Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
A blog by Managing Editor James Jordan about the newspaper. So far it's mostly about city commission, but I hope to delve into other local issues.
Posts
My Blog List, My blogs are in capital letters
people following this blog
Blog Archive
-
▼
2009
(143)
-
▼
April
(31)
- kansas oklahoma
- Sunday
- kasha kelley live
- note on live blogs
- Real city commission
- live blog
- Freedom of speech redux
- Freedom of speech takes a fall
- live city worksession
- Music
- City commission meetings changes
- Saturday, music , good thoughts
- positively
- The Music
- letters
- Big Brother
- The night before Easter
- Deleted string
- new commission
- city commission
- lowe's
- City Commission worksession
- City commission candidate Scott Margolius
- About the live blogs
- More live candidate interviews
- Saturday
- Commission candidate Gordon Fry
- escapee maybe
- city commission candidate jay warren
- who you like
- city commission candidate Jean Snell
-
▼
April
(31)
Live Blogs
About Me
- Traveler Editor
- I have been at the Traveler for 4 years. I have been in the newspaper business longer than that. I came here from South Carolina. Apart from that, I am an unapologetic Jesus Freak. I am not, however, Republican.
37 comments:
Something smells and it aint smellishis puhn! That was the most media biased interview I have ever heard. Buying extra time, last on the list, name on the front page of the paper day before the election. Throw you money around to someone else. Why was he not at the work session like he was supposed to be? Only worried about himself and his election.
He had his chance to think outside the box! He had his chance to listen outside the box! Did he no! He did not even give us a chance to listen to all the data, which now he claims he likes to listen to all info available. The past is a great predictor of the future. Why would we want more of the disfunction and embarrasment of our community.
"He said anonymous comments do not carry much weight with him, but he said he would not automatically toss them out."
You mean like he and the other two amigos tossed out the 3 or 4 hundred signatures on the Lowe's petition?
I agree that the article seemed rather bieased. More questions than the others it seemed. But in their editorial, the Traveler is officially endorsing Warren, Snell, and McDonald.
How the heck is that media biased? The paper back three other canidates, which by the way WAS WRONG!!!! They should keep their opinions to themselves! I don't need them telling me who to vote for! I can make up my own mind thank you very much!
Mr. Margolius thought he was doing the right thing by voting down the big box. He voted what he thought was best for the small businesses downtown. But was that the best thing for all of the people of Ark City? Did his friends downtown convince him to protect them and let down all of the citizens in town? Mr. Margolius may well believe he did the right thing - but for who? Preventing Lowes did not stop Bryant's from coming to an end. Who else was he protecting? Why can't we have what we want instead of making us protect businesses that don't really need protecting? In his interview he wants to protect us from "predatory" pricing. Doesn't that mean lower prices? Why does he want to protect us from lower prices, better selection, and probably much more interesting things? What has Mr. Margolius done for us other than keep us from getting what we want and what we deserve!
Just for the record.
I have nothing to do with endorsing candidates.
If it were up to me we would not.
I do not participate.
Margolus still thinks in line with Kuhn and Smith. The only way to change is to bring in a new line of thinking. Vote in McDonald Warren and Snell and change the majority to a more positive direction. Only 2 out of 3 leaves the commission under the same control. We must vote all three to see a change.
I agree that the article seemed rather bieased. More questions than the others it seemed.
>>
I didn't count the questions.
So i dont know. but i do know that Gordon Fry's article was longest.
They were fairly similar in length.
I think Scott moved through the questions quicker.
Believe it or not, i left some of his out.
But was that the best thing for all of the people of Ark City?
-----------------
You just don't get it! Even the 20/20 Vision study said the area could not support a Lowe's. Maybe a Sutherlands.
You think Lowe's feels sorry for and they will just put one in just because you want one? Oh,demand one?
I think it's ironic how we are allowed to speak so foully on a christian's blog without being deleted. Do we have the mayor to thank for that? Has he set the norm for our community?
smellishis puhn, smellishis puhn...
Scott,
Nice job on the interview. You didn't avoid any questions and sincerely took the effort to be concise, intelligent and to the point.
Many people anonymously posting erroneously believe that since you voted with Mel and Dottie on a few issues that you are of the same mindset with them on all. If those naysayers would really be interested in learning more of how you think, they would have attended some of the meetings over the past two years and looked at your entire voting record.
Good Luck Scott! We need someone in there who will put the city and its citizens first.
Frank
If he had put the citizens first we would have got more information about Lowe's. The only reason to prevent getting more details is to serve only the people worried about it coming in. From what I've seen, only one of the five is providing documentation of what really happened. Why doesn't Margolus dispute Mcdonald's information? Since the documentation is supposed to be available why doesn't the newspaper print it? That should resolve all of the questions. How about it Traveler? It's too late for the election but you can still bring out the truth.
If the Lowe's deal had been rejected after going to the next step, which would have cost us nothing, then we would not feel so completely disenfranchised by our elected officials. If we had seen all the cards, and then backed out because it didn't look like something that would benefit our city, then that would have been okay. It comes down to the fact that a majority of our citizenry wanted to take that next step and see a Lowe's brought to this town so we could stop driving back and forth to Ponca for home improvements. We also like the idea of having some decent restaurants come to town. All that was taken away from us in one motion by three people who wanted to protect their downtown buddies.
THAT is why we will vote for Warren, Snell, and McDonald.
I know local contractors who drive to Lowe's in Ponca nearly every single day to get supplies.
Margolius saved us from lower prices and bigger selection. What a Prince!
Thanks a LOT!
Since the documentation is supposed to be available why doesn't the newspaper print it? That should resolve all of the questions. How about it Traveler? It's too late for the election but you can still bring out the truth.
>>>>
The documents are on our web site, and on the city's web site.
Both sides spin the information to say what they want it to say.
You may find it on either site.
Look it up and tell me your interpretation :)
Wow, can people in this town forever hold a grudge!
All this hammering about a Lowes store is getting ridiculous.
I spent 5 years in management with Lowes in North Carolina and Pennsylvania and set up 2 new Lowes stores in North Carolina. The Ark City/Winfield market is not large enough to support a Lowes store. The developer may have been trying to bring a Lowes-like big box store into our community and may have been in discussion with Lowes, but from past experience, Lowes does extensive research of the market and this one would have been deemed too small.
Frank
know local contractors who drive to Lowe's in Ponca nearly every single day to get supplies.
>>
There was a contractor at the hearing who said he spent $1,000 a week at Lowes.
I think it's ironic how we are allowed to speak so foully on a christian's blog without being deleted. -----------------------This is not a church blog.
I think it's ironic how we are allowed to speak so foully on a christian's blog without being deleted. -----------------------This is not a church blog.
.....
Not your grandmother's church anyway :)
Frank,
I guess we'll never know what the final plan would have been, since your buddies killed it before we could find out.
This is what Patrick posted on the ACflipside blog. I hope he doesn't mind me reprinting it here:
As far as the TIF, I have a copy of Gilmore and Bell's (Bond attorney for the city) memo that was publicly released in January of 2008 pertaining to the TIF as proposed on this project. It quotes the use of SPECIAL OBLIGATION BONDS
"A city may issue special obligation bonds in one or more series to finance those permissible expenses of a Project. Such bonds are payable, both as to principal and interest: (1) from tax increments allocated to, and paid into a special fund of the city; (2) from revenues of the city derieved from or held in connection with the undertaking and carrying out of any project; (3) from any private sources, contributions or other financial assistance from the state or federal government; (4) from increased franchise fees generated within the District and/or revenues received from the city from sales taxes, (5) from city transient guest and local sales and use tax generated from the Project, with the county's consent, or (6) by any combination of these methods.
Special Obligation Bonds are not general obligations of the city, nor in any event shall they give rise to a charge against its general credit or taxing powers or be payable out of any funds or properties other than as described above. These bonds shall be exempt from all state taxes except inheritance taxes and do not count toward the city's bonded debt limitations."
This copy was publicly released in January of 2008, but had been presented to each commissioner previously. I received my first copy of it before the last election. The new commissioners received a copy of it within a few months after they were elected.
Gilmore and Bell have been the city's bond attorneys for many years providing General Obligation bonds and Industrial Revenue Bonds. They represented the City of Arkansas City in this matter and not the developers or any other group.
I have also provided copies of this memo to the Traveler at least twice. The first time early last year, the second time just a week or so ago. I have a copy in my store if anyone needs.
Patrick McDonald
JJ, did you have a chance to ask Kasha to do a live blog?
Frank,
You have to take Winfield into account, as well as Cedarvale and Sedan, and all the small towns that would have driven here to a Lowe's. Imagine how quickly our increased sales tax would have been finished and then lowered back to normal. Face it, we lost out, and it's your buddies' fault.
I have asked Kasha
she said she would
Do you think Newkirk might have come here instead of Ponca? How about Southhaven? People said we couldn't support 2 Super Wal-Marts in the area but they seem to be doing well. Maybe we shouldn't tell a business what they can do, maybe we should let their experts figure it out. If it didn't work, we would have lost nothing. Margolius made sure it didn't work by not giving anyone a chance to look.
You would have lost the money to run amenities. Sewer, water, road improvements, ect at the least.
Past. Present.
What's missing from this sequence here?
Unfortunately, if this dialog reflects the mindset of the voting population we have another election where people vote their grudges from the past or the convenience of the present.
Any growth initiative involves risks. It is a matter of correctly assessing and then managing those risks. No matter what community one looks at as a model of success (or failure) there was the point where the citizens embraced a vision and gave license to its leadership to pursue.
I have heard folks imply that Wichita and KCK were both examples of failed initiatives. In fact, they are not. While people look at a present financial challenge as outsiders, it is more pertinent (word choice used for my candidate friend) to reflect where they were and what prompted the change.
Next, to assess the strength of the initiative we have to wait beyond this global economic crisis. Even the best municipal governments are struggling. It was once said the Vegas was recession proof. People in Vegas are not saying that right now.
Even though what their economic strategies in Vegas or Wichita or KCK are strained right now, those folks know that they have positioned themselves for good things in a good economy.
It's the ones who take no risks or who fail to support those willing to take risks that feel left out in both good and bad economic environments.
So, what's missing? We still spat about the past. We want immediate results from what we are doing in the present. We want a TIF district today to pay for itself in 2 or 3 years.
The question is what Arkansas City will need to be viable in 2020. My point is that you simply cannot wait until the election in 2019 to choose leaders that will build what is needed for 2020.
Your vote today cannot change what happened last year. You might feel as if you have punished someone but that still leaves the future unaddressed.
Vote today for a better tomorrow!
Anonymous said...
For the love of Pete, I am so tired of hearing about it.
1. All 3 of those candidates were very, very vocal that they would NOT support a TIF district for retail BEFORE they were elected. BEFORE. Obviously, enough people felt comfortable with that to still vote for them (or no one paid attention). To try and say it was some type of downtown business owner conspiracy is ludicrious at best. They were VOTED into office with those ideals it didn't change after they were ELECTED.
2. Given the economic climate that started to surface in 2007/2008 there is absolutely no way that LOWES (if they were in fact going to come here) would have moved forward with the deal. NO WAY. Lowes and Home Depot were fueled by the real estate bubble, too. Lowe's profits fell by 8 percent in the 2nd quarter of 08. They beat expectations, however, primarily by controlling expenses. Do you really think they would have built a new store that would have cannabalized sales from an existing store 20 miles away when faced with declining profits.
Some people act as if the whole thing would have somehow "saved" Ark City because there was a Lowes.
It is water under the bridge we need to move forward...
Frankly, I would much rather see development in infill property whether it be a big box or not than this continual insistence on greenfield development. Greenfield development is by far the worst type especially for economic revitilization.
April 7, 2009 12:14 PM
I just googled and found this. http://www.arkcity.net/stories/040207/com_0002.shtml
Here is how Scott responded during his first race for the commission. It was printed in the Traveler for all to see BEFORE he was elected. He has only done what he indicated he was going to do.
2. Do you support tax rebates for a retail development on Skyline Road to pay for road, parking and utility improvements? Someone at the Traveler just won the tough question lottery. Anyway, thank you for asking hard questions because that is what is necessary to get things done right. I would support a favorable tax structure in some instances, such as for existing businesses located downtown. We need to help local businesses in a number of ways as they are an integral part of a vibrant city, and we should consider how to help them with building maintenance since the city is affected by their appearance. I have heard a number of people complain about tax breaks for new business because they view them as unfair since they didn't get them. While I certainly understand that sentiment, it doesn't make sense to eliminate them because they are a valuable tool to encourage improvements in existing businesses, to entice businesses to relocate here, and to aid in the start of new businesses. I would wholeheartedly support tax incentives for manufacturing and other industries which would bring quality jobs and investment to the area. As far as the potential tax deal for the proposed big box retailer out North, I still have a lot of questions about it. As it stands right now, I don't see how I could support it. It looks to me that the tax incremental financing structure as proposed could do more harm than good to our community. While I applaud those who have worked to get an option like this to town, I'm concerned that this just isn't the right time and that we are certainly considering giving way too much away. I hope we can concentrate our efforts on rolling out the red carpet for manufacturing jobs instead. It doesn't seem to make sense to take the existing dollars that will be allocated to retail and spread them even thinner than they already are…..at least not until there are other things done to cause there to be a lot more dollars to spread around which will benefit everyone.
Charles, for once I understand and agree with you. Now is the time to plan for the future. We need to put ourselves in a position to come out of the recession on top and with things to offer. We are on the right track with our local budget in good health. If we can invest and build for future industry, retail, housing, hospital and efficient utilities we will be a draw when the money starts moving again. Other cities who are digging themselves out of debt or wallowing in past mistakes will be years behind us.
I was just over at nescow and saw Margolius' ad. It says "YOUR VOICE MATTERS". My voice is on a petition in a landfill somewhere because he chose to ignore the majority and help a select few from getting any conpetition.
I only wish I could vote against him more than once. Where's ACORN when you need 'em?
Hey Scott! so long, farewell, good bye, ta ta, Thanks for your service, but you are dismissed, rejected, replaced, and out voted!
nananana, nananana, hey hey hey, GOODBYE!
"nananana, nananana, hey hey hey, GOODBYE!"
Please don't waste a good song on a worthless individual.
Even though I voted against Margolius because of the Lowe's deal, and how he ignored the people, I still don't think he is a worthless person. I think he made a mistake. I'm sure he will learn from it and be a better person for it. I will continue to support Kasha, as I agree with most of her stances.
What we need is a council that will not be bullied by Kuhn, and I think we have that now. I can't wait till the next meeting.
Post a Comment