Not a good deal
Valerie Symmonds - Emporia
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
NOW THAT the election is over, I hope attention will once again be brought to bear upon Mr. Christie’s proposed big-box retailer project. All of us need to understand how this project is being financed and who actually wins.
Be aware that the city is being asked to provide $7 million of financing to the retailer to come here. This business is not coming because we are such a great market but because it is getting a good deal. That $7 million will be paid off through bonds which will not be retired for 14 to 20 years. (The developer says 13 years). That means that the city will receive NO tax revenue from the project until the bonds are retired. That’s right, no money for 14 to 20 years.
According to a recent Wichita Eagle article, at least Wichita had the foresight in establishing its TIF district to insist on a 70-30 agreement in which it will receive 30 percent of tax revenues from the start. Why should Emporia wait to receive tax income?
Secondly, stores in the big box complex will be able to tax items purchased there with an additional 1 percent sales tax beyond the already 7.8 percent recently approved for the rest of the city. The Gazette ran an article some weeks ago showing that this will be the highest sales tax anywhere in Kansas!
So, the question remains: Who wins with this project? It seems to me that besides the folks selling their land, the only winners are from outside Emporia. Mr. Christie, the Kansas City developer who says that this project is a win-win, will be able to support his Mission Hills lifestyle. The wealthy national retailer that will take money out of Emporia will get incentives to build here. (None of the local businesses who have served us for so many years received such incentives).
Is this the best our city commissioners can offer? I urge you to write or call the commissioners and remind them to listen to their constituents who have shown up at the past two meetings overwhelmingly opposed to Mr. Christie’s proposal, as well as to their own planning commission, which voted 7-2 to reject it.
Valerie Symmonds
Emporia
madpoet (anonymous) says...
I agree. If it was for a business we needed and didn't already have it may be different. Plus the planning board voted against it after looking at it from all angles. I'm all for new business but we have several stores established and paying taxes in Emporia providing the same services Lowe's would. We have plenty of vacant area for a Lowes if they want to come here so badly. We also have several vacant restaurant buildings already set up if a company wants to open a branch here. I fail to see why they need to build in such a congested location. If it does go thru I won't be shopping there, higher tax or not.
November 12, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
93shocarguy (anonymous) says...
I agree completely Ms. Symmonds. If Lowes wants to come to Emporia, fine, let them come. Let's even let them build where they are proposing to do so, but let's also DEMAND that they pay their own way. I'd be curious to know, how much the City of Emporia has helped Mark II Lumber, Sutherlands, Bluestem Farm & Ranch, or Waters True Value. I would just about bet it was not to the tune of 7 million bucks. These business had to pay their own way. I can assure you if the commission passes this, the only one that will get my vote in the future is Julie Johnson who voted against it.
November 12, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stevo (anonymous) says...
I too agree with Ms Symmonds, If they want here so bad, they can pay their own way. No body pays my way or even the ones mentioned... I think one question that always should be asked when any business or industry is trying to come into Emporia is, What other businesses are going to benifit from them.. How many local businesses, contractors, wholesalers are going to be used? I can give you that answer, "NONE". they will bring in all their own builders, use their own materials, electricians, plumbers, contractors, and not give any of our local business owners a chance... Look at the courthouse.. very few Local People were used.. I think that should be a Very Important Part of any deal... You expect your local people to support you.. then you should be supporting the local people. That is not fair to bring in contractors, etc. from out-of-town... Everybody should benefit. Come on Commissioners, and Emporia, Wake UP!! Lowe's could put us in a situation we are sure not ready for.
November 12, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shadou (anonymous) says...
Valerie, you are spot on! If this location is such a great idea for Mr. Christie and Lowe's, then they really need no subsidies to entice them to enter our market.
We already got snookered (apparently) into a retail park to the tune of millions of dollars. Every effort should be made to fill that up before we spend more to make life beautiful for Lowe's/Christie. (Therein lies the win/win deal.)
Again, I am not against the retail growth but let's be sensible and fair about it. You are correct, this thing will work to the detriment of existing merchants. Our population is not growing nor is that of the county. One more retail (out-of-town) mouth to feed is not necessary for us at the moment.
I might add that if they went to the DeBauge site to build, the infrastructure already being there, and they were successful, WalMart could easily jump at the opportunity to move out there where they would be more visible to the Turnpike and Interstate as well as U.S. 50 traffic. (WalMart is not noted for being hidebound to a location when a better one is available.)
Again, good points and thank you.
November 12, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
You are right on, Ms. Symmonds. It appears we have elected commissioners who make decisions based upon emotion rather than reason. I see no benefit for Emporia, but much benefit for Lowe's. We need to scrap this bad idea. I have no objection to Lowe's building a store here but I think a much better (more sensible) location could be found and that if Lowe's wants to build here so bad, let them pay for the privilege like all the existing merchants had to do.
November 12, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eiggohp (anonymous) says...
Ms Symmonds you are SO RIGHT. The only pockets that will get filled are those of Mr. Christie......he has done it to other cities and I hope the commissioners of Emporia will not fall for his promises!!!!
November 12, 2008 at 7:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joecitizen (anonymous) says...
Is anyone else concerned with the conflicts of interest in our city gov.? How can bob agler be the mayor, and still contract as the city accountant? How can jim kessler be a commisioner, and be hired by the city to maintain the many hvac systems in all the city's buildings? Will mr. longbine swear that he'll never sell the city a vehicle, or provide service work?
City employees are prohibited from holding any public office. Are these commissioners not technically employed by the city? Hmmm
Lowes as an advertising point, freely tells us that they offer installation on 70% of the items they sell. some things they have in house crews for. HVAC work is not on this list. Code services makes it a pain in the rear for any outside contractor to operate in town, and requires their own license, not recognizing state certification (money for fees mostly). so they'll be hiring a local contractor to do the work. Let's have mr. kessler swear an afidavit saying he won't bid on providing that service, before he tells us this is best for us. And while we're at it, how about mr. agler not hire to do there bookeeping, or mr. longbine not sell them any trucks, or service their delivery and install fleet.
November 12, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
trainrech (anonymous) says...
Nothing like beating a dead horse.
November 12, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
I can hear the whinney in the background. It's all been covered before and I wish the Gazette would correct the incorrect information posted here or remove it.
November 12, 2008 at 11:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biggest_small_townKS (anonymous) says...
Thank YOU Joe Citizen for hitting the nail on the head!
"Is anyone else concerned with the conflicts of interest in our city gov.?"
I say HELLO..... wake up, why stop at just the city government, it goes all the way to the county the courts and on up. Corruption abounds, Graft of the good ol' boy network we have here in the biggest small town in Kansas.
It's great for those who are a part of the circle, terrible for those who have some integrity and refuse to play the game to get in... and well, all of the in-betweens don't speak the language well, aren't totally familiar with the culture and get railroaded on a daily basis.
You better learn to sleep in the 'right' beds, play the game properly, have the 'right' friends or stand on the outside and look in at the circus and pray you don't have to ever navingate through the 'kangaroo court'.
Pretty much sums up why our country is falling apart at the seams, no integrity, no values, no morals, no consideration for fellow human beings, and on and on....
November 13, 2008 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
How many of you here on this forum actually believe that those who run this City are actually going to listen to the little guy citizen and act accordingly ?
Emporia already has one of the highest, if not the highest tax loads in Kansas and Lowes isn't even here yet.
November 13, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
You voted them in. You can vote them out.
November 13, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isdHaK...
November 13, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dhcc66 (anonymous) says...
ms symmonds.....gee, sounds familiar...
would that be the wife of bob symmonds, the poster of another article several weeks ago about the same problems?
now dont get me wrong. i agree that some of the things need to change in the lowes deal, but remember too that the symmonds family has lots at stake here....their view out of their back door.
if we continue to listen only to those who live around the project, then this is what you are going to hear.
November 14, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zeus (anonymous) says...
Hey facts, who the heck is Whinney and what does she or he have to do with this. Facts should stop whining:)
November 14, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
notasheeple (anonymous) says...
Aaa back to the thing that…… Maybe some of us need to know the law before we can fight the law? If a, 1,000 people went to the meeting and said I don’t want this in my back yard and you where told that the law states that it can be in your back yard, then wouldn’t you be looking for the law and filing a civil law suite. Thank people THANK!!! Prior posts….
November 18, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jfk (anonymous) says...
This is a joke, giving handouts to a big box retailer so they can come in and try to run other businesses out of town all the while employing small group of people at min. wage. If this town is serious about growing, we need better jobs for younger people to stick around after college.
November 24, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )