Wednesday, August 23, 1978
University Daily Kansan
7
City Manager Buford Watson
Chamber seeks diverse economy
Staff Writer
By PATCOLLINS
Accepting the premise that growth and change are inevitable for Lawrence, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce is pursuing long-term plans for economic diversification, Glenn West, executive vice president of the chamber, said.
West said, "a Lawrence has been successful in economic development, particularly in the years now. Now the chamber is spending more and more time planning for the next 10 years."
"We need more land for industrial growth."West said.
The lack of industrial sites is a major problem facing the chamber's Committee for Economic Development. Of the 180 acres in the Santa Fe industrial park in northwest Lawrence, only one nine-acre parcel remains.
he said the chamber had to look a-kee-pee in the outlying areas of Lawrence for additional industrial sites. The tracts of land selected would then be annexed into the city and taxed against taxes the power to levy and collect taxes on industrial plants built outside city limits.
"VERY FEW PEOPLE think Lawrence should stay as is," he said. "On the other hand, few people want growth for growth's sake either."
"A healthy economy makes Lawrence better and growth in a healthy economy is inevitable. If you do nothing, the change will remain unchanged, try to improve, the change will be positive."
That philosophy of volunteer action to improve the community best describes the mission of NCRC.
Established in 1922, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce is a private organization of businessmen, professionals and entrepreneurs. The chamber are about 1,100 members of the chamber.
The chamber is governed by a board of directors. Of the 24 positions on the board, three are appointees. The appointees are to fill holes in representation, West said.
"For example, we always have a University person on the board," he said. "If one hasn't been elected, we will appoint one."
BOARD MEMBERS serve for three years; appointees for one year. Elections are staggered so that every year seven board members are elected.
Policy statements are adopted by a majority vote among the board's members. Issues that warrant policy statements are wide and varied. According to West, any decision that affects the course of action for the community will be considered.
As chief executive of the chamber, West is responsible for the administration and operation of the chamber. He reports to the board, assists on committees and represents the chamber before civic groups. He works closely with the Kansas Department of Economic Development and the state government in his capacity, he often meets with business representatives of a company searching for industrial plant sites.
LURING NEW INDUSTRY to Lawrence is essential for the chamber's planned configuration. The chamber provided statistical information requested by potential developers.
New industry is needed to offset the leveling-off of enrollment at the University of Kansas, West said. Diversification would make Lawrence less dependent on the University as a primary source of its revenue.
The three primary sources of revenue that compose the local economy, West said, are farming, the University and the production of goods. West expects a decline in the first two, and he said new industry would be offset the projected drop in revenue.
WEST SAID industries that were considering locating in Lawrence were the first to realize that surrounds segments of the city work force and by the lack of an adequate airport.
West said that he had argued that the labor strife was not representative of relations between the city and its workers who worked in the army. He decided to build their plant in FI. Scott.
One of West's pet projects to bring industry to Lawrence is the expansion of Lawrence Municipal Airport. West, declaring that the airport was "inadequate and underdeveloped," said, "I hope airport improvement don't come out by a accident tragic."
According to West, the publishing company was discouraged by the labor strife between policemen, sanitation workers, fire department personnel and the city.
West said that several industrial representatives had once flown into Lawrence to examine possible factory sites. When the pilot landed, he refused to carry the equipment. The safety risky. The chamber had to drive the representatives to Kansas City International Airport. The cautious pilot flew alone.
HE SAID the inadequacy of the airport was often cited by business leaders as a reason to withdraw.
The expansion of the airport has been a chamber project for the past 15 years. Last year the Kansas University Endowment Association, which owned the land that surrounds the airport, sold the land to the city.
The federal government will match every local dollar spent for the airport renovation projects.
The chamber set out to raise $3,000 for the initial purchase of the land and exceeded the budget.
No tax money was spent on the purchase of the land. The money was raised through a loan.
"THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY put its money where its mouth is," West said.
"Economic development needs good transportation, and that includes a good rail, highway and trucking system as well as planes."
West rejected the criticism that the expanded airport would benefit only a few
The system in Lawrence
"The idea that we are providing an airport for playboys who own airplanes is not correct."
Unlike some cities where strong-willed mayors or party politics dominate the local government, the city of Lawrence is run by a combination of non-partisan commissioners. The system is called the commission-manager form of municipal government.
Staff Writer
By DAVID LINK
Five citizens elected at large from the community serve on the Lawrence City Commission and act as the legislative and policy-making body for the city. The commissioners are paid $000 a year to represent the people's interests at city hall.
The city manager is appointed by the city commission and serves as the chief administrative officer for the city. He and his staff are responsible for carrying out commission-formulated policies and overseeing the day-to-day functioning of city offices.
BUFORD M. WATSON Jr., was appointed as Lawrence c city manager in January of 1970. The city manager appoints all city employees, enforces all laws and ordinances, keeps the city commission informed on all issues affecting the city and manages the budget. Watson holds a Master's degree in Public Administration from KU.
The city commissioners are the city's only elected officials. City elections are held the first Tuesday in April of every odd-numbered year. Terms for the five commission seats are staggered so that three seats are open every two years.
The two candidates with the most votes in each election receive four-year terms, while the third candidate receives only one term.
A mayor is elected by the commission from within its ranks to preside at official meetings and act as the ceremonial head of the city for one year.
ALTHOUGH THERE are no statutory requirements by which the mayor is chosen, a tradition has developed which awards the mayor for the support of election votes a commissioner received.
The person who receives the most votes in each election serves as mayor in the third round. The candidate who received the second highest vote total holds the post in the last year of the four years.
Commissioner Marnie Argersinger is serving out the last year of a four-year term. As the top fincher in the 1975 election, he served as principal at Harvard, April, 1977, to April of this year. Her husband, William, recently resigned his post as vice chancellor for research and graduate studies and dean of the graduate school, and is now teaching to teach in the department of chemistry.
Elected with Argensterig in 1975 was Donald Binnns, who is the current mayor. Binnns is a teacher in the extension program at the State Law School. His term expires in the spring.
COMMISSIONER Barkley Clark is in the second year of a four-year term on the commission. Clark is a professor of law at Harvard. He is in his sixth year on the commission.
Commissioner Jack Rose is a laboratory director for KU's chemistry department. Up for reelection this spring with Binns and Argersinger, Rose was a member of the committee in 1973, was off for four years before being elected to a two-year term in 1977.
Ed Carter is in the second year of a four-year term. Carter is the district member.
City commission meetings are open to the public and are held each Tuesday at 7 p.m. on the fourth floor of the First National Building at Ninth and Massachusetts streets.
THE CITY OF Lawrence has a firm policy of not borrowing money to meet operating expenses, a practice which brought cities like New York City to the brink of financial disaster.
The administration and delivery of city services employs close to 500 people and is responsible for a million. Of that amount, approximately $3.8 million is raised from property taxes. The remainder is provided by an assortment of employees from city services such as trash and water.
The bonds are then paid off from tax revenues, as in the case of general revenue bonds, from the revenue generated from the facility financed by the bond issue.
Local Politics
Bond issues are used by the city only to finance capital improvements such as street construction and the new water treatment plant under construction at Clinton Lake.
Mayor finds job satisfying
Although he describes himself as a figurehead with little power, Donald Dims, who is the former U.S. ambassador to
"The mayor actually has no more power than any of the city commissioners," Birns said. "He's just a figurehead. He has a little prestige, maybe, but no more power."
Bimns said he enjoyed his job because of the controversy that can surround it.
"I like controversy," he said. "I always have. I say it's the spice of life.
"I've always been a bit outspoken and, of course, that can make you some enemies," she said.
Binnn said that the least enjoyable aspect of his job is dealing with routine matters.
"Those things go on for as long as three or four hours, sometimes," he said. "We had a lot of them."
DESPIE TTS ITS more mundane facets, but Lawrence he likened the way that Lawrence city governments
"Lawrence is run under the council-manager form of government," Binsn said. "There is a city manager, hired by the city, and five elected city commissioners. The job of mayor is passed between the commissioners according to who had the most votes, and not how many nonpartisan jobs. I prefer that it way because the city runs better."
Binns explained the advantages of a nonpartisan council and mayor.
"Politics is a strange thing," he said. "And when you have a political controversy between Republicans and Democrats on top, you can ask the question, you can get into some bad situations."
Binnis said that having a non-partisan council made for a better rapport between the parties.
"I think it's better that every commissioner feels a responsibility to the entire community."
"WE GET ALONG very well together," Binnas said. "Of course when you're working with people, you get to know them and if you have a lot of extrovert at all, you can like them."
Binns is also the director of the Lawrence High School Extension Program, a special school for students unable to adapt to a regular high school curriculum.
"What it is is an alternative school for kids who, for one reason or another, can't attend public school."
"We have a combination of high school and junior high school kids and average students. We generally the basics and are very vocationally oriented. 80 of our students go to college."
BINNS SAID THAT although both of his
jobs kept him busy, he did find some spare time.
"I enjoy staying busy because it keeps me out of mischief." he said.
Bimsa said that although this is his last year in office he hasn't yet decided if he'll
"You know that every time a commissioner casts a vote he makes an enemy," he said. "It means the commissioner is not voting."
Mayor Donald Binns Staff Photo by ALAN ZOLOG
Staff Photo by ALAN ZLOTKY
Parties use student energy
University of Kansas students with an interest in politics have many outlets. Both major political parties have college affiliates at the University of Kansas.
The KU Collegiate Young Democrats is an informal group with a core of four or five officers, Allen Cigler, adviser for the group, said.
In the fall the club runs advertisements urging people to come to the meetings. "It is the world's easiest organization to get into," Cigler said. "Just come to the meetings."
Bringing in the Democratic speakers, usually candidates, is the club's primary purpose.
Members of the club usually pick a particular candidate to campaign for, although they are supposed to support any Democrat, but unfortunately student-run organization," he said.
Belle Moore, Topeka junior, is president of the KU Collegiate Young Democrats.
A GROUP SEPARATE from the college club and the Democratic county committee is the Douglas County Young Democrats. President of the group, Ted Schiecher, said
members of the college Democrats usually join the Young Democrats, too.
Students can get involved in the activities by coming to the meetings, Schieber said. Members of the group help with voter registration and fill in wherever a candidate needs them.
The KU College Republicans work closely with the Douglas County Republican Committee, Mike Galloway, state chairman of the college Republicans, said.
The club meets once every two weeks and usually has a speaker.
"They need help and we provide a lot of manpower for them," Galloway said.
He said the college Republicans work closer with the county than with anyone else.
TWO YEARS AGO the college Republicans sponsored a reception for Sen. Robert Dole, R-Kan., when he was a vice presidential candidate.
Chairman of the KU College Republicans is Zacharv Revnolds. Eureka senior.
Members of the college Republicans work for "for almost anybody," Galloway said.
John Lungatum, Douglas County
republican Committee chairman, said,
"It's a long time ago, but I'm still
confident."
"FTS HARD FOR us to identify an individual unless he gets in touch with us,"
He said there would be many activities for students. In past years students have helped in graphic design, have written material for candidates and done legwork.
Hal Keltz, former chairman of the Douglas County Democratic Central Committee, said, "Volunteers will be welcomed with open arms."
he encouraged involvement with the party and said students could make direct contact by working for a specific candidate, and they were instructing Republican campaign headquarters.
He said working for local candidates was the best place for young people to get stuck in.
The KU Collegiate Young Democrats and the Douglas County Young Democrats are candidates for governor.
Both groups have parallel activities and work toward the same goals, but differ from the Douglas County Democratic Central Committee. The committee is officially led by Frank Kelzl, whereas the other two groups function more like private organizations.
Keltz said one of the committee's responsibilities is to set up a headquarters which functions as a home for all candidates.
Volunteers assist in voter registration, pass out leaflets and get voters to the polls on election day. Kelz said students would be given a choice or chairman if they wanted to help.
"It's a lot of hard work, and there's not much glory," he said. "And there's no pay."