Reader "90s Grad" reports on a successful cleanup program down the road on Highway 6 in southwest Nebraska. "Perhaps we in Dorchester can take a page from Wauneta (pop. 625) and model a program after their property improvement program," writes "90s Grad."According to a report in The Wauneta Breeze, "significant strides have been made in cleaning up neglected and aging properties around Wauneta, and more improvements are in the works." Village Superintendent Bill Bischoff and board members "expressed their appreciation for property owners taking steps to help improve the community."
The Breeze also reports, "While a formal announcement is still pending from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, village board members received word that the request for $315,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds has been OK'd for owner-occupied housing upgrades and improvements in Wauneta."
Reader "90s Grad" wrote: "Why can't we in Dorchester be more pro-active in seeking grants for simple, realistic ideas like clean-up of neglected or abandoned properties? Would any board members pledge to insure that we do a better job of seeking such opportunities? I still think a town hall meeting at the community hall on this issue would be worthwhile."
Better idea ... the town can impose a "blight" tax on such propeties until they are torn down or cleaned up. Makes sense to me ... just requires political will and support of town's people.
ReplyDeleteBefore anyone kills me for the comment above let me clarify ... there would need to be some codified standards for "blighted" properties ... broken windows, unlivable conditions, etc. Obviously we wouldn't want people being penalized for 4" grass or a child's left in the front yard.
ReplyDeleteIt should be noted that in these difficult economic times, some people may be having trouble just keeps the lights on.
ReplyDeleteI have misgivings about the government telling someone that they must spend money on their property that they might not have.
Too frequently those that preach "less government" don't seem to mind if the government is picking on the other guy.
I think that this is a great idea to do. Maybe more people would want to come to dorchester. There are buildings that look like crap on main street business that need to clean up. I think if we got a people together that are willing to do this would be awesome. I think we should talk to carol olsen because she is one person willing to make this town look better..
ReplyDeleteCome on people -- more people need to step up and take charge. Don't just say Carol can do it because she does everything else!
ReplyDeleteCarol Olsen is a great person that wants the best for Dorchester - I love her dearly -- but it takes more than just Carol to do this.
Maybe 10:32am Anonymous should step up and lead this project. It's a great idea -- but others need to take ownership in this too.
Better Idea: Impose another TAX?
ReplyDelete"Codified standards" is a frightening phrase to me.
In any town, village, city or 'large metropolitan area' there will always be properties that need repair.
I'm not sure what the "blight" actually means, either.
If someone at the times had any guts they would take pictures of their idea of blighted properties!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBen's Iron Grill, Tyser Repair and Dorchester Grocery have spent tons of their own money to make Dorchester look better. How many of you people drive right past these places to do buisness somewhere else? Have you been to Wal-Mart lately, think about it.
ReplyDelete68 grad here. If you want to see a town that deals with properties that need to be fixed and neglected houses, just drive through Bruning, NE. Only 320 and main street is fantastic looking. We have a community foundation that deals with this. Just giving an idea.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this might not be the best time to add a tax. Stromsburg and Friend have been cleaning the neglected properties by burning. Stromsburg had as many as 9 properties on the list. Friend did 2 in the last couple months. The first one in Friend is now seeded down to grass, and looks great, In a little over a month. Perhaps if we have buildings that should be condemned they be put on a list, with a notice to the owner that gives them blank amount of time to begin work, or it will be used as a training for the firemen. (One site that comes to mind is the Johnson house east of the school about two blocks.)
ReplyDeleteI was in Sidney from 2002 to 2005. You are correct in stating that Cabela’s is a large presence in Sidney and Western Nebraska. No one wants to return to the days when the Sioux Army Depot closed in the 1960’s, and the downtown area went into decline. However, I would urge government officials and taxpayers to carefully weigh the benefits of business tax breaks to ensure that everyone wins. In other words, analyze the situation just as any good and ETHICAL business person would do. On a related note, I believe the moral compass of the company changed when the Cabela family stepped down from running the day-to-day operations. They had a philosophy similar to that of the Petersen family of DeWitt. Dick Cabela once stated that it was an honor to locate his business in the panhandle and employ area residents. Dick, Mary, and Jim were “old school”, and their leadership is missed in today’s world.
ReplyDeleteGet used to it. The day of organized labor is coming to an end because in a globalized community, there's always someone somewhere willing to do it cheaper, faster, better if you can't.
ReplyDelete