We are twenty days into October. I went to the candidate meet and greet for our local elections. It was held at the new " Community hall " that the fire department built. A new engine house is to follow in the years to come. It looks like it will be a wonderful complex. By the time enough funding is available and the structure complete it will be time for an upgrade. Isn't that the way it always works ? It is nice to see progress being made though and I support their efforts. There are always growing pains associated with that sort of thing. The fire departments' relationship with the town has improved. Exactly what the issues were in the past I can't say as I am not that involved in local politics. My son is heavily involved in all of that. In fact he was one of the candidates I went to meet and greet ! He is running for town commissioner once again. He has been a member of the council on several occasions. He ran for Mayor during the last cycle and unfortunately lost in his bid. That's alright the Mayors seat will be open again in two years. We'll get'em then.
The meet and greet went well with each candidate getting three minutes to lay out their platform. Following that there was a question and answer period. Most of the questions involved the usual topics, taxes and the streets. Everyone complains about the taxes and then complain about the streets. The majority of people have no idea just how expensive a proposition it is to pave a street. The cost of the engineering study alone is enough to prohibit even thinking about it. Most don't realize all the studies and hoops you have to jump through with the county, state and even federal authorities. Yup, it's 2017 we can't just throw some tar and chip down and call it a day. The water and sewer bills are always an issue. The town of Greensboro was mandated by the State to build a new waste treatment facility. I don't know how many million dollars that cost. I don't want to know either. We are a farming community and nutrient runoff is a big issue along with the raising of chickens and their waste. I didn't attend but the town just hosted a tour of that new facility. I hear it is quite impressive.
Greensboro like a great many small towns in America today doesn't have much of a downtown business area anymore. The old Mom and Pop businesses just can't compete. Given the ease with which we move around these days, a six mile drive to the Walmart is nothing at all, it is no wonder. We do have a " convenience " store similar to seven eleven. It's not much and expensive. Well, it's a place to buy beer and cigarettes or get a sub sandwich and fried chicken. It also runs the laundry mat. It is the lack of businesses that causes so much strain on the tax system. The town has to get money from somewhere. The challenge is to attract new businesses. Just how we can do that I don't know. The only business that could survive would be some kind of tourist thing. The question then is why would anyone come to Greensboro ? I'd be the first to tell you it is a wonderful little town to live in. I'd also be the first to tell you there isn't much here as far as entertainment goes. We have a river running through town, The river isn't very deep and the fishing isn't all that either. Lately I do see a lot of folks in kayaks, of course the winter months are upon us and that activity will end soon. Yes the challenge is for Greensboro to identify an attraction and advertise it. You have to market your town these days. It's a strange world we live in. Folks want to live in the country but have all the city stuff readily available as well. The best of two worlds ? Maybe that's the solution. Greensboro just needs a place were people can spend money on food and crafts. They'll come if there is a place to spend money. Maybe an underground mall so you don't spoil the landscape. We could call it the Greensboro underground, give it that " slightly dangerous or illegal " vibe. Sounds like a plan to me.
The meet and greet went well with each candidate getting three minutes to lay out their platform. Following that there was a question and answer period. Most of the questions involved the usual topics, taxes and the streets. Everyone complains about the taxes and then complain about the streets. The majority of people have no idea just how expensive a proposition it is to pave a street. The cost of the engineering study alone is enough to prohibit even thinking about it. Most don't realize all the studies and hoops you have to jump through with the county, state and even federal authorities. Yup, it's 2017 we can't just throw some tar and chip down and call it a day. The water and sewer bills are always an issue. The town of Greensboro was mandated by the State to build a new waste treatment facility. I don't know how many million dollars that cost. I don't want to know either. We are a farming community and nutrient runoff is a big issue along with the raising of chickens and their waste. I didn't attend but the town just hosted a tour of that new facility. I hear it is quite impressive.
Greensboro like a great many small towns in America today doesn't have much of a downtown business area anymore. The old Mom and Pop businesses just can't compete. Given the ease with which we move around these days, a six mile drive to the Walmart is nothing at all, it is no wonder. We do have a " convenience " store similar to seven eleven. It's not much and expensive. Well, it's a place to buy beer and cigarettes or get a sub sandwich and fried chicken. It also runs the laundry mat. It is the lack of businesses that causes so much strain on the tax system. The town has to get money from somewhere. The challenge is to attract new businesses. Just how we can do that I don't know. The only business that could survive would be some kind of tourist thing. The question then is why would anyone come to Greensboro ? I'd be the first to tell you it is a wonderful little town to live in. I'd also be the first to tell you there isn't much here as far as entertainment goes. We have a river running through town, The river isn't very deep and the fishing isn't all that either. Lately I do see a lot of folks in kayaks, of course the winter months are upon us and that activity will end soon. Yes the challenge is for Greensboro to identify an attraction and advertise it. You have to market your town these days. It's a strange world we live in. Folks want to live in the country but have all the city stuff readily available as well. The best of two worlds ? Maybe that's the solution. Greensboro just needs a place were people can spend money on food and crafts. They'll come if there is a place to spend money. Maybe an underground mall so you don't spoil the landscape. We could call it the Greensboro underground, give it that " slightly dangerous or illegal " vibe. Sounds like a plan to me.
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