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2010-03-11

2010-03-09

2010-01-19

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 1:28 PM

Financing a top concern for cash-strapped cities

Ottawa Mayor Gene Ramsey: 'We don't always boom, and we don't always bust'

By JODIE GARCIA, Herald Staff Writer

One primary challenge in 2009 for the City of Ottawa, like many other cities, will be financing, Mayor Gene Ramsey said.

“I think we’ll lose a lot of money from the state and other source we depend on,” he said.

Consequences of that loss of state funding will include continued deference on street and sidewalk improvements and other cuts, Ramsey said.

Although times are tough, Ramsey said Ottawa isn’t seeing as much of a downturn as other communities.

“We don’t always boom, and we don’t always bust,” he said.

He said the city is experiencing steady growth — citing interest in housing, recent industrial development and coming developments like two travel centers — and said he thinks such growth will continue.

Ottawa is in a prime location near Topeka, Lawrence and Kansas City, along with I-35 and a coming intermodal system in Gardner, Ramsey said.

“That’s really a plus for us,” he said.

Ramsey said the downturn is causing the city to tighten up and become more efficient.

“It’s not all bad,” he said. “It gives you an opportunity to look at what you’re doing and how you’re doing it.”