Without the support of the city, any plans for river development in Norfolk will be dead in the water.
That is why Jim Miller, a former Norfolk mayor, is calling next Tuesday's final budget hearing before city council a make-it-or-break-it event for members of the NorthFork Development board.
Miller, who is chairman of the group of community leaders that has been working for more than a year to generate support for river development, said the comments from council members during a presentation before the council's finance committee were positive, but he knows there are many needs in the community and many other interest groups with their hands out.
Yet, in the view of the members of the river development group, development of the water resource through Norfolk might be the best investment for the future of the community.
"If we want economic development, we have to have community development first," city council member Karl Reeder told the river development supporters at their meeting Tuesday. He said there are many recreational development needs in the city and a river development concept would be one of the good ones along with his priorities, Memorial Field improvements and addressing swimming pool needs.
Reeder said he ranks recreational needs, street improvements "and a lot of other things" well above proposed expenditures for new city offices.
In addition, many at Tuesday's meeting joined Reeder in lamenting the long-standing Norfolk boast about having the lowest city property taxes in the state. That's not something to necessarily be proud of, he said, especially when you look around at the state of Norfolk's infrastructure.
J. Paul McIntosh pointed south to Columbus as an example of what reasonable property taxes will allow. "They have an economic machine going down there," he said.
The NorthFork river supporters will be seeking a commitment of $160,000 from the city to match the more than $50,000 in cash and pledges that has already been raised. River supporters would then use the city's and prior financial commitments to make additional large solicitations for the more than $350,000 it will take to complete the engineering study and long-range comprehensive plan for development.
"As we go out and ask potential major contributors for additional dollars, these people want to know that the city is on board," said Darrel Novacek, who is heading up the fundraising committee for the river group.
Novacek agreed with Miller that the pending city budget decision would be crucial for the future of river development.
Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, July 24, 2008
Article comment by:
jesse smith
i think the main problem with this city lies with its administration, wanting things to be like they were 60 years ago. give us a break. too many "leaders" in this city are concerned with only what a few certain people want, and refuse to listen to the rest of us. its been this way for years. how about luring a few new companies here? columbus did that, and look what happened for the good of their city. what do these "leaders" in norfolk want? a riverwalk past a wanna-bee river, with a decaying trailer park beside it, along with wholesome views of trash and dead animals floating downstream. now that is true leadership. while we're at it lets build a waterpark out by eldorado hills, within walking distance for everybody out there, so 100 percent of norfolk could pay for it, but only those who live there could use it. sounds like a plan to me. makes me want to live here even longer.
Posted: Thursday, July 24, 2008
Article comment by:
Jon Stuthman
Obviously, Mr. Brown hasn't been to the area behind the YMCA. The RiverWalk will be a HUGE asset to our community. People go out of thier way to shop at places like the "Old Market" area of Omaha and others. A beautiful shopping area would draw people to our city to spend thier money at OUR shops and businesses.
Posted: Thursday, July 24, 2008
Article comment by:
Greg Anderson
An entirely new city administration is needed. One with a clear vision of a progressive future, not a bunch of wanna-be has-beens. This city is need of a serious facelift.
Let's start with the wore out look of the side streets and neighborhoods. Everyone is focusing on the big changes, lets start with the most visible and obvious first.
Posted: Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Article comment by:
Hollis Brown
What a waste of time and money. The North Fork river is nothing more than a muddy old hole and will never be anything else. Just what is needed is a River Walk past a dirty, brown river.
