ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor.
“The purpose of gummint is to create a healthy bidness climate.” — An unknown Texas state legislator quoted by Molly Ivins
“The purpose of government is to solve problems and be a fair referee.” — Me
Though it’s one of the oldest political battles in U.S. history, the issue of taxes and what they should pay for has resurfaced again in Wayland.
Apparently, Arny Rodriguez, owner of the Aqua In Vino wine and cheese shop downtown, is so angry that the city won’t provide maintenance and plowing services for the adjacent parking lot he owns that he has cut off public use except for paying customers.
It is true the city did some snow plowing and maintenance for that lot in bygone days. But City Manager John Eggleston, now dearly departed for Zealand Township and an easy target for scapegoating, and the Downtown Development Authority decided to halt using taxpayer dollars to maintain private property.
Rodriguez’ stand is that though the lot, located between Aqua In Vino and Henika Library, is indeed private, it provides citizens coming to town with a convenient place to park. Therefore, it creates “a healthy bidness climate.”
There’s a lot of irony here.
Many citizens are quick to complain about high local taxes, but, as former local State Police Commander Steve DeBoer used to say, “You want services, you have to pay taxes for them.”
But do they support paying for maintenance and snow plowing for a private parking lot? They already spend tax dollars for city employees putting up Christmas decorations or placement of certain signs and other amenities.
And is there enough parking available for those who come to the downtown? That seems to be an issue that should be handled by the DDA, a group not long ago headed by none other than Mr. Rodriguez.
Closing off the parking lot off South Main Street certainly has raised a ruckus and most recently has caused new dentist Dr. Paul Ingles to ask patients to come through Hanlon Court to the south to gain access to parking. Supposedly this is a minor inconvenience, but an inconvenience nonetheless.
So we’re left with the knotty problem of deciding what we’re willing to pay our taxes for and what we believe the private sector should be responsible.
Perhaps a serious meeting of the City Council and DDA is in order to straighten this problem out.
Dave, since you decided to write an article about this parking lot issue, I think you should dive a little deeper into the DDA and its funding mechanism, called tax increment financing act, or TIFA. I would wager very few taxpayers in Wayland know about this or how it works (or doesn’t, as in this case with the DDA).
Then after explaining the details to the people, maybe you can come up with the logic that the DDA had when it bought a parking lot that was already a parking lot and had been for many years? Then maybe, while you’re at it, dig in to the minutes of past council meetings and see why they created this parking issue you wrote about this week.
I said it right, the City Council, led by a newcomer city manager, elected to discontinue a parking lot rental program that was working. It seems that in the language of said rental agreements, the snow plowing and maintenance of said lots was on the City. I am talking about the American Legion lot, the former Harding’s lot and the lot north of the Henika Library. This would only make sense, since the city was rentimg them for public use and it had a responsibility to make sure the public would be safe to use them.
Enter Josh Eggleston and his desire to deliver less services to the public by not overtaxing the DPW employees who were charged with the tasks of the parking lots and sidewalks. I cannot say for sure of his reasoning, but I do know for sure there are enough employees and equipment available to do this maintenance, which had been done for years prior.
In regards to the DDA purchase of the former Harding’s parking lot, which is now crumbling, this was a colossal waste of tax dollars, but a great deal for Greg Bennett, who was already renting the lot to the city. Now, when it needs to repaved, the taxpayers take it on the chin again.
Don’t let the DDA says they will pay for it… they operate with tax dollars paid by other property owners in the city. Many of these property owners are businesses that have had to pay for their own parking lots at their place pf business, thereby exposing a true irony.
You see, when you build a business, the permitting process dictates that you have to have enough on site parking. So they paid for theirs, now they paid for the DDA’s waste of money.
Let’s talk sidewalks, which have always been a hot button subject in Wayland, especially, when it comes to where and why. Over the years, the city has come to listen to the planners and engineers when it comes to grow, and along with the growth, sidewalks. Now the city, through its agents, dictate when sidewalks are needed.
We are told that PCI ultimately reviews site plans and makes sure all things are attended to. Take a drive down Reno Drive and see the sidewalks that were required to be put in and used by the public. You will see a relatively new side’walk that the owners of the self storage facility south of Harding’s the new facility) was required to put in, seemingly to connect to the General RV sidewalk, that they also were required to put in per ordinance. Now look at the non existent sideway that the Union Millwrights Carpenters trade school was required (or not) to put in for the use to access their facility. Are you now wondering, as I have for several years, how did this happen? Who signed off on that?
I bring up sidewalks because it is one of most basic improvements for the benefit of the public that we need and use daily, as we do our roads. The city has a duty to maintain them, including snowplowing, just as they do the roads. They have no problem cleaning the downtown sidewalks, but under Eggleston’s leadership, opted not to give the same service to other parts of the city. This is wrong and must be changed.
I would volunteer to serve on a committee to come up with solutions for this and the parking issues, and hell for that matter, the whole street and infrastructure need for Wayland. I see a total failure for future planning when it comes to traffic, streets and DPW services, which in the past had been taken care of by the manager and staff, with input from the City Council.
The emphasis on “Downtown Wayland” as the pretty new sign, placed not downtown, but out by the highway says, has blinded the council and DDA. Real needs of the whole town need to addressed and soon, as we cannot afford to put off the obvious. We don’t need more flowers and benches, we need infrastructure and people to maintain it.
Mr. Genther, your analysis and historical context is correct. Thank you for bringing clarity and truth to the issues mentioned.
How the city council let the city manager make the decisions he did and let them stand is a mystery. His departure was needed.
Well said RG, it is beyond time to get to task on the real work. Enough celebrating and living under the myth that all that is needed is to attract business and “beautify downtown.”
Real issues have been ignored for far too long. Too many excuses and misappropriations of funds have occurred.
Play time is over, the real work is on your desk!
I can agree with most of what Mr Genther has explained, but I disagree with more staff for completing the daily tasks around the city. I’ve made several observations over the years when I go on my walks and see how maintenance has declined around the city, especially the park. Several sidewalks need repairs, especially along West Maple Street the section between Park Street and the interurban. It’s basically gone because someone back in the day used asphalt to replace it.
I brought it up a few years ago to the mayor and city manager, so they replaced a small section of it. So how can it be no DPW employee has ever noticed this?
I’ve had a branch from a city tree waiting to be picked up for two weeks now sitting in the right of way and noticed they drive by two or three times a day like they’re blind.
Furthermore, when in the hell is that water and sewer rate increase going to be over? I just read it’s going up again in September the average ready to serve is now going to cost a home owner 41 dollars and the usage rates are also going up, so most homes will be paying and average of 70 dollars or more and I feel sorry for the outsiders who have to use this utility. I wonder if Dave or someone can figure out how many millions the city has taken in on this deal.
Also, it would be nice if Dave could put in how much revenue sharing the city gets from the casino. I’ve noticed he always seems to put it in from the other communities after attending their meetings.
It is lack of leadership at the top on down. When something needs to be done, do it. Don’t wait for someone else to do it.
Getter Done!