I have thought long and hard about a topic that has taken center stage around the water fountain, dinner tables and rumor mill for a couple of weeks now. That is, of course, the talk of a Walmart Express coming to Lindsborg. I can tell you that as a member of City Council, my knowledge is limited to what I have heard and read on Facebook. I decided to post on my personal FB page when I kept hearing something that didnt set well with me because I felt it was delivered with a broad stroke and may have misled people, all who were probably well-intentioned and interested in delivering an accurate message. That information is that Council is knowledgeable and behind the coming of Walmart to Lindsborg, perhaps even insinuating we instigated it. I can say that to what I know as a council person that that is an untrue statement...that we instigated it. I dont know where all of my fellow council people stand because as a council, we havent discussed it. I can say that in an abstract form, it can be said that the council supports it in view of the fact that commercial development on the Harrison Cole corridor was adopted as part of our comprehensive plan, going back to (I think) 2003. Did anyone (including you, the reader) think that that would include a Walmart of ANY size, with 2 superstores within 25 miles? I doubt it. I do know that the City Administrator has called Walmart corporate and asked the questions, to which a no comment type of position was delivered. Without doubt, if true, this poses some very difficult questions for everyone. I recommend that we all do our research, that we come together as a community and look at facts, and not rely solely on anecdotal reports. As a council, we need to have much more information that we can glean from FB. There will be two sides, because like it or not, a list of advantage CAN be developed. A list longer than the disadvantages? I dont know. This is a time when it will be best if we all come together and not take sides against each other. We may be in a position one day to take sides against the big box vs mom and pop, but lets not take side against each other. We live in a nation where we all want choices but dont like change. If I had a choice of what I wanted in a big space on Harrison-Cole, would it be a Walmart? Absolutely not. Do I think that is could work? I dont know. I have to have more information. If Walmart was forced to build outside our City limits, would we know the same detriment with no benefit (tax revenues)? There are difficult decisions ahead, and we all have to educate ourselves. Please dont expect me to respond to every question this raises, but continue the conversations, please. And in closing, please keep in mind I am my own voice, and do not represent the opinions of our City Government or other members of our City Council....there are 8 of us and mayor. Go out and make it a good day. We live in an extraordinary community with extraordinary people.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 13:16:36 +0000
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