1/23/2008 10:39:00 AM River walk idea still afloat despite city's reluctance
Special to the Daily News
Winning support from hesitant city government officials is one of the currently goals of the of the NorthFork Development Foundation.
The group of civic leaders who have formed to help foster development of the North Fork of the Elkhorn River where it meanders through Norfolk have been rebuffed so far in their requests for support from the city.
But that doesn't mean they're intending to take no for an answer.
"The city said no - and if you didn't hear me 'NO'," Joe Ferguson told the other members of the NorthFork group as he outlined fundraising efforts that have resulted in commitments of $40,000 so far.
Meeting earlier this week, the NorthFork group discussed the ultimate need for city support if their plans for development of any kind of river walk or water feature in Norfolk.
Funds are being raised to finance a engineering development plan and it is anticipated that upwards of $100,000 will be needed to proceed. The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District has committed $25,000 to the effort on the condition that it be matched by other entities.
The Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce, Neighbor Works Northeast Nebraska and the Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District have also pledged $5,000 each to the effort.
The NorthFork group voted make a follow-up proposal to the Norfolk Planning Commission to seek a recommendation from that group for support to the full city council.
With two mayoral candidates on the NorthFork board, there was no small amount of consternation expressed at the reluctance of the city to at least give some level of approval to the river walk concept.
"We need to work together," said Sue Fuchtman, one of the mayoral candidates. "The city council will be the ultimate decider."
Fuchtman said she could not understand how the council would not want to support the efforts of the NorthFork group, which are gaining a groundswell of support and fit with many of the ultimate goals of the city.
What's important, though, is that the NorthFork plans be seen as feasible and progressive, she said.
Tom Schommer, the other mayoral candidate, said he believes city opposition to the board's efforts were coming from the administration and not necessarily from council members. He urged continued NorthFork appeals to the city officials.
Chris Carlson said he thought the names of those who have volunteered to serve on the NorthFork Development board should be made more public.
"Critics of the river walk idea don't understand the momentum that is behind this," Carlson said. "Once they see the momentum they are going to say, 'Wow.' '
Part of the momentum has been the formation of several sub-committees and drafting of by-laws for the group.
One committee has been assigned to request and review engineering firms which might be hired to draft a development plan for the river corridor. That committee has narrowed the proposals from six different firms down to four that will be invited in for formal face-to-face presentations in February. The subcommittee will make the final recommendation to the full board.
Former mayor Jim Miller has accepted the role of president of the NorthFork board and will serve as its official spokesperson, Troy Strom is the vice president.
