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Letter from the 2020 Vision Task Force
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Executive Committee:
Jim Davis
Chairman
Realty Executives 4 Results, Inc.
Lynette Lacy
Vice-Chairman
Hutchinson Community Foundation
Edward Berger
Hutchinson Community College
Betty Hanna-Witherspoon
Bethel A.M.E.
Martha Slater
First Generation Video
Task Force Members:
Pat Capstick
The Pantry Shelf
Jon Daveline
Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce
Philip Florey
Hutchinson City Airport
Jim Fountain
Nickerson City Council
Jim French
Kansas Rural Center
Jess Harder
Buhler
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Greetings -
In November 2001 the Reno County Commission adopted a goal of reaching
a county population of 80,000 by the year 2020. Reno County had been
growing at a much slower pace than almost every county around us, and
actually declined in population from 1980 to 2000. This limits our ability
to provide (and pay for) new opportunities for our citizens and the growing
demands placed on government. A broader population base would allow us
to preserve the quality of life we’ve come to expect.
In December 2002 the Commission officially created the 2020 Vision Task
Force to come up with an action plan. Our task was not to debate the
merits of growth vs. no growth, but to select and work with a consultant
to develop the best possible plan for achieving significant growth in
Reno County over the next two decades.
It is our pleasure to present that plan, which we call the Blueprint
for Growth. This Blueprint is unique in that many of the pieces were
already in place, or came together during the last few years of working
on the Reno County growth initiative. For example, the Quest Center started
in 1986; Spirit of Success was born in 2002; and the K-96 Corridor Initiative
and Mayors’ Forum have come about in the past year.
Therefore the focus of the Blueprint for Growth is building on initiatives
that are already in place; adding initiatives and/or funding where necessary;
and improving the coordination of all efforts in Reno County having to
do with growth.
What also sets this process apart is that it is the first time we’ve
experienced a countywide grassroots effort to set a measurable growth
goal for Reno County. Since the report is lengthy, we’d like to
highlight a few of our conclusions, and some recommendations that we
feel are key to its success.
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Ron Hirst
South Hutchinson City Council
Steve Krause
Krause Corporation
Sandra McMullen
Hutchinson
Randy Myers
Hutchinson Community College
Phil Neufeldt
Buhler Chamber of Commerce
Jim Prickett
City of Arlingtion
Mayor
Harland Priddle
Haven Chamber of Commerce
David Razo
Hutchinson City Council
Gene Schmidt
Hutchinson Hospital Corp.
Larry Thode
Hutchinson
David Wierengo
Gregory, Inc.
Wynona Winn
USD 308
Jack Wortman
Hutchinson
Matt Yoder
Yoder Meats, Inc.
Michelle Zongker
Sylvia
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2020
Vision
is a county-wide initiative
dedicated to growing the population of
Reno County to 80,000
by the year 2020.
What is Growth?
Good question. Our 2020 Vision Task Force has almost 30 members from all over
the county. We face many different issues in our communities. For some areas
of the county that have been declining in population, merely stabilizing
their numbers will represent “growth”. For others, growth will
be a natural outcome of their proximity to major highways. Still others will
grow because of increasing employment or retirement opportunities.
This plan is based around a modest population growth goal of about 1% per year.
The 80,000 goal is simply a target; we are primarily concerned with reversing
the trends of the last few decades and seeing an upward line on the population
graph. Anything within 15% of the goal will be considered a great success.
Let’s build on our successes.
Real leadership has been exhibited in Reno County over the years, resulting
in innovative projects like the Quest Center for Entrepreneurship and the Spirit
of Success job attraction and retention program. Many of our goals are related
to giving them the staffing support to take their efforts to the next level.
We feel strongly that we should NOT re-invent the wheel; but we do want to
help it ride more smoothly. To that end, one of our major recommendations is
to -
- STRENGTHEN THE SPOKES OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT in Reno County
through creation of an organization that would oversee the Blueprint for Growth.
It’s called the RENO COUNTY GROWTH COALITION. This group would
be comprised of the many types of people and organizations who are on the front
lines and behind the scenes in job creation. It also includes representation
from the Mayor’s Forum and a citizen advocate group. We think it’s
very important to have outside perspectives to help analyze the success of
the private and public organizations that are charged with meeting public goals.
If executed properly, the RENO COUNTY GROWTH COALITION will be a think tank
that will introduce new ideas and think outside the box; more efficiently coordinate
existing efforts, and overcome impediments. We will need to constantly evaluate
our programs and results in order to meet the goals we seek in the Blueprint
for Growth.
- COUNTYWIDE PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL.
We don’t have a county planner, and we haven’t been growing. As
we become serious about achieving our growth goals, it will be critical to
plan for growth, providing the appropriate infrastructure at the right time
and place. We also want to make sure we preserve the rural character of Reno
County.
- THIS IS A COUNTYWIDE PLAN, AND WE’D LIKE TO SEE SUCCESS STORIES
IN EVERY TOWN.
For some, the route to population and economic growth may involve paving streets,
building affordable housing, or improving sewer systems. Another town might
remodel an empty building to recruit or grow a new business. Through the Mayor’s
Forum, we’d like to identify what the most significant projects could
be that would benefit from the focus and support of the Reno County Growth
Coalition.
- WE NEED A DEDICATED, SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCE.
If we are serious about growth for Reno County we simply must commit public
funds to the effort. The key is having a reliable, sustainable source of funds
for staffing a countywide effort and providing the appropriate economic incentives.
We must encourage our County Commissioners to create such a fund and back them
in the budgets of future years. Specifically, we are recommending that the
County Commission establish a Growth Fund that amounts to one mill per year.
- RENO COUNTY NEEDS BETTER SIGNAGE AND A MORE WELCOMING ATTITUDE.
People come where they’re invited and stay where they’re well treated.
We have heard repeated comments from visitors who have trouble finding their
way to towns and major destinations; and from newcomers who have had trouble
feeling at home here. Better signage would improve our visitor industry and
help cultivate future residents; a “Welcoming” program or organization
would help our new residents settle in more quickly and enhance the likelihood
of them staying.
- COOPERATION WILL YIELD GREATER RESULTS.
Two significant initiatives that have already been created through the 2020
Vision process are the K-96 Corridor Committee and the Reno County Mayors’ Forum.
The Corridor Committee crosses county lines, and has funded a study that will
recommend growth initiatives on K-96 between Hutchinson and Wichita; the Mayors’ Forum
is regularly gathering Reno County Mayors together for the first time to discuss
issues of common concern. We are very excited about these initiatives and feel
they both hold great promise for the future.
We have learned throughout this lengthy planning process how important it is
for people to talk. When you get a good cross-section of people together in
one room to brainstorm and discuss common issues, the results can be very powerful.
As you read the Blueprint for Growth, remember that any good plan is merely
a starting place. The details will change with the times. Some strategies will
become unnecessary; others may be singularly important to our success.
We’d like to thank County Commissioners Frances Garcia, Larry Sharp,
and Francis Schoepf, along with County Administrator Ed Williams, for their
support in funding this planning effort and making it possible to take a true
countywide, grassroots approach to 2020 Vision, for the good of us all.
2020 Vision Executive Committee
Jim Davis, Chairman
Lynette Lacy, Vice-Chairman
Ed Berger
Betty Hanna-Witherspoon
Martha Slater
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