Blue Springs is full up?
 Last week the Business Journal reported that a Blue Springs/Independence company, AAS Cleaning Systems is moving to an existing building over by the Truman Sports Complex. The company currently employs 29 people and is promising the EDC they will hire an addtional 13 people and invest $395K into their new location. Of course they are getting a 50% abatement on property taxes on the improvements for 10 years and some nifty state income tax credits.The article goes on to say that AAS "came to the EDC because suitable space wasn't available" where it now operates. I could be wrong, but I have a hard time believing in all of Blue Springs and all of Independence there isn't one commercial space that can handle a company with 40-50 employees. If I got on the phone with elected officials in either of those cities they would back that up? I guess Blue Springs should send Kansas City a Thank You card for picking up their extras? Independence is all full? Of course I'm glad that a business remains in the metro, but at what cost? Until somebody steps up and takes leadership, metro cities will continue to beat each other over the head in competition for businesses. In the process we will continue to remove millions of dollars from the tax rolls. Stealing a business from our neighbor under the guise of "retainment" is not right. It's not ethical. It's not moral. It doesn't even make good business sense. We need to talk to each other. I wonder if a councilman from Kansas City has ever sat down and had a cup of coffee with a counterpart from Overland Park? Hopefully we don't need non-compete treaties with our neighbors. Maybe an exchange of business cards, a handshake and a promise to "give me a call when something like this comes up and we'll make sure we're on the same page." That's how good business works, and the absence of that type of networking is why government fails. Rest assured I intend to seek out my counterparts if elected. I'll even pay for the coffee. My treat. |
posted by Mark at 10:06 AM
Comments on "Blue Springs is full up?"
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Anonymous said ... (2:53 PM) :
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Mark said ... (3:09 PM) :
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Anonymous said ... (10:49 PM) :
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Mark said ... (11:01 PM) :
post a commentThere's already a good structure/organization in place as an outlet for these kinds of conversations: MARC. Mayors and councilpeople and commissioners are on the board.
"MARC seeks to build a stronger regional community through cooperation, leadership and planning. Through MARC’s leadership, area jurisdictions and diverse community interests sit down together to address the region’s problems and identify the opportunities for cooperative solutions. These efforts, in turn, enhance the effectiveness of local government."
Maybe it's time to initiate that regional discussion.
anonymous,
MARC and OneKC only seem to work on paper. At least the coming together of elected officials part. It seems like any time you get more than two politicians in a room at the same time the result is stagnation.
That's why I advocate grass roots, small scale networking. If we can talk to each other outside the public realm, like regular neighbors, I think a better understanding could be reached.
Two viewpoints are much easier to reconcile than twenty. Wouldn't you agree?
Two viewpoints are easier to deal with than 20, yes. (That does kind of bait the question: Why do you want to go into government then? Multiply that 20 by...)
Two people, one of whom would be an in-district councilperson in one city, are not going to solve this particular regional problem. Everytime a business wants breaks to jump ship, two guys are gonna chat? (And they won't have to deal with their respective councils, who might think differently?) How efficient and effective will that be? Perhaps I'm misunderstanding what you meant.
More communication is generally good, and it could be great to start building the leadership and discussions at that small scale. However, I suggest that it's not going to be solved meaningfully that way.
Btw, that "public realm" you wish to escape is one big difference between government and business. The last thing KC needs is more of the back room handshakes that seem to be at play in this city.
"Perhaps I'm misunderstanding what you meant."
Yes, I believe you are.
"More communication is generally good, and it could be great to start building the leadership and discussions at that small scale. However, I suggest that it's not going to be solved meaningfully that way."
I respectfully disagree.
"Btw, that "public realm" you wish to escape is one big difference between government and business. The last thing KC needs is more of the back room handshakes that seem to be at play in this city."
I never said anything about "avoiding" the public realm, merely supplementing it. I'm not talking about any backroom deals. Just communication. I think we're on the same page, just not communicating well through this medium.
Thanks for reading.