I've had at least one person comment several times why I avoid local politics in this blog. My answer is that I don't intend to avoid it and I'm glad there's interest in it. Frankly I don't see much going on, on a purely political basis at the moment. That doesn't mean there aren't vital issues at hand. There are.
The big question looming right now is whether the school bond will pass. But there hasn't been any real debate or organized opposition to it, so the campaign has been fairly quiet. I get the feeling that the tide is turning toward a YES vote, just based on letters to the editor and the traveler poll, and the simple fact that proponents are campaigning hard. You should be receiving ballots in the mail this week, in fact.
One interesting point made by James Jordan in his column last week — the overall cost of the $35.8 million bond, with interest over 20 years — will be nearly $60 million. That "after interest" cost had been missing in the reporting up to now but certainly is a relevant point.
p.s. It's been a week and several phone calls but we still haven't heard from Kasha on whether she plans to run against Greta Goodwin for state Senate. That's gotta be a tough call. It would be a grueling, expensive campaign.
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A couple of other comments I have been hearing from some who are ambivalent on the bond proposal is, firstly, that the 50/50 deal really is 100% in that all local citizens pay taxes to the state also.
Second comment; Maybe this is the "anti-polar" approach but some feel that the antagonists of the $36mm proposal do not want to show up in the LTE and be labeled as against growth or progress. They say that the no votes will be silent until the counting of the ballots.
The committee and the Pro-Bond Public Relations Team need to keep working this one until the last day in order to assure success.
Who makes the loan and gets the 24 million interest?
I can see a few local events that are worthy of closer scrutiny:
1. Will Kasha Kelley be running against Greta Goodwin
2. The school bond issue. It seems the details are convoluted. Figures with and without interest. How much the state will provide. What is being paid for.
3. The city looking to purchase property to create an industrial park. When and where?
4. The hike/bike trail. Does it come to a vote? Is there more than meets the eye?
5. Numerous items of rumour and gossip. Maybe we can get you to suggest a few?
School Bond issue.
Why so much confusion? Where is the definitive answer?
Come on Traveler, lead the way!
Question for the Ark City commission:
What kind of plans are in the works for Ark City? Has there been any priority set to different issues? What can we expect in the next year? Next 5 years? 10 Years?
Is all national retail being held back? Is there something to help develop local business? What is being done to clean up housing? Is there a further push to cleaning downtown? What about the hike bike trail? Are we attracting new jobs and industry?
It seems all of these issues become hot for the moment, then just disappear. Does the commission just get momentarily excited then forget as they jump to a new issue? Or is it that we just aren't kept up to date on the working issues?
Does the city update this information regularly and the paper not print it, or have the issues just been forgotten?
Come to the meetings and find out.
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