County Roads & Windfarm Money... WE HAVE A PLAN!

[jason clatt]

all my comments were made by me for me not affiliated or speaking for any body else not elk connected or rural county fire or any other county intrest.....these comments were made by me no one else...so....

[oldfart]

I cant  say  I know that.

[PrehistoricRez]

I am not trying to be negative here as I usually am.  But whom actually decided that this was the best use of the money? Was it the county commissioners and windmill land owners that live on these roads? I thought this money was supposed to benefit Elk county as a whole not a few people that live on these roads.  Someone said something about business coming to elk county.  What businesses that aren't already here are going to be running up and down the 237 miles of FAS.  Sounds more like its to help the few families that are gifted enough to keep inheriting land from one gen to the next.

Why wouldnt we use this money to clean up all the local towns?  Beautify the towns.  Knock down the dilapidated vacant houses and school buildings (Howard high - thought that hired enforcement guy was gonna do something). Repave city roads in Howard, moline, elk falls, long ton, etc.  maybe install functional sidewalks throught all the towns.  Things like that would draw people and businesses to local towns. Then advertise, advertise, advertise,  make brochures for the county, put in all hotel lobbies in 2 hour radius.

[PrehistoricRez]

Maybe a commercial, magazines, newspapers, web page that's professionally made, and updated on a weekly basis. 

How about investing in the local schools,  why are gravel roads more important than the kids?

[Ross]

I am not trying to be negative here as I usually am.  But whom actually decided that this was the best use of the money? Was it the county commissioners and windmill land owners that live on these roads? I thought this money was supposed to benefit Elk county as a whole not a few people that live on these roads.  Someone said something about business coming to elk county.  What businesses that aren't already here are going to be running up and down the 237 miles of FAS.  Sounds more like its to help the few families that are gifted enough to keep inheriting land from one gen to the next.

Why wouldnt we use this money to clean up all the local towns?  Beautify the towns.  Knock down the dilapidated vacant houses and school buildings (Howard high - thought that hired enforcement guy was gonna do something). Repave city roads in Howard, moline, elk falls, long ton, etc.  maybe install functional sidewalks throught all the towns.  Things like that would draw people and businesses to local towns. Then advertise, advertise, advertise,  make brochures for the county, put in all hotel lobbies in 2 hour radius.

There are no easy answers. Jobs bring people to various locations, even places where they may not want to live.
Check out N. Dakota, the Balkin oil formation. No streets, no houses, not enough storefronts, no curbs. They did go there for those things, they went there for jobs, good paying jobs.

People like me, retired. Come to places like this. To get away from the city and enjoy this type of lifestyle.

The world economy is in the tank, the country's economy is in the tank, the Kansas economy is in the tank. Cut's in funding are taking place everywhere.

Everyone wants easy money, everyone.

There were plans started with an eye towards the money before the windfarm broke ground to start building. In my humble opinion.

A big idea was to put the first million in the bank, what happened to that idea?

Renewing streets, and building sidewalks won't bring people to Elk County. Jobs might but where are you going to find jobs?

Renewing Storefronts is the owners responsibility, and that won't bring people to Elk County either.

The communities also have other beggar-thy-neighbor avenues with the state and federal government for grants and such.
Why haven't they persued theose avenues?

My personal thoughts would be to save that money, every drop of if.
Why?
Because, then the county would accumulate interest and a continuing source of money.
The county has survived without that money and could continue to do so.

1 million dollars at 4% interest compounded daily will bear $109.59 per day, and $3333 per month, $40,000 a year.
That investment could probably be considerably improved upon. Just an example.
If it were left alone and added to each year for say five years think how much it would grow.
Eventually, Elk County would no longer be known as the poor county with the highest property tax.
And just think if our County Commissioners had got us the three million others have got from the same size windfarm and the same company, just think how rich Elk County would be then.

No amount of money you spend irrationally or quickly will bring anyone to Elk County.

Look around at the number of houses on the market, I think it is a lot for this area.

People are leaving, not coming. Except for a very few that the county wants to give tax rebates to, IIMHO.
That's not going  to help Elk County, either. Just a few and maybe a few (inisder's) investors.

No sir,  jobs and taxes are the main reasons.

No matter how many Centralized Daycare and YMCA or Teen Centers are built with pretty flower beds, they won't bring people here. Good paying jobs might.

[srkruzich]

Maybe a commercial, magazines, newspapers, web page that's professionally made, and updated on a weekly basis. 

How about investing in the local schools,  why are gravel roads more important than the kids?

Because kids come and they go.  But roads will be needed from now on.  Secondly all the "Its for the kids" "what about the kids" ect ect ect is nothing but socialist propaganda.  As long as they are fed, clothed, and housed, then the kids are ok.  Why is it we have to spend tax dollars on kids, when they don't produce?   

Isn't it the parents responsibility to provide for the kids?  IF so, then problem solved!

[Patriot]

How about investing in the local schools,  why are gravel roads more important than the kids?

Nobody has said kids take a back seat to roads.  The facts are that West Elk USD passed s $9+ million budget for 2012 compared to a total county budget of  about $2.5 million.  How much money does it take to properly educate 300+ kids?


9 million dollars for kids.  2.5 million dollars to run the county out of which less than half is for roads.

Spend more on the kids?  What are our schools lacking other than good money management skills?

[Patriot]

Ross, I must disagree with the 'stash it all' plan.  We already have about $1 million in savings.  And the earnings are more like 0.5% = 1.0% at current rates... not 4%.  Additionally, with real inflation rates, we even lose money by not investing in infrastructure.  Higher future costs of fuel, labor and materials would quickly eat up any interest earnings, and then some.  Not to mention increased future costs incurred because of accelerating deterioration of infrastructure.

No, I think we are far better off repairing infrastructure & eliminating debt in the present.  Stop current deterioration and improve current cash flows by eliminating interest outflows.

[Ross]

Nobody has said kids take a back seat to roads.  The facts are that West Elk USD passed s $9+ million budget for 2012 compared to a total county budget of  about $2.5 million.  How much money does it take to properly educate 300+ kids?


9 million dollars for kids.  2.5 million dollars to run the county out of which less than half is for roads.

Spend more on the kids?  What are our schools lacking other than good money management skills?

Last I looked at West Elk it looked comparable to the Taj Mahal and lot's and lot's of money spent on technology.
And just a 344 children. The number of children was taken from the survey done on West Elk.
The survey is posted at http://www.westelk.us/joomladev/images/BofE-Minutes/2012-03-19-2012%20-%20Mar%2019th,%202012%20(Survey%20Results).pdf Whatever happened to the follow up meetings for that survey by the college?

With all the money spent on technology and the training in technology, I would think they could post a pdf survey that was far more ledgible.

The survey appears to me that there needs to be a lot more improvement in educating rather then spending. More supervision perhaps of teachers which would require a superintendent trained and educated to do the job. Just my opinion. Perhaps getting a blue ribbon school from teaching instead of just barely meeting requirements, would be a great improvement to Elk County. Spending more money won't do it.

[Ross]

Ross, I must disagree with the 'stash it all' plan.  We already have about $1 million in savings.  And the earnings are more like 0.5% = 1.0% at current rates... not 4%.  Additionally, with real inflation rates, we even lose money by not investing in infrastructure.  Higher future costs of fuel, labor and materials would quickly eat up any interest earnings, and then some.  Not to mention increased future costs incurred because of accelerating deterioration of infrastructure.

No, I think we are far better off repairing infrastructure & eliminating debt in the present.  Stop current deterioration and improve current cash flows by eliminating interest outflows.

I'll conced to that.