Allen Dinkel, City Manager
“Why do we have to continue to have to pay for what happened back then?” As I sat and thought about what I was going to write about his week, I decided to consider a statement I often read and hear. Most everyone knows just 13 years ago this City was in extreme financial trouble and a plan was developed to return the City to a sound financial status. No doubt, if a Kansas city could have filed bankruptcy, that could have been an option for this community. A plan was put into place by the City Commission to address the debt and the path has been steady but had an impact on other decisions as well as many people both over the past few years, but into the future.
My goal this week is not to focus and deal with the debt or how it occurred, but to discuss the impact that any decision made has in both the present and in the future. We can even look back at our personal lives and consider decisions we each have made and how they have affected our lives, but we also can also consider a decision we did not make and now look back at how it may have also changed our lives. No doubt there are always a number of “Would’ve, Could’ve and Should’ve” moments in both our lives and also in the operation of a local government.
In the case of the debt crisis, those decisions that were made had this effect that we now know. Special State Legislation was needed, a 1% sales tax had to be created for a 20-year period and City funds had to be diverted to cover the debt and interest and other City projects have been delayed or lessoned. Even though I was not here at the time, there was a great influence
of many people that pushed for decisions to be made and I am certain at some point and time, many felt this was the “way to go”. However, there were factors that changed what the initial plan was and the results expected were not achieved. It is easy to be a “Monday Morning” Quarterback, but there also was a chance everything would have worked as planned and things would be much different, and those decisions would be touted by all. There have been other projects or investments made in the community that did not “go as planned” , but let’s give credit to companies such as Smithfield Foods, Foot Locker (including what the building was originally built for), New Horizons who has now retired the Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB’s) the City issued on their behalf, and new projects such as Eagle Railcar Services and Michelin that continues to grow. I am sure there were questions raised when the Chestnut Street area was developed as well. And we know there are many other examples. On many of these projects, along with the new High School, the City had decisions to and costs to be paid, but it is easy to agree when there is a success.
However, I also hear that in the past Junction City has not taken the correct actions to make certain “things” happen. I have heard that there should have been a mall here and other retail stores and yes, I still am reminded there is no casino here even though the voters approved having one at that time. Don’t know all the details, but some say there were opportunities that were missed and not pursued.
When I first was a City Administrator in Northwest Kansas, I would sometimes look around the town and wonder why certain decisions were made and why some were not. However, I learned quickly that I did not know all the “Why” and I now understand that someday someone may have the same questions about what occurred when I lived and worked in that community. I served as a Manager in a City in South Central Kansas that was struck by an F-4 tornado and destroyed about 1/4th of the homes including the one I lived in. Even though we had training for disasters such as this, there is much unknown and in some ways it was “learn as you go”. Looking back the community did well, but we were never totally sure we were heading in the best direction in the ”heat of the moment”.
Decisions made today are for both the present and for future generations. If it goes well, we all benefit, but like the City debt issue all did not go as planned, and the community “stayed tough” and moved ahead. There is no changing that. Yes, you can find places to put blame, but that really doesn’t accomplish anything. Even though there is still debt to pay, there is “light at the end of the tunnel” and if we stay the course 2027 and 2028 the ball will be very near the endzone.
Local governments always have to face many decisions. Naturally there will never be 100% agreement. The new high school was not approved by everyone, but the majority approved. You can agree or disagree, but the fact is that it was built and is a part of our community. Yes there will be decisions to be made in the future. Many factors have to be considered, but taking no action may not be the best choice either for the community and those who will call Junction City home now, and many years in the future.