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Dr. Ronald P. Rogers CHIROPRACTOR Support for your body's natural healing capabilities 270-384-5554 Click here for details 
  
Columbia Gas Dept. GAS LEAK or GAS SMELL Contact Numbers 24 hrs/ 365 days 270-384-2006 or 9-1-1 Call before you dig 
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BJF: Why a fresh new start to re-invigorate Downtown is needed Billy Joe Fudge examines past approaches which have not yet yielded results or the momentum needed to make Downtown Columbia become what it should be Click on headline for complete commentary a By Billy Joe Fudge Concerning the refurbishing and reinvigorating of our beloved Downtown, there are two schools of thought and there is merit to each. Many (The First School) contend that the building owners and business owners must make the investment to repurpose their buildings in order to set the stage for attracting folks Downtown to live and to shop. They are against any kind of public investment in lieu of this private investment. The folks in this camp are frustrated that "we the people" have and are presently shelling out millions in tax dollars that in many cases seems to be needlessly and haphazardly thrown in the deep-blue sea never to be seen again. I too am frustrated with the apparent lack of accountability in government these days. Then, there are those who (The Second School) propose that we have a public works program which would, not wildly but wisely, make an investment in our Downtown. These are the "build it and they will come" folks. Should the "powers that be" determine that this would be a wise course of action the realities of the financial world in which we live today are not conducive to this type of public investment, especially on the local level. Now, it is apparent that neither of these "schools of thought" are going to stand a chance of implementation on their own merits. With no action being taken and no other alternatives, our Downtown will continue to be a monument to our failure as a community to address the core problems of cultural change, changes in retail shopping patterns, national and international economic downturns, our lack of positive leadership and our inability to come together in a spirit of nonpartisanship to address our community's needs. So, this is why I'm proposing a fresh, new start under the auspices of an "umbrella" organization through which all existing organizations, governmental bodies, industry, financial institutions and individuals can come together to accomplish that which individually we cannot. - BJF We have stakeholders by the dozens. When we all individually are considered, we have stakeholders by the thousands. County government, city government, the four banks, building owners, business owners, public schools, Lindsey Wilson, industry and all of us. The major stakeholders who are our children and grandchildren cannot represent themselves and are going to inherit a community in decline, should we not act now. Should we not act, our children and grandchildren are going to question, and rightfully so, our commitment to their well-being and to the community which we would be passing on to them because of our continued inaction. But we are better than that. We are and we know it. We are and we prove it when causes bigger than ourselves are thrust upon us. We are a most charitable and giving community and I don't believe we are going to miss another opportunity to do the right thing for ourselves and our posterity. This is a cause that has been thrust upon us over time and I'm sure that "we the people" collectively and individually will once again rise to the occasion. This story was posted on 2015-07-26 15:34:39
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Commentary:
Geo. Kolbenschlag: Planning for Downtown needs diverse ideas Commentary on A Plan for Downtown Columbia Billy Joe Fudge: A plan for Downtown Columbia, KY Alice Smith Robinson remembers Nell's Variety Story Rollin Knifley: Square needs more than covered walkways BJF: We need an overall strategy to get jobs Ben Arnold: BJF has great idea for covered walkways Ralph Waggener: Stephen Collins is right, too Stephen D. Collins: Jobs need to be the top priority Kentucky Color: Covered walkways a good idea for Columbia View even more articles in topic Commentary |
 
115 Jamestown St. Columbia, KY. 270-384-2496 
  
   
 Provided by the Adair Co Fiscal Court and the Adair Co. Emergency Mgt. Agency 
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