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Committees work to implement Smith plan
Development study shows areas of needed improvement in Webster CountyBy JESSE HELLING, Messenger staff writer
POSTED: January 20, 2008
Fact Box
Steering Committee Liaisons:? John Kramer
? Terry Lutz
? Dennis Plautz
? David Fierke
Steering Committee:
? Tom Tibbitts
? Jim Bocken
? Don Decker
? Kim Motl
? Tom Schnurr
To help identify the strengths and deficiencies of the local economy, the Development Corporation hired R.A. Smith & Associates Inc. to conduct a series of studies.
Now that the studies are complete, committees designed to help implement their recommendations have been established.
In addition to an overall steering committee, subcommittees dealing with work force and economy, housing and property development, image and appearance, and recreation and entertainment will meet regularly with the goal of affecting improvements in their areas, Kramer said.
According to the study, deficiencies in these areas are among the main reasons employee recruitment and retention is difficult in Fort Dodge and Webster County.
In the course of the study, approximately 225 recently hired local employees submitted their thoughts on the area.
In particular, the study notes that:
• The image of Fort Dodge is that of a run-down, unkempt community. The main corridors contain numerous closed businesses and empty, poorly maintained buildings. That appearance, according to the study, gives Fort Dodge the appearance of a ‘‘cold, dying, poorly maintained’’ community.
•? The perception among local employees is that there is little to do in Fort Dodge as far as nightlife or entertainment.
• Fort Dodge has a reputation of being a rough community, with higher-than-average crime rates.
• The rental housing market in Fort Dodge needs substantial improvement as perceived by survey respondents. Apartments were rated very low with respect to quality, appearance and availability, which has led many workers to live elsewhere and commute to their jobs.
• Spousal jobs are lacking, with the spouses of employees often unable to find employment commensurate to their education level.
• The city is perceived to lack retail variety.
According to the study, if not addressed in the near future, negative attributes noted in the study could ‘‘significantly affect’’ the growth of the community.
Though a specific timetable for implementation has not been established, sooner is better, in Kramer’s opinion.
‘‘If we don’t fix things soon, it’s going to cost us some business expansion,’’ Kramer said.
Contact Jesse Helling at (515) 573-2141 or jhelling@messengernews.net
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LiveSpacesMember Comments
View Comments: | 1-7 | Post a comment
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CommonSense
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01-26-08 1:54 PM
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Hey Jimmie, Sorry I got busy there for a second and never got the chance to email you. I did it at 12:43 though so you should have it by now. Talk to you later.
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CommonSense
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01-26-08 11:49 AM
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Hey Jimmie, I tried to email you once after that last exchange we had. Didn't you get it? I'll try again. I am guessing the last part of that email adress is dot com fut let me know if I am wrong.
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CommonSense
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01-21-08 7:35 PM
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No offense taken Spiffy, I am not an ATV enthusiest, I'm just saying we need to dream a little bigger. It could be just so much more than an ATV park. By the way the people who travel to ride ATV's spend thousands of dollars on ATV's, and have to buy the trucks and trailers to pull them with. They are not the low income people that you suspect they are. The people using the park are not the same ones you see riding up and down a gravel road 1/2 a mile from their house. This is a recreational opportunity that if done properly could provide millions in income to the local economy. It just needs to be promoted. Many of these people will rent motel rooms, and dine out, and shop, all of these things that bring revenue. It's just like used car stores, pawn shops and dollar stores. There's nothing wrong with them if they look presentable. Granted we have plenty of them to go around but let's face it. Bloomingdales wouldn't survive in FD very long. You have to get the people here first.
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CommonSense
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01-21-08 2:28 PM
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We all know what the problems are! We have done the studies and they all say the same thing. No one has answered the question, What do the you people want us to provide for them? I think it's more than just a water park, although it's a good start. What's next? What do young people want to do at night? What is it that the city of FD needs to build to make a young person want to come back here after college. The #1 thing is probably high paying jobs but guess what, you have to compete with every town in the state to get those! Whatever the answer is I at least think that we are headed in the right direction with our current City government. Let's start by making Wal Mart and Hy Vee and Target pick up their own trash!!
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CommonSense
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01-21-08 2:18 PM
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It made me want to move somewhere else. They can also start a program where the city can provide some funding for those people who want to fix up their house or business but just don't have the resources. There are many things we can do but the #1 thing we can do is share ideas, which we are doing right here. We have the prison right here in town, if we could find a way to fund the materials needed, I'm sure the prison could provide some much needed labor. The prisoners could build projects and help to keep our parks clean. I'm sure there are people out there who would be willing to help the community. Lot's of people say there is nothing for young people to do here and nothing for night entertainment, but what is it that other cities have that we don't?
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CommonSense
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01-21-08 2:09 PM
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that exist at that park are endless! There are a lot of people who own ATV's and have nowhere to ride them. It just takes someone with some vision and a little promoting to take effect. If you build it they will come but if you know how to promote it right, it will happen a lot faster. You have to change peoples perspective on the community. The city has to put pressure on businesses and citizens who don't keep up their properties. You can tear down houses and rebuild nicer homes but if you continue to let those people just move somewhere else in the city, the next house they live in will soon be just as ugly and then there will be another neighborhood you have to clean up. You don't have to be wealthy to keep a clean house or business. It doesn't have to be fancy just clean and well kept. The city can also make it easier for people to make property improvements by cutting some of the red tape. I had to experience a lot of it when I expanded my house. It made me
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CommonSense
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01-21-08 2:00 PM
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This problem didn't happen overnight and it's not going to get fixed overnight. I think the #1 thing that we can do to improve the future of FD is to do what we can to let the young people know that we want them here now AND in the future. I am constantly suprised by the number of people who complain about FD, then move away, only to return to FD a few years later. I think to a certain extent it is human nature to think that there is something better out there when you are growing up. What I'm saying is even kids who live in great towns think that the town they grew up in isn't any fun and when they get old enough they are going to move somewhere else and find a better place to live. It's a " the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence mentality." I have to disagree with Spiffy about the ATV park for sure though. That park has so much potential to be a recreational opportunity for people of all ages! The camping and fishing and recreational opportunites
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