There is reason to be positive in Arkansas City, though I'm sure they resident naysayers will find problems, but, after Tuesday's city meeting, I was encouraged.
A contract for the hike and bike trail was approved. They were almost at this point a few years ago, but the commission failed to push it through. Hopefully this time it will make it, and it looks like it will. It is not going to cost the city anything, or not much anyway, with the state picking up the tab. Someone on the blog raised the issue that state money is still tax money, so it is still costing us something. Granted, it is still tax money, but it is money already paid. The only question is where it will be spent. It would be just plain stupid to turn it down and let some other town have the money, when we have paid the taxes already.
So it looks like it will make it this time. Still, its a year away from being completed.
This adds to the quality of life, one more thing that makes the town appealing. Any industry or business looking to locate here- not to mention any families that might be considering moving - look at amenities a town has. A hike and bike trail on the levee is a positive that can only help.
It has the potential to attract other businesses as well, and could eventually raise property values, which will raise money for local government. That means more services without more taxes.
The second thing that was encouraging was the report from the group involved with the recreation commission to develop ponds in the area. McFarland Pond and Kneebler are the main ones. Some nice things have been done at Veterans pond .. er lake. More needs to be done, and adding the others to the mix is good too.
This is another thing that can improve quality of life and could improve property values.
They will be looking for state and federal grants. We need to be taking advantage of those because we have already paid the taxes. Currently our tax money goes for projects in other towns and other states, so we should be able to reap some benefit through a deal like this.
Id like to see the rivers get included more in this development, but all things take time.
It was good to see the group making their presentation. These are people with some vision. That is what we need in Arkansas City, more vision, more ideas, and more people willing to actually make them happen.
(there was a rather lengthy executive session after Tuesday's meeting, involving lawyers. There are some negative things going on as well, and no one is talking. It will break before long though.)
