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	Franklin County, Kansas, USA

2009-07-03

2009-07-01

2009-06-30

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Franklin County cities search for common ground

By JENALEA MYERS, Herald Staff Writer

Even though the cities of Franklin County have their differences, they also have similarities.

For more than a week, county officials have been traveling to cities throughout the county to find out information to draft a new strategic plan.

Many of the cities are facing the same challenges, including keeping local businesses open, maintaining roads and bridges and issues with water districts.

On Wednesday in Wellsville, City Councilman Kurt Taylor expressed the need for more law enforcement, saying that stealing has increased with the downturn in the economy.

“People are getting gutsier, and that’s just the way it is,” he said.

Besides Wellsville, officials met twice in Ottawa and once in Pomona, Rantoul, Princeton, Richmond and Williamsburg.

Most of the county citizens’ concerns have fit into seven categories, including economic development, public services, roads, infrastructure, land use, communication and education.

In addition to the meetings, a mail survey, paid for by Ottawa/Franklin County Economic Development, was sent to slightly more than 1,000 households in the county.

To qualify for special business and employment grants and incentives, the county must submit a strategic plan, which will be drafted by the economic development group, to the Kansas Department of Commerce once every three years.

Tom Weigand, Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce president, said cities would receive a draft of the strategic plan in December. The plan has to be sent to the state in January.

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