Whatever it was meant to be, the Main Street crowd pissed in the Chili. They have fail miserably to mediate an accord between those in charge of operating the Historic Park Inn Hotel and the merchants who operate business in the immediate area.
Has this something to do with ego’s? There are some very big ego’s inside that hotel, probably as big as they can get without their heads bursting. The parking problem needs to be resolved……now. Wait until the wind chill hits 30 below, then ask yourself if you want to park up around Central Park and walk to one of the stores South of the hotel. No you’re not going to do it.
You might park behind the Mall and walk past the former movie theater then go out the front door of the Mall then into one of those stores but that’s a real pain, that gets old quick. The owners of those buildings should be at the City Assessor’s office bright and early to get their property evaluations reduced. If you can’t park in front or in the back, why pay taxes? The downtown looks shabby, like a guy who got dressed, but didn’t comb his hair or shine his shoes..
A friend of mine called this morning and said there is no leadership in this city. It doesn’t exist. The giant multi purpose center is a good example. Just now after months of public comment on this site, 98% of it negative, Trout comes out and says wait. Bookmeyer had a stacked deck committee conducting the study that pointed in one direction…the direction he wanted. Don’t give me that crap about the council picking the panel, they picked who he wanted. 90% of that panel had self interest; Latham wanted to sell the land, Cram wanted to draw the plans, they all saw a way to make money.
All the while we have a failed Fairgrounds sitting inside the city limits that can’t pay their bills and is run solely to the advantage of the fair board. The city should partner with the county and build from scratch a new building on the fair property that would fascinate the needs of the fair and the city as well. Shared cost, good location and mutual need are good ingredients to begin with. I am not advocating this is something that needs to be done now; however when it is a better time to build, that is the most economical path to take. Have Randy Cram design it, he’s the best. Keep the Chamber out of it.
Elect a new board of supervisors; this one sat on their ass and watched that fair go down the toilet, not bright, been there too long. If the new manager is honest and follows the rules, he’ll be short lived.
Peter Children
