Recently I was acquainted with someone who was here for a real short visit. He had never been to Cowley County.
He was in Winfield for about 30 minutes, and then in Arkansas City for about the same amount of time. This was on the same day.
Just a quick tour of both was all he had. So it was just a first impression type situation.
The next day he told me that Winfield seemed like the nicer town.
I could understand why he said that. Just the appearance makes that kind of difference.
What if this had been someone who wanted to open a business or make a large investment? That first impression could have made the difference.
Im sure this isn't much of a surprise to anyone. Still, it just got me to thinking and bothered me a bit.
This is something we could change isn't it?
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38 comments:
Winfield is nice! They have their own utilities, too. Electric, water and sewage cost about the same as my outrageous water bill in AC.
Homes cost more in Winfield, and I assume they pay more property taxes. However, they get a return for their money when they invest in their home.
I think one area of Ark City that could use some improvement is the area around Summit & the Canal. Obviously the old Sonic & recently close Video Store, and TJ's shaved ice doesn't help, but seems as if this is a real eye sore. We should make it a priority to keep the grass under control in this area. I enjoy Ark City, but this is a simple problem that we have the ability to keep in control. I am sure that the city crews are very busy, but it seems as if this area north of Kansas should be a priority. Simple problem with a cheap solution. I am not convinced that this is a huge deal, but something that I have noticed over the years as looking less than optimum, that could easily be changed. Now to get a few more businesses & manufacturing plants in town...
I think Winfield is nicer ( I've lived in AC all my life) They also have more to do- Skating rink, Island Park/Island of lights.. Fairgrounds. But they do have bad roads. Our houses on mainstreet are freaking junkie looking- And there are a lot of houses that need cleaned up in this town... I was driving down chestnut the other day and there was a house with grass SO high and I thought to myself- It takes an hour to mow your yard people. I just think it's people being lazy and they don't realize that when you let your house go it DOES affect how people perceive our town.
These are basic stats but I think they are absolutely relevant in this discussion.
1. The median income is about 10,000 dollars higher in Winfield. The per capita is about $3,000 higher.
2. They have slightly higher high school graduation rates and significantly more college graduates. They have double the amount of people with graduate degrees.
3. There median home cost is almost double AC's.
Those three things add up to a significant difference in terms of money coming in to the town. Unfortunately, without $$ coming in you don't have the same level of services and development.
James,
Do you realize that the Traveler put out the story of the "kidnapped" boy, even after the Wichita stations and newscow had said that the boy had confessed to making it all up? I figured you'd at least correct it in the online edition, but nothing so far. I wonder how many people kept their kids at home last night because of it? Not that a little family time might not do them some good, but there might have been some needless fear encouraged is all.
dont blame citizens for letting their houses go without mentioning the fact the city has let the city go. the canal is in horrible and weed grown shape all over town, look at it at the middle school where it also prob helps attract snakes, rats, etc. look at the potholes EVERYWHERE, so many u cant mention them all here. maybe if our city cared more the citizens would care more. city hall needs an overhaul, the people we are paying to run this town are not doing a good job, lets replace the lot of them
9th street in Winfield is nice. If you venture down the side roads south of 9th, you'll find some treasures. I love to drive around and look at their yards/homes. Wouldn't say that about AC.
Don't get me wrong. There are some bad yards and places in Winfield. I just do not know of an area (in the city limits) in Ark City which really shines. It seems most people tend to get out of the city. Some even prefer to make their own town! I wonder why that is? For some reason, people feel like they are over-controlled in this town.
dont blame citizens for letting their houses go without mentioning the fact the city has let the city go.
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Here is the problem i think.
everyone wants to blame someone else.
people need to do their part whether other people do or not.
>
For some reason, people feel like they are over-controlled in this town.
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if people did what they were supposed to do, they would not have to be told what to do.
):)
How about the fat that I live on a DIRT ROAD inside the City limits of Ark City. And my house was over 100k in case you're thinking I must be in a poor area. Why does this town even have dirt roads anymore? Are these taxes they are thinking of raising going to provide for some actual paved streets where there are none? I can't even keep my car clean in my own neighborhood.
Most people don't mind following the rules as long as the rules are the same for everyone. Unfortunately, they aren't. Those who have the power in Ark City, control and those who don't try to survive.
QUOTE-"if people did what they were supposed to do, they would not have to be told what to do."
Exactly my point. You know- I hate it when someone makes a point then it gets turned into the city or someone elses fault. No- If your house looks trashy it's because of YOU and it's a lame excuse to say that if the city cared more than maybe the people of this town would. No- YOU should pride yourself on keeping your house nice and clean and updated. The city is one issue and your home/land is another... Let's not mix the two. People in this town don't want anyone saying that were trashy or that Winfield is better.. Blah blah. But alot don't make an effort. Nope- We want ragged ole couches on our front porches and knee high grass.
I do my part- My house is very well kept and it takes alot of time and effort- But worth it in the long run AND I do it all by myself. I just feel bad for the people who have nice houses and have to live across from someone who doesn't take care of their house.
I can't imagine having a lack of industry or a lower median income causes people to collect junk in their front yard. (or have couches on the front porch, or broken toys laying all over in the weeds, etc.) A healthy person, educated or not, can mow their lawn and pull a weed now and then. My grandparents were around during the Depression, no money, no jobs, but they sure were proud of what little they had and took care of it for sure.
First impressions mean a lot. An outsider looking to put a business here would take a look around and assume a large group of people are lazy and would not be encouraged to bank their future on employing people who seem to not be able take care of their own things, which would make one assume they wouldn't be good workers.
There are also a large amount of buildings south of town that could probably be torn down as they are in such horrible shape. Empty land would definitely look better than what's there currently!
((maybe if our city cared more the citizens would care more. city hall needs an overhaul, the people we are paying to run this town are not doing a good job, lets replace the lot of them))
Here is the Deal, you either pay more taxs and more for services and increase the actual working staff in the city to accomadate your wants or pay less and be happy with what you have.
Currently the average city worker makes $9.65 dollars per hour, this aame employee is expected to fill in not only his own job but the many others that have been lost though attrition, every year major cuts are ask for by the commision.. The managers make the cuts, but you should relise that Cuts are always made first on your labor, whither it is asking your employees to work for less or cutting their benifits or asking them to do the work of three men.
you are loseing the valued employees that you have sent to school, trained and spent many tax dollars educating to give you the best possible service, you are replaceing them by those who must work for $9.65 per hour because no one else will hire them. and now your gripeing because your not getting the service you think you need. wake up, you have done this to yourselves,
a person can go almost anywhere and start out for 10.50 to 14 dollars an hour ( except the traveler) lol
to cure this problem we must do what is nessasary to retain our workers and remember these people come in at all hours of night and day to make sure you can have a glass of water, take a shower, use your toilet, drive down the street, get rid of your garbage.
Just think what it would be like to have no water in your house for two days, no toilet to use, no street to drive on.
all of these jobs are important to everyday life that we take for granted, you need to take a good look to not just a glance at the skelton crews keeping all this going, but yet your ready to fire the lot of them and replace them,, where is your gratitude? you think these city employees cant find another job? the fact is most of them are looking for other jobs as I type this just because of remarks like yours, the working city employees not the management is the ones who you should be thanking and going to bat for increased wages, they are the ones who provide your service and are out there at 2am in freezeing weather fixing your watermains and unpluggging your sewer systems and makeing sure your plants to process these servics are working.. no airconditioners no heaters, no dry cloths, sun burnt. and at the end of the day their greatest reward isnt the fact that they made $60.00 for the day, there reward is that they provided service for 14,000 people day in and day out and no one even noticed!!!!
For the above posters who wrote:
"If your house looks trashy it's because of YOU and it's a lame excuse to say that if the city cared more than maybe the people of this town would. No- YOU should pride yourself on keeping your house nice and clean and updated. The city is one issue and your home/land is another... "
and this:
"A healthy person, educated or not, can mow their lawn and pull a weed now and then. My grandparents were around during the Depression, no money, no jobs, but they sure were proud of what little they had and took care of it for sure."
You couldn't be any more right.
James has hit the nail on the head too. We live in BLAMETOWN USA.
What in the heck ever happened to personal responsiblity?!?!?!
If more people would quit putting their hand out and start doing something we'd have a better town in no time flat.
We have a lot of focus on the downtown right now and hopefully something good will come of that. If it does maybe that same focus can start being applied in other areas like Madison, S. Summit, the homes on North Summit and the area around the Canal and Summit. We have to start somewhere and that is happening now. Hopefully the other areas needing help will be soon to get it.
PEOPLE! Why not start now on your own property and make progress before the spotlight is on YOU!
Even if you just apply for the free paint program or buy some weed killer. I think the rental station lets you rent lawnmowers and weedeaters. If they don't they should. A rental of that stuff costs less than the $100 fine if you don't mow.
How qiuckly the posts on this blog become judemental! Why?
Is this really a true cross section of the peoples opinions!
You probably won't like the rest of this post but it has to be said!
If you look at present day Ark City and Winfield you can attribute most of the Industry in the area to Winfield people. Why?
Gott/Rubbermaid/Newell and B4 Flying - Gene Branscum and alot of people from bith towns. (He will be missed!)
He was also involved in:
Casco/Which is now the trigger sprayer company.
Galaxy Tool
He then used his money to-
Help the City buy the Library at St. Johns.
Backed untold investments by local businessmen.
KSQ/Western Manufacturing - Ken Lewis - Ex Gott Engineer and alot of people from both towns.
Winfield Consumer Products - Bob Tyler Ex. Gott Engineer,
Praireland Processors/Future Beef/Creekstone Farms - Steve Hamlin and alot of people from both towns. But he chose Ark City
and not Wellington!
Now I don't want you to think that Winfield was better than Ark City. Because there were and still are Ark City people responsible for the success of the industries.
I think the lesson to be learned from their success that has trancended generations is that as a team they could accomplish things beyound their indivdual capabilities.
That carried through into the community in Winfield. I am sure there were plenty of heated battles - but the goal was to benefit the majority as well as compensate the indivduals for their risk!
How much greater could this area be if we chose to work as a team!
This wasn't meant as a slam but only to show what a differnece a few people made in the area! There are brilliant people in both towns.
But for some reason Ark City has not chosen to participate in industrial development. Why!
Speaking of the weedy/trashy canal area and others: We already use a crew from the Winfield Correctional Facility here. Why not add that to their tasks. Look at how much free work they do in Winfield. And as to living on a dirt road in a nice part of town (far north, by the city golf course); I have a frontage of about 30'. It will cost around $10K to pave that little bit. No thank you.
There are brilliant people in both towns.
But for some reason Ark City has not chosen to participate in industrial development. Why!
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Good question.
I think you are right.
Ive said it before, I believe we lack people of vision and leadership.
I believe that is the difference.
We have good people here.
They just need to stand up and take control.
hasnt Mel Kuhn taken control???
There is a lot being said, and I mean 'a lot'. Some of these posts are soooooooooooo long, oh well.
Sift thru them and perhaps we have some GREAT ideas.
Well all that has been said is that Ark citians can not have what they want because no one respects any other ones opinion about any thing , for the thought that some one else could be right.
For years most of what I have heard about Winfield and their progress is they look more at the future for the community and how they can fill the needs of what all the people want and will need, and the highest quality of life for each possible level of income in the town. Not the same here it seems the only thing that most leaders of Ark city or those who control most of the resources what can it do for me or a business in town (which just happens to belong to one of the people in my little circle), there is nothought about the least of the people in this town. Perfect example look at our Sports for usd 470 who plays the most (the circle guy's son) not the most talented. Geeeee how can any one learn to compete when they experience things like that from grade school up. And then you think when they get older they will care about what Ark city does (not a chance) get everyone involved in the process that you can and you will see changes. And please DO NOT ask for others input and not listen because the salary they make is less than yours.
we have a lot of good ideas.
what we need is for people to take action.
what would it take for people to take action?
id challenge everyone to take on a project, especially if it is a great idea that seems impossible.
sort of like the music fesitval.
:)
i could still use some helpers :)
hint hint :)
I just spent the 4th in New Mexico. On the return trip, we drove through some pretty "poor looking" little towns in Texas and Oklahoma along 54 and 64. Once, I shook my head and said "People think it's bad in Ark City? I think we have a nice town after seeing this!"
I saw towns which had twice as many restaraunts and hotels, but looked like they were one stone throw away from a ghost town. I was scratching my head. Talk about lack of maintenance.
Maybe we should look around and see the good things in AC?
Maybe James could challenge the city to have a "Yard Clean Up Day". Perhaps the city could get involved, somehow. It would be a nice day for neighbors to knock on doors to ask if help was needed, and people wouldn't be as embarrassed or offended.
Yup
there certainly are worse places.
a cleanup day is a good idea.
ill check in to it
They used to have a yard cleanup type of day, but they are so paticular what they pick up and how its bagged, bundled or whatever, its any wonder more people wouldn't want to participate.
This probably does not belong here and a "disclaimer" is required. [I have no interest in the old WalMart site, don't even know who owns it.] However speaking of Ark City pride [and the lack there of] drive by and look at the mess folks left on the parking lot during the fireworks event. Ark City will not change, because a obvious number of it's inhabitants [can't call them citizens] have no "PRIDE". Note: Don't think one person could have left that much fireworks trash.
City clean up idea, great, but don't hold your breath. [A few years back it was suggested that maybe some of the High School [kids] clubs, as a project hold trash pick up for Radio Lane from the school to Summit. The response was a resounding you've got to be kiding11111
i think your comment belongs here and makes a good point.
this is the main problem arkansas city has
the question is, how do we change that attitude.
That attitude has to change before anything else can change.
It seems to pervade every area of the city, just a lack of pride and a feeling that nothing matters.
how do we change that attitude>?
BTW, Does Bryant hardware let people charge things?
Does Ace Hardware?
i really thought about deleting those last two posts, but decided the humor factor made them worthwhile.
they both, and about everyone else, takes credit cards, so it really doesnt matter :)
but if you really want to know, call em tomorrow morning and ask them.
Counselor, this is off the subject to a point but in one of your previous posts you made two very good points.
I was glad to see your post with substance and feeling/opinion.
The first was regarding taxable real estate and was about the old school district building.
So I would like your opinion on the following:
1st
If you look at the cities and even the county over a period of years they have maintained or even acquired property/facilities without the consideration of location or efficiency.
That property in some cases could be offered for sale.
Wouldn't this allow for:
That property-which has existing infrasturcture- to be used for private use which would be a new source of tax revenue.
And
Provide an opportunity to use the proceeds to build new facilites that are efficient and have better
locations.
Its not may place - but I have heard on various occasions even recently of people looking for buildings big enough and zoned for specific projects. Thats not easy to find in this area!
Second
I think you made a good point rearding the felxibility of those involved in the public side of small government! Those who are retired could probably do more if they chose to - but if they weren't progressive enough, willing to do the necessary research or nuetral without an agenda and simply chose to hold to the old school ways they would have little impact.
A proggressive mind in Ark City who is going to allow that? When there is a person like that someone is all the time trying to run them out of office and out of town so they dont look dumb because someone else made progress where they could not!!!!
We should have an OE Team here (organation team ) where all input is considered good, but what happens here is EO (Executive Orders) the short circut to OE teams. for example why don't our current commissioners talk with past commisioners, Iwill tell you why being in wht they think is the big seat they forget who put them there and until that changes we will be stiffled and the mold will grow over us. Some how they need to understand that the people are the town not just business, and thats who they need to get out in front of everything to get positive and community supported things done. Ithink motherof2 is right there are worse but then there are some who like a nice quietcontent place to live in like it used to be here. We are not suppoe to govern our people like it is a big town, thats why people used to come here to get away from big town stuff and relax. CAN WE GET THERE AGAIN??????
A proggressive mind in Ark City who is going to allow that? When there is a person like that someone is all the time trying to run them out of office and out of town so they dont look dumb because someone else made progress where they could not!!!!
We should have an OE Team here (organation team ) where all input is considered good, but what happens here is EO (Executive Orders) the short circut to OE teams. for example why don't our current commissioners talk with past commisioners, Iwill tell you why being in wht they think is the big seat they forget who put them there and until that changes we will be stiffled and the mold will grow over us. Some how they need to understand that the people are the town not just business, and thats who they need to get out in front of everything to get positive and community supported things done. Ithink motherof2 is right there are worse but then there are some who like a nice quietcontent place to live in like it used to be here. We are not suppoe to govern our people like it is a big town, thats why people used to come here to get away from big town stuff and relax. CAN WE GET THERE AGAIN??????
Ok, so I was on my way to the tree dump today with a load of limbs. I passed a home with several dead limbs piled up by their house and spilling into the alley. I knocked on the door and told them I was heading that way if they would want to throw their limbs in my truck. The lady (who must have been sleeping) said she did not have time to deal with it. She looked really peaved! I was just trying to extend a hand. Hope I didn't offend her. However, couldn't help but notice that her yard and front porch were needing some TLC. I tried!
Something needs to be done about the pile of limbs on A and Vine(?) Talk about a traffic hazard!
Wonder if she misunderstood about the offering of help. If it would of been me, I would of been highly appreciative, since I have to break down most of mine and put them in the trash!
A proggressive mind in Ark City who is going to allow that?
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THey'll allow it.
If we had 10 of them, we could get real stuff done.
AS a night worker I can see why she may not have been happy about being awakened. Granted the offer was nice to haul away her limbs for her but when you sleep during the day because you work all night, that would be like me knocking on your door at 3 am and asking if you wanted me to mow your lawn. The thought was nice but the timing was bad. Keep up the good work.
GET A GRIP WHEN YOU WORK AND WHEN YOU TRY TO SLEEP. But on the other hand Winfield at least tries to plan around peoples work time by knowing that some folks who work the evening shift want some things to do after work besides getting up in the morning to watch GOOD MORNING AMERICA and seat around the rest of the day at home or wal-mart!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought about that. I worked nights for 14 years. If someone would have knocked on my door, I probably wouldn't have answered. I was a hermit! I do not remember my yard looking soooo bad, though. Maybe I just didn't notice because of my zombie state? Ha-ha!
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