Here it is here.
Now my turn to answer in a civil manner. I do appreciate the tone the author offered in the open letter, I must say.
I also must remind everyone that I'll be speaking for myself on this one, this will not be a response from KGVAR.
My emphasis if needed...
To all the wonderful Realtors who have made this city what it is today, can you stop a moment and think of what it might be in the future?
See that was nice of the author of this letter. And yes I can think of what the future might be for Kingman.
I can see that growth opportunities will be taken advantage of OUTSIDE of the city limits of Kingman from here to eternity. Kingman probably has missed the boat on key issues that really could have made a difference, such as annexation. There was a time when the Rhodes development approached the city to have the proposed new development in Golden Valley annexed as part of Kingman. Now it is likely that Rhodes will get final authorization from the Arizona Corporation Commission to utilize their own water company and there will no longer be a need for that master planned development to be a partner with Kingman.
Once that development is built out there will be more rooftops out there than in the city limits of Kingman. Where do you suppose new commercial opportunity might want to locate at that point?? No sales tax dollars for the City of Kingman, more lost opportunities.
I can see the impact fees continuing to be a burden for the chances for growth inside the city limits.
I can see a primary property tax being implemented because of sales tax dollars that will likely be spent outside the city limits. Sales tax dollars that could help to maintain community parks and important services, and hurting property values for the fine residents of Kingman. But what choice will the city have if it itself wants to stay in business??
Instead of "hawking" a whole bunch of new strip malls east of town, how about a wonderful regional park for all citizens to enjoy! Something like Los Angeles's Griffith Park or New York City's Central Park, somewhere where the whole family can go and enjoy such things such as picnicking, hiking, riding ATVs or bikes ... or horseback-riding trails for the whole family.
I have zero problem finding places to ride my ATV in Mohave County, and none of the places are more than a half an hour away. I'll assume it is just as easy for folks that have horses to do the same. Hiking trails are also abundant in Mohave County. I certainly wouldn't want to ride my ATV in a small 168 acre park right off an Interstate. I've picnicked with friends and family at Centennial Park many times since I've moved to Kingman, and Centennial is only a hope, skip, and a jump from the city owned lands.
BTW, just how much would it cost the fine citizens of Kingman to not only build such a regional park, but to maintain it and be on the hook for liability issues?? And just where would the funding come from??
It would also conserve our precious groundwater instead of being "flushed down the drain" in a commercial environment!
Last time I checked it takes tons of water to maintain a park and I bet even more groundwater would be needed for such a park than would be used at a commercial center.
Also, will all the "mom and pop" shops on Stockton Hill dry up also?
If successful 'mom and pop' shops continue to offer valuable service and goods to their customers I don't see them going away no matter where they are located. There are many such shops in larger cities all over the country that do very well even though they compete with more modern style retail centers. The days of the local general store have long been over.
Will employees be working at this new commercial center at minimum wage just to scrape out a living?
No one will force anyone in Kingman to work for a min wage job. Most folks that do start at min wage jobs are younger and less experienced workers. It does not take long to get the kind of work experience needed to find better paying work. If the Kingman labor force can prove to employers that they, on the whole, are more productive than what a low paying job can offer then you'll see better jobs come to the area.
But as we've just seen in recent weeks, one of the larger private companies in town is closing a call center in Kingman because they feel that the Kingman labor market couldn't support plans for a larger 'super-center' and have chosen other markets to invest in. That may not have happened if they could have pulled folks that proved they are better than what the lower paying jobs offered. Better paying jobs have to be earned, they are not entitlements. Frontier Communications just told us all in Kingman that our labor force hasn't earned better opportunities.
I sincerely hope that you take things into consideration, not just now for your profits but for our future generations here! Do you want your children or grandchildren to have to leave this "ghost town" when the water dries up? Don't we have enough greed in government and the oil companies at the moment? Can you make a difference in the future of Kingman? I challenge you! Thank you.
What I'd like to know is how does a park (that needs resources such as funding and water) keep our children and grandchildren here in Kingman??
You know what could keep the kids here??
Maybe a four year university, even if it is just a small one tied to some sort of parochial school (like a Catholic sister school to a Notre Dame type of program, or an LDS sister school to BYU). Maybe at a school like this a research center could be established to study the actual water resources there are in the area and how best to recharge them or to help find new sources.
Jobs and opportunities can also keep our kids here. With the influx of the baby boomer generation and the continued population growth of the country... coupled with the fact that the southwest seems to be the place that folks will want to be from here on out... opportunities will be plenty.
Education and opportunities is what Kingman needs much more than a regional park at this time. The focus should be there and to expansion of the city borders.
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