-
University Daily Kansan / Thursday, May 3, 1990
5C
Expansion brings problems
Growth and development can mean homelessness and poverty
By David Stowe
Kanean staff writer
GARDEN CITY — In Spring 1981, the state closed a roadside park west of town after migrant workers began living there in pickup trucks, cars and makeshift tents.
The migrants were using a nearby well as a toilet, said Lyle Schaus, who was the Finney County Sanitarian at the time. The park had become a health hazard.
The incident was a portent of the problems that would come along with the benefits of one of the few large economic expansions in rural Kansas during the 1980s.
1980 That expansion, mostly fueled by the nearby construction of a large beef-packing plant by JBIP Inc., and the expansion of an existing plant by Val Agri, now owned by Monfort of Colorado, transformed Garden City from a relatively quiet mid-sized community to a busy commercial center.
Between 1978 and 1986, when many other rural communities were losing jobs, businesses and population, employment in Garden City increased 51 percent, more than six times the statewide employment growth rate. Between 1978 and 1986, the number of businesses in the city grew by 31 percent, a rate above the state average, according to a report by the University of Kansas Institute for Public Policy Research.
The city's population climbed from 18,256 in 1980 to 22,770 in 1986, according to the 1987-88 Kansas Statistical Abstract.
With the growth came problems, however, or what some city officials prefer to call challenges, including homelessness, poverty, a constantly moving population and crime.
tour and crime.
"When the boom hit, no one was prepared for it," said Dale Barnum, area director for the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.
in Social and Relational Contexts. The city was plunged into a crisis, he said.
The city was plunged into a crisis, he said.
Seven years after the boom, the city was still not down.
"But they had moved from crisis to problem," he said.
salt.
that crisis and the problems that have lingered Don Stuhl, KU professor of anthropology, to suggest that communities should be careful when deciding whether to allow a large employer into their area.
"Communities, before they automatically look at it in terms of jobs, they need to look at the consequences," said Stull, who has studied Garden City under a grant from the Ford Foundation.
"Jobs aren't always good on balance," he said. Still, she said the challenges brought by the expansion had badly challenged the challenges brought by the expansion.
Carol Meyer, executive vice president (Cincinnati) of the organization that the community buddies the problems by building new schools and a
new police station, expanding city services and organizations and by creating an adult education program, among other things.
"We have really good programs for newcomers to come in to this community," she said.
Montfort's plant expanded during the 1980s and now employs 1,200. Meyer said.
come in to this command.
IBP built the largest slaughter operation in the world in nearby Holcomb. The plant opened in December 1920 and now employs 2,700.
Other businesses soon located in the city because of the presence of the packing plants. These spin-off businesses included a company that provides refrigerated storage space, trucking firms, a company that makes the boxes that IBP ships its beef in and a company that makes pizza toppings, Mever said.
Commercial activity increased, and as a result sales tax collections in Finney County rose 75 percent from 1979 to 1987, a rate of growth that was above the state average. Sales tax collection is a measure of commer-
In fiscal 1987, Finney County had the seventh highest per capita sales tax collected in the state.
pear
Even critics agree that the plants were good for the economy.
economy. But they also brought problems and because population grew faster than the number of jobs, unemployment rose from 3.6 percent in 1980 to 5 percent in 1986. Only last year did it drop below the 1980 level to 3.3 percent.
Initially, one of the biggest crises was a lack of affordable housing.
Homelessness
An IBP survey of 600 workers in Fall 1981 revealed that 5 percent were living in cars or motels. Another 33 percent had places to live but thought they were paying excessive rent.
About the summer of 1861, Barnum said, "It seemed like we had every homeless person in the Midwest."
Large trailer courts, which IBP helped develop, eased the housing problem. But it has not disappeared.
As recently as the 1988-89 school year, 44 children in the Garden City school district were homeless, district superintendent Gerald Moseman said.
"One kid lived in a car all last year with his dad and went to school." Moseman said.
Crime
Garden City's crime rate in 1988 was about 100 crimes per 1,000 people. Only Liberal, with about 101 crimes per 1,000 people, and Kansas City, with about 104 crimes per 1,000 people, had higher rates, according to Crime in Kansas, a publication put out by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Kansas Barrett of 0 or more crimes were committed in
1980, more than 1,780 crimes were committed in
See GARDEN CITY, p. 9c
Continued from p. 4c
Politics
been her experience in the Legislature that some communities simply did not wish to work together or work for greater economic growth. The larger counties have found that the EDIF and comprehensive development and marketing plans are the key to growth.
According to a February 1996 report by the Kansas Lottery, in fiscal year 1989, Wichita (Sedgwick, Harvey and Butler counties) received $1.37 million from the lottery. Kansas Lottery paid $1.25 million for Dornil and Wyandotte counties claimed more than $1.55 million and Lawrence/Douglas County more than $439,000. Grants from the lottery to metropolitan areas, just nine counties, was nearly 60 percent of all financing granted to specific cities and counties.
The 96 rural counties received slightly more than $2.6 million in direct grants, or less than 40 percent.
Total lottery proceeds allocated were $13,653,853. However, more than half was given to state agencies for statewide development, promotion or research for economic development. In fiscal year 1990, total revenues could be as high as $17.5 million.
Mead said that a key to participation in any state assistance program such as the EDIF or the rural assistance bill was the dissemination of information. Mead has contacted the
Department of Commerce on this matter in effort to find a way to let rural areas know about aid.
"Larger communities have groups that are concerned with nothing but economic development and the programs in the Legislature," Ms. said. "I have little concern for larger communities because that luxury and are not aware of such things."
Kerr said that he had viewed several options for consolidation of counties, based on European models, in hopes of finding ways to conserve rural resources. He felt that these ideas have been met with opposition in the Legislature. Soon, though, consolidation may be a reality in Kansas.
Japanese recycle 50% of their trash while Americans recycle only 10%
1990 F1NAL FRENZY KANSAS AND BURGE UNIONS
FREE FILMS
SURVIVAL PACKS
TOYS & GAMES ROOM!
Take a break from the stress of finals at the SUA playroom in the Kansas Union ballroom, 5th level, Kansas Union.
FREE APPLES
Wednesday, May 9 - Friday, May 11
10 am - 3 pm
FREE
BACK
RUBS
DUNK
TANK
KANSAS CITY STUDENTS
So if you are looking to get the most out of summer, we can give you the funds to do so.
Do you need a second income for the summer? We can help! Work part-time in the evenings Monday through Friday doing commercial office cleaning. We have positions all over the Kansas City and Johnson County area.
B-G Maintenance Management
1225 East 18th Street K.C. MO
9563 Nall, Overland Park
3500 Strong, K.C.K
or call (816)421-8088
Equal Opportunity Employer
TINPANALLEY
Screen-It Graphics
NATURAL WAY Suppona RU GN WHELFS
Saturday Downtown Bus Service
820 Mass. 841-0100
Custom party favors with a personal touch.
- Sportswear - T-Shirts
Have You Opened Don's Door Yet?
Come into Don's Steak House and discover
"The best food in town!"
- Squeeze Bottles - Koozies
2176 E. 23rd St. 843-1110
315 N.E. Industrial Lane
843-8888
Take advantage of our on-time delivery, quality printing and in-house artists.
SUNFLOWER Bike Clinics
May 5
Saturdays from 10am - noon
May 5 Derailluer and Brakes
May 12
Hub, Bottom Bracket, and Headset
--we'll do the jammin'..
May 19 Wheel Truing
Sign up at 804 Massachusetts. A small fee will be charged.
٥٤٠٤٤٤
841-500
DOCTORS POHL & DOBBINS
FAMILY PRACTICE
DEDICATED TO
EXCELLENCE IN
OPTOMETRISTS
American Optometric Association
FREE CONTACT CONSULTATION & TRIAL FITTING
COMPLETE COMPUTER ASSISTED EYE EXAMS FOR GLASSES & CONTACT LENSES
EYE HEALTH DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT OF
DISEASE AND INFECTIONS
ASTMAGIC, BIFOCAL & DISCONTENT
ASK ABOUT OUR 30 DAY REFUND GUARANTEE
FREE CONTACT CONSULTATION & TRAL FITTING
EXTENDED WEAR, GAS PERMEABLE, TINTED
ASTMIGATIC, BIFOCAL & DISPOSABLE CONTACTS
BROWN GREEN DVA & LEAT REFUND GUARANTEE
EVENING & WEEKEND HOURS
HMO MEDICARE BC/BS & OTHER INSURANCE
DR. CHARLES R. POHL
DR. KENT E. DOBBINS
841-2866
831 VERMONT
OPTICAL DISPENSARY
1000 FRAMES TO CHOOSE FROM
SHOPPERS ONSITE
WELCOME LAB
ON MOST PRESCRIPTIONS
SAME DAY
ECONOMY FRAMES
CONTACT LENSES & SUPPLIES
MANY REPAIRS WHILE YOU WAIT
DOCTORS IN THE OFFICE FOR FREE CONSULTATION
841-2866
FAST & AFFORDABLE SERVICE
843-5665
831 VERMONT
Gold Pages
associated with the
book
5 FINALS FRENZY!
Get a large one topping original pizza for just
$500 Additional toppings on! $1.00 each.
841-7900
1445 W. 23rd St.
Offer expires: May 28,1990
841-8002
832 Iowa
© 1999 Downing Plaza Inc. Our drivers carry less than $20.00. Delivery area limited to ensure safe arrival. Visit at participating locations only. Save tax where applicable.