April Express Newsletter from the Chamber of Commerce carried the following:
A Special Message from Chamber President Mike Rozow
The good news is that economic development efforts are moving forward. The not-so-good news is that the process seems to be painfully slow. A Chamber member called last week and asked, “What makes us (Dearborn County) so different? Others seem to understand and get on with what needs to happen. Getting on takes forever here.”
The call was in response to a guest column I wrote for the Dearborn County Register. The title: “Rural Charm or Economic Development? We Can Have Both.” (The article is posted on the Chamber’s web site … go to www.DearbornCountyChamber.org and click Straight Talk on the left side menu.)
I want to thank everyone who called and emailed to say they appreciated someone finally speaking up for the “silent majority” of Dearborn County residents who enjoy aspects of our “rural” setting but also understand that we need economic development.
Anti-growth supporters paint a romantic picture of Dearborn County and farms and
agriculture, but what is that picture costing us? Let me share a few facts from the State of Indiana. 676 farms in Dearborn County account for about 75,000 acres (the average size farm is 110 acres). These farms pay “nearly $1 million in worker wages” and “farmers pay $1.2 million in property taxes.” Now, do the math. Each farm accounts for about $1,500 in annual worker wages. Each farm pays $1,775 in annual property taxes … or about $16 an acre. Doesn’t it seem reasonable that a few acres of farmland in strategic locations might be used to attract appropriate commercial and industrial development?
I want to encourage Chamber members and others to get more involved in the “growth” and “economic development” discussion. A small-but-very-vocal minority has created the impression that Dearborn County can continue along its current path. The truth is that without an increase in the commercial and industrial property tax base, the only alternative will be higher residential property taxes and/or a reduction in services, affecting our quality of life. Opportunities like the new Honda plant are at hand, and we need to put ourselves in a position to attract the kind of investment and jobs that will create a sustainable economy and the kind of lifestyle and amenities most of our residents want.
What can you do? Here are some thoughts.
If you have not filled out the Dearborn County Land Use Survey being circulated by the Plan Commission’s Advisory Committee, do it now before the March 30 deadline. Three land use maps have been developed. Alternatives A and B are very restrictive to future development. Alternative C, while still restrictive, is the only one that comes close to providing any opportunity for the kind of balanced growth necessary for our community to move forward. The survey is available on the Chamber’s web site … www.DearbornCountyChamber.org.
Don’t be shy about expressing your support for balanced growth. Economic development, job creation and growth are vital to local businesses and our community’s future. Become an ambassador for economic development. Let elected and other government officials know your views. Talk to your friends, co-workers and neighbors. And when those with an opposing view challenge you, counter their emotional arguments with facts that make the case for growing our economy so all of us can enjoy a greater quality of life. If you need information, call me at the Chamber.
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25 comments:
Maybe if Rozow and his alter-ego, West, were more for opening up the "growth" discussions and plans to the public, they might find their "silent majorities."
Or maybe not...
However, blunders, such as making plans for the NW Quadrant, without including residents of the Quadrant, was the height of arrogance and just another example of Rozow and West's tin ear when it comes to the non-mover and shaker public.
Rozow, and a number of others, so desire to make policy and plans for the county, without including the vocal and silent majorities who demand a say so in their affairs.
We need more of the following from the Chamber and the DCEDI, such as:
"This is what we would like to do."
And less of:
"This is what we intend to do."
The county is still owned by all of us...not just the select and self-appointed few!!!
Don’t be shy about expressing your support for balanced growth.
Hey Mr. Rozow!
We can't afford to express ourselves at the meetings where much of this "growth" talk seems to be taking place.
The $5,000 dollar cover charge your buddies charge, is a little steep for most of the public to participate.
Open the doors Mr. Rozow...and we will come!
5000 acres is a more than "few acres of farmland in strategic locations "
1 man 1 vote....Except in Dearborn County Indiana. 1 man in Kentucky equals power and influence in Indiana where he can't vote...Let's get rid of the guy that drives to our County and influences our public officials! It's absolutely absurd this is happening. He takes a job from our local people because he DRIVES more than 30 miles to his office here in Dearborn County and then preaches to us that we drive 30 miles to our jobs/careers?! Durrr..
Poor Mr. Rozow!
The public will no longer be bullied by him and his friends or their hand-picked politicians!
He must feel absolutely impotent!
So many closed door meetings...So few successes!
Who woulda figured!!!
I want to thank everyone who called and emailed to say they appreciated someone finally speaking up for the “silent majority..."
Called? Emailed? Couldn't these folks make the last DCEDI meeting?
"Alternatives A and B are very restrictive to future development. Alternative C, while still restrictive, is the only one that comes close to providing any opportunity for the kind of balanced growth necessary for our community to move forward.
Wow! So if someone builds an industrial park next to my farm...I should be thankful we are moving forward?
Just who is moving forward?
"Just who is moving forward? "
It is up to all of us to pitch in and help all the local banks pay for all their capital improvements.
We need more bank construction!
It would seem some bankers' eyes are much bigger than their vaults!!!!
counter their emotional arguments...
Please...please...please...Mr. Rozow...keep proffering your help and advice to the entire county!
You do more in hindrance of your goals than all us "emotional" types could do together in a lifetime!
See ya next election!
It may be a bit of an "emotional" roller coaster for you and yours!
Good thing your "employers" do not expect results!
They must like just having you around, all cute and curled up at their feet!
He takes a job from our local people because he DRIVES more than 30 miles to his office here in Dearborn County and then preaches to us that we drive 30 miles to our jobs/careers?! Durrr..
Someone needs to build a "Dearborn County Theme Park" in Kentucky!
Maybe this character can get a season pass and he can play everyday at his local park...and then maybe he could quit playing in our park and continually trying to bulldoze all our rides!
"Wow! So if someone builds an industrial park next to my farm...I should be thankful we are moving forward?"
This is usually the place in the discussion where the Fox and Hughes types chime in and call you selfish for first, not welcoming, with open arms, the bulldozers and cement trucks and secondly, for not doing your part and selling your farm also, for the good of the county.
This is sad Mr Rozow. Just down right sad. Do you know what you are doing? You have just doubled the number of your "small-but-very-vocal minority" with this whimpering plea.
I think maybe you should not worry about economic development and start doing damage control.
Do you realize that there are enough people in the meeting room last meeting to raise enough money to buy two seats on the DCEDI?
If this happens you dreams of making Dearborn County the next Northern Kentucky will be gone faster than a 20 dollar bill at Argosy.
Let me see. you have three TIF districts which encompass about 1500 acres. The whole Honda plant is on less than this. But you want more. Why?
Is it because the West Harrison TIf is to low and has water issues?
Taxes gained of the Saint Leon TIF district would have to be split with the town?
The Auroura TIf needs to displace to many roads which does not make it economically viable?
If this is true, what makes you think you will be any more sucsessfull anywhere else?
It sounds like another big waste of money to me
Let me see. you have three TIF districts which encompass about 1500 acres.
Facts in opposition will always be labeled "emotional" diatribes by the DCEDI lackeys.
If you are not shaking your "Pom-Poms" in support of all things DCEDI, then you are the "emotional" one.
Go figure!
This is getting beyond funny!
Raise your hands if you do not want to participate in public discussions involving public matters and public monies?
Raise your hands if you want to live next to an Industrial Park?
Raise your hands if you want to be forced onto sewers to subsidize the politically connected realtors and developers of this County?
Raise your hands if you want higher taxes to pay for roads, schools and other infrastructure in order for a few, connected citizens, to get rich?
Raise your hands if you want your Primary votes disqualified by leaders of your own party when they do not like your choice?
Raise your hands if the aforementioned gets you somewhat “emotional?”
Raise your hands if you are ready for a change in local government?
Raise your hands if you believe Serial (sp?) Meetings should be limited exclusively to the discussion of the Bran and Sugared varieties by the flakes who attend them?
"...so all of us can enjoy a greater quality of life."
At our condos in Florida...
"...and the kind of lifestyle and amenities most of our residents want."
Apparently, it must be the majority of people who either moved out to, or have always lived out in the country in Dearborn County, who have all along harbored great hopes of living amongst crowded subdivisions, acres of asphalt and block after block of industry.
I DID NOT KNOW THAT!!!
Mr. Rozow, what do you enjoy most about living and raising your family in Dearborn County?
The truth is that without an increase in the commercial and industrial property tax base, the only alternative will be higher residential property taxes and/or a reduction in services, affecting our quality of life."
What are the property taxes in Northern Ky?
They seem to have more industrial parks than we have corn stalks!
I'll bet there is a policeman, a fireman and an EMT for each and every citizen of Northern Ky!
And a classroom for every 10 students!
With all that "growth," they must be paying no property taxes whatsoever!
It sounds like Mr. Rozow feels like farming and farmers are not contributing to whatever he thinks they should be contributing to by not selling their land. I am not a farmer, but I respect and appreciate all they do for the rest of us. Some of us do appreciate their contribution to the rest of us. They work very long days and have to work around the weather to get crops out in the spring and harvest them in the summer and fall. The farmers who raise animals never have a day off work. Maybe when all the farm ground is gone, some of those who are only concerned about money will realize what they have done. Where will the food come from? Does Mr. Rozow want to do away with 4-H and the FFA too! (Does he know what FFA stands for?)
Who in the world drives through Northern Ky or Hamilton County or Warren County Ohio and thinks:
"GEE, I WISH DEARBORN COUNTY WAS LIKE THIS?"
Only those who intend to make their fast buck and move on to the next fertile ground.
Doesn’t it seem reasonable that a few acres of farmland in strategic locations might be used to attract appropriate commercial and industrial development?
Doesn’t it seem reasonable that folks whose land your friends desire should be included in all such discussions concerning their land...instead of permitting realtors and developers, armed with "public" inside information, to solicit the sale of their farms at prices not commensurate with the "real value" of their land?
Mr. Rozow, nobody trusts you.
A Chamber member called last week and asked, “What makes us (Dearborn County) so different? Others seem to understand and get on with what needs to happen. Getting on takes forever here.”
Maybe you should run a Republican next election who agrees with you...then run a Democrat...surely...one of the two of them will garner enough votes to beat those nasty "Smart Growth" candidates!
If that does not work...try constantly bitching and moaning about the "Smart Growth" office holders and slander them while at the same time questioning their intelligence.
That should work!
Remember, just because you are not getting any traction in the mud pit, does not mean you don't need to throw a bit more mud!
It is your mud-slinging the voters find so endearing!
What would happen, if people started telling Chamber of Commerce member companies, that they will take their business elsewhere, as a show of their lack of support for Mr. Rozow? Maybe the thought of having their business affected might actually cause them to reconsider their support of Rozow and his development minions, including West?
Think how much could be saved by eliminating Rozow and West's salaries!!!
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