Springdale is Polarized! "Fine, because of the County Sales Tax the City recieves". What has Springdale Done for YOU lately? Complacency breeds Contempt. I read of The Block Party in F-ville, I attend meetings of upcoming events in F-ville, I see pro-active planning in Rogers & B-ville. There are No events, festivities or anything planned for S-dale. Any proactive attempts get thwarted by paid administrations.

Posted by: Commentor

May 25, 2011 at 9:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Let me help you out millard.
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Taxpayers of Springdale PAY the Chickenoplis
Chamber of Commerce a hefty sum, $200,000
per year. That's a million dollars every 5 yrs.
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For what?
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Chamber turned their back on Sam's Wholesale
Club. We lost that and the million of tax revenues
that went with Sam's Club. Why? So the Chamber could protect one of their own, namely the local liquor store monoply.
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No downtown revitalization in Springdale. Notta. The Chamber which runs this pathetic city ruled that out in favor of building a socialism baseball stadium so that development would happen around the stadium to benefit a few well-connected property owners close to the socialism stadium. No development has occurred. The socialism baseball endeavor will not even pay for itself.
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The Chamber is a loser for Springdale. They bring in little to nothing, spend large amounts of public money on themselves.
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The City of Little Rock pays their Chamber the very same amount, $200K per year. LITTLE ROCK IS FOUR TIMES LARGER THAN SPRINGDALE.
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Go figure.
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Posted by: cdawg

May 25, 2011 at 3:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Cdawg & Apbacker are stating facts. There have been grass root organizations in the past decade attempting, by volunteer efforts, to make Something/Anything Happen in Springdale. Volunteers get tired of attempting to do what Paid Administrators are paid to do -- bring business/events and Life into Springdale. Fact is just last week I attended various meetings in regards to event planning in F-ville/Rogers/B-ville. No event planning/ideas happening in S-dale. These meetings I just mentioned were orchestrated by paid admins of those Cities.

Posted by: Commentor

May 26, 2011 at 8:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Bass1; I still don't know what you mean by the quote, your attempt to explain only puzzels me more. First you said any proactive attemps get twarted by paid administrations, then you say in a attempt to explain this comment that volunteers get tired of attempting to do what paid administrations are paid to do. This doesn't explain your first comment, don't say it if it doesn't make sense or you can't back it up or explain it. Also if apbacker is stating facts that also don't make sense back it up with more than some stupid statement. While we are on the subject Publius you don't know what you are talking about either, if all the low income jobs were done away with that would be at least 90% of the jobs, where would the money come from then. If you do away with affordable housing again where would all the money come from, and the most stupid comment ,look at all the amenities they have which is a lot, look at the things that are in the planning stages. Get out more and take a really good look at this town and you will find it is no different than any other strugling with the state of the economy. I am not taking up for the people running Springdale, I to think changes need to be made. You have to remember we elected them, some over and over. If you don't like the way the city is ran elect new leaders don't just set around and run it down by making stupid comments that aren't based on any facts and do not make any sense, get up and do something about it. It's not just the elected officials that need changed there is some department heads that need to go, some of them are very anti buisness always pushing for more and more restrictions on businesses which push them to go to other cities. Go online and look up all the ordinances and zoning restrictions put on business, and you will see what I am talking about. Then look at some of the businesses that have been allowed to open and try to figure out how the were able to open with the restrictions on the books. Some locations to look at the the intersection of Pleasant and Sunset. Robinson and Turner, it's a mistery to me how they were let to open being such a eyesore. And why hasn't something been done about this. Yes the city has slum like ares and all kinds off unsightly things. The question is why hasn't anything been done about it, I understand the city has a code enforcement department of 5 people that are supposed to take care of these problems. What are these people doing, this is part off the problem the elected officials are not holding their department heads accountable, if the man running the code department isn.t doing his job and seeing to it the job is getting done get rid of him and hire someone who will. I have went on long enough, just get out and look at these things for yourself and educate yourself before you make uninformed comments.

Posted by: mable

May 27, 2011 at 7:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Normally I post once and move on, but for this special occassion ... Well "mistery" Millard, your grammar speaks volumes. In fact, I have looked around - a lot. This is not the 70's. Metal buildings and low wage jobs are a sure fire formula for a poor city. Frankly, many of the so-called 90% of jobs you refer to should go away, and that is exactly what I am suggesting. The focus should be on higher wage jobs and again - amenities. Look at a map of NWA trail systems. Where is the black hole - Springdale. Let's talk about parks on the east side of town. What's being done to secure the Washington County site for NWACC? They have expressed a desire to build a permanent campus in Washington County. What is Springdale doing to secure that site? And, don't get me started about "being unfriendly to businesses". I'd suggest that we need even tougher regulations. Limit the number and location of used car lots, pawn shops, etc. Encourage Hispanic businesses to be more friendly to the English speaking majority by placing all signage in English. I once listenened to a local politician type rail against ordinances that would force existing commercial locations to clean up and landscape, suggesting this was "anti-business". The very location under discussion at that time (the Dwight Shopping Center) now sits largely empty and is a budding eye sore in downtown. I'd love to have a rational discussion about the real state of things in Springdale and include real facts such as per capita revenue and expenditures in Springdale compared to other cities in the area such as Bentonville, Fayetteville, and Rogers. You mention code enforcement. Do you realize it is largely complaint driven. Have you ever called in to have graffitti investigated or cars parked in yards investigated? Both are eye sores and symptoms of the "boken windows" syndrome. And yes, I have called in such incidents.
And BTW, I do vote and largely never vote for incumbents in Springdale based on the current state of the city. So the next time you want to debate the issues, don't refer to someone as stupid and uninformed. Respect the person but debate the ideas.

Posted by: Publius

May 27, 2011 at 9:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

They go to China, Las Vegas and Mt. Magazine to have economic discussions for S-dale.

Posted by: Commentor

May 27, 2011 at 4:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Also to the above " Temper Temper" you old guys need not get to excited

Mistery Millard

Posted by: mable

May 27, 2011 at 6:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Great comments from all. A good discussion that needs to be had. The debate is what makes us a community stronger. Truth to most comments. The real questions for me are (1) What is Springdale doing to position itself for future success in attracting new business that will drive the economy (2) What is the Chamber doing to attract and retain business in S'dale (3) What is the realistic vision for Springdale in the next 5-10 years?

I think that as a community if we can answer these 3 questions, we can make big strides toward future economic success as a community.

Posted by: commonsense96

May 27, 2011 at 10:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

cont'd...
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What remains is for "in-fill" small subdivisions. They will feature few if any amenities for residents. Sad.
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The Chamber repeatedly says it expects commercial growth around the baseball stadium.
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There are few shopping opportunities in Springdale.
Last Christmas I wanted to buy about 5 gifts and shop locally. I'm disabled so didn't wish to expend a lot energy. There wasn't a single store remaining that offered gift-wrapping. I wasn't buying articles of clothing so I didn't check with Ryans on Emma Ave.
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The Mayor and most city alderpersons are supporters of the CoC.
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The little but short-sighted, old-boys-club mentality of what's in it for me has, unfortunately run this town.
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The City decided that of the two cultural destinations that remain Shiloh Museum could have it's funding cut while they heap money on a useless Chamber of Commerce. That shows you the level of foolishness that runs rampant.
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Scroll through some old posts on Springdale FOI and learn how the good ol boys club works.
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http://foiaspringdale.blogspot.com/
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For over a decade Springdale has sent mostly useless, self-serving people to the State Legislature. Jim Holt was the state senator and as useless and self-serving as they come. After being term-limited he was replaced by a chicken grower who lives in Elkins, named Pritchard. Both Holt and Pritchard were named "One of the Ten Worst Legislators of the Year" by Arkansas' largest paper, the ADG. This current insurance salesman, state Rep Jon Woods, serves a narrow group of economic interests and introduces no useful legislation.
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There's a few glimmers of hope like Harber Village.
The baseball stadium will continue to be mediocre.
It was done at the height of the Bush Bubble when so many enormous, false expectations were sold all over the nation. See the recent Lindsey bankruptcy
and other large bankruptcies all over the area.
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One landlord stood at a city council meeting when actual standards, like other cities have had for decades, were being considered for rental units to help prevent such units from becoming crime magnets. The landlord said repeatedly "This is communism" referring to having actual city standards for rental property. He should have rejoiced but all he could see was that he may have to spend a few more bucks to comply. Instead he's willing to see his properties turn to rundown slums.
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Absentee landlords are a problem here like in all decaying cities with few rules and little planning.

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Posted by: cdawg

May 28, 2011 at 2:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Cdawg and Jatello, nailed it.

Posted by: fayfreethinker

May 28, 2011 at 11:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Oh, Sam's club and a failing baseball stadium are not the only things Springdale's gud ole boz club has cost the city.
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The Women's Clinic in Johnson was originally slated to be in Springdale. However, the city would not work with the professional group of doctors who established this needed, busy and very successful clinic/hospital.
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Sales taxes would not have been produced but many high paying jobs, and more property taxes could have been added to the rolls.
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Being midway between the South and North of Benton/Washington County Springdale could be in a good position to attract regional businesses. But, unless a few insiders can benefit it nothing will be done. The previous comment about Springdale being heavily populated with building supply houses doesn't appear to ring true. Fayetteville has just as many if not more and Rogers has an abundance of them.
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To it's credit the city did manage to build an eastern corridor that connects 412E to 71B. But, if no zoning takes place, it will quickly become an area of residential/business sprawl of incompatible uses and temporary metal roofed buildings.
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I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jesse Core for his forward vision and service on the Council. But he had little help or support.
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Posted by: cdawg

June 10, 2011 at 6:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

fayfreethinker--

Buying more rental property? Oh, sure: you talk the entrepreneurial talk, but how many jobs have you created?

Posted by: AlphaCat

June 11, 2011 at 12:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )