share it. Or did they just not want to know? Can we get them back to find out? I guess we won't know for next time either. If there is a next time.
Perhaps the city commission of Parkerfield will have the wisdom that our city commission did not. Would that not be the ultimate irony if they were able to save us from ourselves! Any chance of a TIF zone in Parkerfield?
I thought Lowes was paying their way? Isnt it the lawyers asking for the TIF to make a whole shopping center? I thought Lowes had to pay all of their own way and the taxes they paid would help make the other stores. I don't guess anybody knows. After reading that other one I don't guess anybody will ever know.
This is all about the "haves" and the "have nots"....the "haves" didn't win and they are not used to not getting thier way....That is obvious....Suck it up....the commission did just what they were voted in to do....the will of the majority of the people...not just the money people.....Good job amigos........
I just found out that the downtown businesses get a 95% tax rebate on repairs and improvements that goes right back into their pockets. The big box would have got a 100% but it all had to go back to the loan for building up the street and putting in the utilities nothing would have gone back into their pocket. This was the level playing field the downtown businesses were whining about. The commissioners already knew this.
Everyone keeps crying that they didn't get to hear all the information. Did we not hear what the project would cost? Did we not hear what the TIF would give to the project? Didn't we hear what their projected sales were? Did we not hear how much money they thought this would bring into the community? Oh I guess we never heard what color their uniforms are going to be! Maybe people didn't get all the information because they didn't get involved until the decision was made. Look at the numbers they were all there and not one adds up. That would be the information some didn't hear that the opposition brought forward for those of you who didn't get to hear it.
Usually you have to give up something to get something, such as money for goods or services. What were we going to have to give up to get more jobs, get people off welfare,make the city more attractive to other developers, increase tax dollars to the state immediately and the town eventually, increase traffic flow to other businesses, and make the city appear more progressive thereby attracting new housing starts and many other positives? And concerning Mayor Dotty getting more negative support than positive, might I suggest that perhaps those people feel more comfortable calling her and did she count the numbers on the petitions to count against those that visited with her? I just can't help feeling that we let an opportunity slip away that could have led to much greater things for our town. This makes me want to move to a more progressive town but in this market who wants to buy a house here?
when a kid is spolied and doesn't get tehei way, what do they do? they throw a tantrum. that is what we see right now. take the richest people and most powerfulin town and tell them no when theyve never been told no before and what do you get? an embarasing rant that is far more embarasing to the town than anything the "3" have done. when outsiders look into moving here and chec,k internet to find stuff out, they will see all of the dirty laundry these whiners are hanging out there.
Diappointed lifelong resident of Ark City: Did you not see the headline in the Courier or the news from James Jordan? Winfield ALREADY said no to this very same project before the developer came to Ark City. Yup, they asked the city manager of Winfield, and he confirmed it. It wasn't the commission who was hedging, it was the developer. Get up to date!
When a person can't capitalize, spell "spoiled" or "their" correctly, or make complete sentences, it is hard to take their thoughts very seriously.
Maybe spell check would have helped. Do you take me seriously now?
When a kid is spoiled and doesn't get their way, what do they do? They throw a tantrum. That is what we see right now. Take the richest people in town and tell them no when they've never been told no before and what do you get? You will witness an embarassing rant that is far more embarassing to the town than anything the "3" have done. When outsiders look into moving here and check the internet to find stuff out, they will see all of the towns' dirty laundry hanging out there. That's attractive!
Better?
The 12:12 blog certainly has more credibility than the 11:28 message but I am not close to being one of the richest people in town and don't think I am ranting. I am just wanting the town to progress and don't see many opportunities come our way. I think we may have to give up something to get something.
I can't understand what difference it makes whether they went to Winfield or not, or whether Winfield turned them down or not. Each city has made different decisions for different reasons. It seems to me that the decisions made for the last couple of years have brought in new neighborhood revitalization, new building along Summit (Pizza Hut, Sonic, Car Wash, KFC, Walgreens...) and showing progress. The decisions made by Winfield have only brought the Super Wal Mart. Just maybe Ark City has been making better decisions lately than Winfield? Then again a decision wasn't made because our commissioners shut off the deal before the proposal and negotiations. Maybe the new commission isn't heading in the same direction we had been for the last 2 years. It's a shame, it looked like we might be heading somewhere.
Perhaps you just choose to not understand.
Zach Bryant you are one KEWL DUDE.
Hey I want a WE SUPPORT THE 3 MUSKETEERS T-shirt for the next Arkalalah theme.
"the last couple of years have brought in new neighborhood revitalization, new building along Summit (Pizza Hut, Sonic, Car Wash, KFC, Walgreens...) and showing progress." UMM. Hello?!?!?! This "progress" was happening WITHOUT the big box. These people were investing in the town on their own and received NOTHING for it in the way of incentives. So much for that theory that the town will dry up and blow away if we don't get the new big store.
Anyone ever give any thought to how much the proponents had to lose if this deal did not go through? Could it possibly be that there was a small group with a great deal of influence that had a personal financial stake in this and that what they were doing was what best for them but cloaked in what was best for the town? Maybe they were trying to cover for themselves and made it look like this was the best thing since sliced bread so they would get the support of average Joe who could not but help drool over all of the promised shopping and a chain restaurant? I am betting that it was not just the developer that would make off with millions. Follow the money on this one.
James ~
This is my first comment to you.
We are in TOTAL AGREEMENT with the commission's box decision. We attended the meeting.
My wife & I continue to own a small business in Ark City, going on 14 years. Our competition is both local & national. Free enterprise is part of American life. "Subsidized incentives from a small city's coffer" is not free enterprise when it excludes others. Why give a billion dollar retail corporation & out-of-state developer our "scarce funds" for any reason? Why give an L.L.C. the possiblity of defaulting in a few years, if sales are inadequate, leaving the city without any financial recourse? Why did Winfield reject this project several years ago?
If any legitimate concern wants to come to our county, completely on their "own finances" great. That's America!
My "box" questions! The proponents appear to be "Ark City Industries". Some of their personnel spoke. Would you consider doing an "investigative" article on this group? What's their history, purpose & vested interest in this project? Could you provide a "list of all officers, membership, investors," etc..... Is this public information? This may help explain why they are so interested in spending city money in this manner.
I appreciate in advance, your efforts, as editor, in pursuing this side of the story!
Thank you for updating me on this!
~ Jeff Meyer
Ark City resident
My "box" questions! The proponents appear to be "Ark City Industries". Some of their personnel spoke. Would you consider doing an "investigative" article on this group? What's their history, purpose & vested interest in this project? Could you provide a "list of all officers, membership, investors," etc..... Is this public information? This may help explain why they are so interested in spending city money in this manner.
>>>>>>>>
Good quesitons.
One thing that strikes me is that some poeple are seeing AC Industries as the bad guy because they were pushing the project.
They are in business, they want to make money. THat is why they were doing it.
I can't really see anything wrong in that.
Isn't that what all businesses try to do?
It might be a good thing to do a story on them.
As far as I know, there are several people involved. THey are essentially a developer-type company.
Ill see what i can find out.
Has anyone checked to see how PONCA got their Lowe's? I'd be interested to find out what kind of incentives they may have give. Doesn't really matter. They went to Ponca first so our Commissioners wouldn't want them anyway.
To Mr. Meyer:
To bad the facts didn't ever come out or you might have something there. As I see it the developer was getting the incentives. Lowe's would have had to buy the property from the developer, then pay full taxes and get nothing in return. On top of that they would have had to charge an additional 1% sales tax. Where in that do you see them getting millions of dollars of aid?
The commissioners put some pretty good spin on this. Apparently they even fooled the other businesses.
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