Businesses Sprouts Around Wal-Mart

Weber County Forum Reader Submission
By Politico Observor

As the Standard-Examiner's Jeff DeMoss reports in this morning's edition, 15 businesses that have located near the Harrisville WalMart, the land incidentally, owned by the Boyer Company (there are a couple of undeveloped parcels left, according to a newspaper article, 5 acres in the NW corner and 1.5 acres next to Chili's, on the east side). It seems a shame that Ogden is not the recipient of this "gold rush," as Harrisville's retail sales have exploded from $13.2 million to $119.3 million in the last 4 years.

Now comes the point: Why didn't our RDA attempt to locate WalMart in an area that was not filled with businesses and homes? Much time went into trying to assemble that 22 acre parcel, but to no avail. I'm thinking out loud now, was our RDA (actually our City Council) going about this the right way? Does this go to pattern? Does this evidence that our group of would-be developers (the Gang of 6) are in over their heads and going about things the wrong way?

If one adds up all of the failed and stalled projects, the answer is most likely, "Yes." And it corroborates many people's feelings that the City Administration, except for a couple of well reasoned council people (Wicks and Garcia) is operating from a void. Their time is mostly spent mishandling these huge monetary projects while the infrastructure rots. They listen to no-one during the Public Input sessions. They rubber stamp the Mayor, who rubber stamped Stuart Reid (who has now escaped into the twi-light). And they pay these community and economic development personel immense salaries to dream up and administer these projects with their sullied track record.

It comes down to good management, which, I'm afraid our City lacks. Debate if you can or will, but look at the track record. Today, the emphasis in on Godfrey's High Adventure Recreation Center, which, due to delays and mis-management, is struggling to even get a bond vote or a Public Hearing (I believe that is suppossed to occur this Tuesday). A good idea? Perhaps, but I'm not exactly thrilled in the course, or the progress, that pertains to this project.

And more projects are coming on board, i.e. the Riverwalk or Riverfront, with the same tired practices being administered..., trying to take one person's property away and give it to another. Those who resist are not "obstructionists," they're home owners. Maybe if the right offer came from well intentioned people, they might consider selling. But accepting a "take-away" or an insultingly low offer that benefits big business, not a chance.

When will our Council learn? When will they unfold a city map and identify some vacant land, annex some near our boundaries if necessary, and get the project ball rolling there? When, as long as they're in it this deep, will it sink into their heads that you can't put lipstick on a pig, like the old Parking Terrace, or make it appear attractive, regardless of where it rolls in the "mud?" When will they understand that private enterprise, with some "common sense help" from them as per infrastructure, tax benefits, zoning, etc., is the answer and that given to the peoples' devices, our city can again become whole? Once accomplished, we can revel in those successes and partake of the fruits of those enjoyments.

It was done in the past, which our City Administration is so quick these days to dismiss as "old and used-we must be modern and take new approaches," and it can be done in the present. Managed properly, we too could be sitting back and counting our money, just like Harrisville, instead of spending it on these mis-managed schemes and blaming such on legal delays and "obstructionists."

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Editor's Note: There's been some (probably justifiable) "grousing" from the readership trenches this morning, both in blog comments and via email, that I haven't put anything new up on the front page today, into which our WCF readership can firmly sink its teeth. Although I hadn't seen anything in today's news that had seemed particularly inspiring, one of our newest blog members, Politico Observor, did find an interesting "angle" in this morning's Std-Ex Walmart story, and then expanded upon it a bit with a short tome. Inasmuch as I'm still hammering away at an upcoming article on Centerville Citizen's topic, zoning and land-use regulation, I've decided to place Politico Observor's essay on the front page, so the gentle WCF reader-folks will have a little something new to chew on.

Keep in mind, folks, the views herein expressed by Politico are not necessarily those of your Weber County Forum blogger. I've been fishing unmercilessly for thought-provocative reader-submitted articles for quite a long while however, and it seems that Politico Observor has submitted one that fits that bill. I'm thus posting it for your perusal.

I've edited this article slightly, mainly to excise a reference that was perhaps a trifle too "colorful" for the Weber County Forum front page. Otherwise it appears in its original form, as originally submitted.

Give it a read-through and don't hesitate to offer your comments, folks.