This is growth?

Dear Editor,

In response to the Gazette's editorial of 1/20, "Growth era beginning on Golden Plains" since 2001 and without my Rose Colored Glasses, I have observed the following for McCook.

We have gone from three grocery stores to two, we had five new car dealers, now down to four. There were seven used car dealers, now there are six. There were six real estate offices, now we have five. Four furniture stores have dropped to three. My Favorite Things closed, Sitel closed, the Stage closed, an auto alignment/muffler shop closed; we had five convenience stores, soon there will be only three. The Red Horse closed. The Chief tore down units because they weren't profitable. Lots to Love and McCook Vac and Sew are gone.

There have been some washes, ladies clothing store closed, tanning salon opened, Auto Zone closed, Blockbluster opened, etc.

Regardless, while the Gazette touted seven steps forward, we have taken at least 14 backwards. The Gazette's non-committal posture on issues that affect commerce kinda surprises me as of the seven they mentioned I didn't see one that might buy advertising ... of those I mentioned at least probably seven bought advertising.

I lay this decline directly at the steps of City Hall. Their anti-commerce attitudes are causing a downward spiral for our community. I believe one of the reasons Govenors Mansion project did not occur is the Morrisons discovered that institutional investors do not commit millions to towns with declining populations and more business closures than openings.

I believe a contributing factor is the City Manager form of government which is flawed at best. Look at the great cities across our nation, most have an "elected" mayor.

As an elected official, if the mayor doesn't perform they lose their job and all their cronies they put in management positions also will be out of work.

Pretty good motivation to keep taxes, water rates, etc. low and expand their economies.

A City Manager can't be fired unless he faces a city council with courage and commitment. All he needs to do is fool the City Council and hang around long enough to get a better job offer. They care little about the rubble they leave behind.

Andrew Carnegie said "I don't need to know how to make steel, I can hire people who know how." Nixon said "There no difficult decisions, just incomplete facts."

I don't think we need a manager from the ranks of professional city managers ... just a person with good administrative skills and the ability to give City Council the "complete facts" I think our new manager should come from McCook, have a love for our city and not be looking to move on.

I don't know too many folks but I can think of four or five McCookites who would probably do a bang up job. How did your life improve due to our last city manager's efforts?

Only city government can help McCook turn around. The Gazette should keep their feet to the fire until they do.

In closing, sales tax revenues are about $250,000 more per year than forecast, most major projects are completed, I think the city can afford to tear down the Romanoff building at Norris and B. This is a black eye and sure doesn't project the image of progress or prosperity.

'Nuf said,

Bill Frasier

McCook