Web posted
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Mayor sees positives for Ark City
By JAMES JORDAN
Traveler Editor
* This is the first in a series of articles on the vision for Arkansas City as held by city commissioners.
Mayor Dotty Smith believes good things are in store for Arkansas City and she tries to be involved in as many things as possible.
She has taken a lot of criticism for her deciding vote in rejecting the financial proposal that could have brought a Lowe's to town.
She has said she is not against having a Lowe's in town, but she maintains the deal that was proposed was not good for the city. Smith remains convinced that she did the right thing for the city, and still believes the city will prosper.
"The city has a lot going for it," she said. "I am excited, there really is a lot going on."
She would like to see more small industry in the city and believes that is the key to prosperity.
"We need a small-scale industrial park. We need to have land ready for them, something to offer them," she said.
These would be small companies that hire around 20 people. She wants to develop the city's industrial base, and believes retail will follow where industry goes.
She would also like to see Arkansas City, Winfield and the county work together more in attracting industry and business.
Smith points to new stores coming up on Summit, as well as some eating establishments getting a makeover, as signs that the town is prospering.
Of course she wants to see more come, and believes it will as people continue to work toward that end.
She and the other commissioners have various projects in mind and are making contacts to try to attract business.
"We are not working a unit yet. Several of us are doing what we can," she said.
In the current setup commissioners may not meet each other outside of a City Commission meeting, so she said there are times when they are doing the same research and talking to the same people.
Smith said she is also excited about the possibility of Amtrak coming to town, and having rail service.
A recent program at Cowley College outlined the possibilities of a train running from Oklahoma City to Wichita with a stop in Arkansas City.
"That would be great for us," she said.
The train could be here by 2010 but it is still a possibility.
In the meantime she said she is trying to stay involved and make improvements where she can.
One thing she did recently was bring skateboarders together to try to encourage them to form a club or association to make improvements. Children get in trouble around town for skating on the sidewalks. There's a skateboarding park, but it is so old and worn that the children don't want to use it
She had them come to a recent City Commission meeting to give input to the city.
She has also started working with the chamber to put together a small spring festival to help bring people downtown.
Smith has taken her shots since becoming mayor, but she remains optimistic about the city.
She and the two other commissioners who voted down the Lowe's proposal have been named the "three amigos." It is a label Smith has decided to wear proudly.
"In the movie the three amigos helped unite a town. Maybe we can do the same," she said.
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