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I think you are thinking to long term, unless you have a crystal ball. This program is not limited to houses. I believe, it could be used to build a pig farm building for raising pigs and for building barns or even a fancy hen house. None of which, would bring anyone to Elk County. But, would allow them not to pay their fair share of property taxes via kickbacks or the twisted way of calling it a tax rebate and therefore accepting Elk County Welfare.

It doesn't matter if it is a barn, pig farm, or a outhouse. It;s a new taxable property for the county to collect on for the next 50 years.


Why would anyone sign up for the program and start building and not finish. How foolish do you think these people are, how foolish do you think the people are that read this forum?

You missed my point.  You can't collect taxes on something that isn't there. If the program entices someone to build then the county is ahead.

Is it only about trying to get one or two families to move to Elk County?
I thought it was suppose to be about population growth?

is one or two families not population growth? 

If someone really wants to accomplish something why not simply look at Montgomery County and Cowley County? What do they have? Industrial parks that provide places for business' which provide jobs, which require people to work there. Those counties did not start out with big college campus's or big hospitals those things came later. Oh, and a fancy high school campus does not qualify as a College campus. You can build the Taj Mahal of high school campus's and it won't make a bit of difference. Perhaps a blue ribbon campus might draw one or two families, who knows? Building a barn or a house is not Going to do much population growth now is it?

This plan can be used to build commercial properties too.  And no an established farm building a new barn probably won't grow the population but it will increase their taxes and increase tax revenue for our county.



Let's, let them pay their fair share from the git-go just like I did and just like every other property tax payer does. Let's play fair. If the county can afford property tax breaks for a few, why not for all?

I'm pretty sure this program is open to everyone not just a few.  If you want to build or add on anything over $20k then you would get the same benefit the others will get.  If you don't you won't.


Is that what this program is based on "IF" ? I don't think so. I think it is based on what a few locals want for themselves!  Perhaps being an Elk Konnected, LLC Follower you can tell us if the Elk Konnected Kommissioners came up with this grand idea through their Konnected Kounty Economic Employee?

   

If it only add hay barns and pig barns and henhouses and outhouses it really is a no brainer?

Yes more buildings for our county to collect taxes on in the future.


Since when is it County Government Business to run city business?


Well now let's just take a deeper look at what you have brought up, Okay?
Please feel free to provide some answers, thank you!
Isn't Elk Konnected, LLC more or less home based in Howard?
Doesn't our Konnected Kounty Economic Development any Youth Development Employee live in Howard isn't she a member of the Elk Konnected, LLC Steering Committee?
How many undisclosed Elk Konnected, LLC members live in Howard?

Doesn't Longton have a community member on the Elk Konnected, LLC Steering Committee?
How many undisclosed Elk Konnected, LLC members live in Longton?
Not too difficult to figure out why they are on board, is it?
What Konnected Kounty Kommissioner asked those towns?

I didn't realize Howard and Longton are now buddies and teamed up to pick on the rest of the county.


Well I can only guess, well I can not speak for either town. Let me refer you back to page one of this thread to the suggestion by Elk Konnected, for a unified government centrally located in Elk County. What is considered centrally located in Elk County if it is not the Court House Howard?

Also, I must ask you how many un named Elk Konnected, LLC members live in these two communit

If by a small chance someone is looking to move to our county. And wants to build or remodel a house to live in. 

There is that "IF" again?  What "IF" nobody choose to move here? What "IF" only barns are built?
Why would anyone chose to live here except in retirement? Do you see any really good paying jobs open around here for the masses?

retired people build barns and houses too.

That is such a mind fumblingly stupid thing to say in my books. Moline and Grenola are both great little communities and I think you should apologize to them for such an attitude towards them.

Why such a negative towards a couple of Elk County Communities full of good people?
I thought the Elk Konnected, LLC Followers were only allowed think and talk positive?

I am Completely flabbergasted by such an attitude towards our communities.

No attitude, no negativity.  If someone is looking to move to elk county and build or remodel a house to live in the cities participating in the program would be more enticing.  It might not be the deciding factor in where they decide to live but then again it might. 

Nothing has passed yet.  They have to have a public hearing.  I don't think Howard or Longton is officially in or out as the plan has yet to pass through the county.  What i heard about the cities was hear say nothing official. 

There is plenty to revitalize in our county.  This is a opportunity for someone who might feel they can't afford to do it to actually do it. 

20k is not a unreasonable amount.  You can hardly buy a car for 20K these days.

And it really doesn't matter how many people do it.  It will put new or higher value properties on the county tax rolls.  That is good for the county. It will add to the county tax base. With no cost to the county. 

Ross i think your thinking way too short term on the "Neighborhood Revitalization Program"  this is a good deal for anyone that participates and the county.  The county is not out anything.  They are just not collecting a full share for the first 5 years of a NEW taxable property.  If the a house is not built or remodeled they get nothing.  If someone builds a new house then whatever tax the county collects is more than they were getting before the house was built. A brand new home is going to be there alot longer than the 5 yrs of the plan. I live in a house that was built in 1900.

If a house in Ek county is valued @ $50K and a $20K remodel is done on the property, the property is now valued higher forever. Not just the 5years of the plan. Every year after the 5 yr rebate is a 100% addition to the county tax rolls.

If this program entices one family to build a new house then it benefits the county. If someone decides to remodel a deteriorating home, one that is decreasing in value every year and saves one home from becoming a vacant, unsightly, unsellable property then it benefits the county. 

If this adds homes to the county,saves homes in the county, cost the county nothing. It's a no brainer.     

Also i know the county as proposed the cities to participate in the program too.  Howard and Longton are on board. Moline and Grenola are not.  Why would a town not be in favor of this.  If by a small chance someone is looking to move to our county. And wants to build or remodel a house to live in.  Where do you thing they will buy? Not Moline or Grenola. 

Why was their a population increase in the 70's.  The only decade in over 100 years with a population increase.  What was going on in Elk County in the 70's that drew people here? 

[Is certification required in Elk County?]

Is certification required in Elk County?
If so, why haven't the uncertified day cares been forced into compliance?

Certification isn't required as long as you meet KDHE requirements.
1) Child care is provided for not more than two children unrelated to the provider for not more than 20 hours a week and the home has not been closed as a result of enforcement action.** Total time is determined by adding the hours each child is cared for weekly.
2) Irregular child care is arranged between friends and neighbors on an exchange basis.
3) Child care is provided in the child's own home.
4) Child care is provided in the home of the child's relative.

I would assume most parents would prefer that the daycare they take their child to is certified.  This gives them piece of mind that the daycare is insured, meeting health and safety codes, not over crowded...  This would especially give the parent piece of mind when leaving them with someone they don't know personally.  Also the cost of daycare is tax deductible so paying a certified daycare not just a unlicensed neighbor makes that a lot simpler. 

Catwoman-There is not a single certified daycare in the entire county.

Patriot-I know for a fact that the 1 certified daycare was turning people away because they were full.  I would assume that means there is a demand.  This was in Howard. 

I agree with a lot of what you are guys are saying.  I don't believe that the county should pay for people's childcare, but if they can help establish a daycare then I'm all for it.  The daycare that is closing is not closing for lack of demand.  The demand is there but there just hasn't been anyone come forward  to open or run a daycare. 

The "thought" that if you had kids you wouldn't live here, you would live in a bigger town is exactly why we need a daycare.  If there is someone thinking about moving to our area or back to our area and their is not a viable daycare or school then they will look elsewhere. Even to sustain the young families with children daycare and schools are vital.  A parent/family is more likely to drive to work and live here if they know their kids are being well taken care of.   

They are not using the children. This is a genuine problem in elk county.  Right now there is 1 certified daycare in Elk County and they are closing and moving out of town.  Can you not understand this is a major problem for working families in our county?  Elk county will not be able to attract or sustain a population of young people if there is not adequate daycare. In most young families both parents are working and more often then not one of them will work out of town.  Without daycare they can not live here.  I could careless what organization is having the meeting, where the meeting is at, who is paying for it, or how many tax dollars it cost to have it.  It is a major problem that needs attention. 

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is in Howard today to monitor the situation. 

If you want Elk County to survive take care of our own.  Most all of the business in the county are ran by people that grew up here. Batson's, Cookson's, Lanning's, Toot's, PEP, Mills Feed, Double-C, Crooked Creek, County Wide Trash, Mc Donald Propane and plenty more. Not to mention the farm families, school and county employees. And a lot of them are into the 2nd and 3rd generations of that family running the business. The county is led by people from here.  Very rarely does someone from out of town come in and start a business.  Would it be great if we could entice a new business to come in and set up shop, sure.  But it just doesn't happen too often.  Never has.  If we want to stay alive we need to take care of ourselves and our kids. 

I agree the property taxes are a major problem.  And infrastructure is too.  But cutting activities for kids is not beneficial to gaining or retaining young families in our community.