tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22571319.post117423042008802870..comments2023-06-18T10:03:39.982-05:00Comments on Gregorian Rants: City manager form of government and a little historyPeterGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13362919400474969329noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22571319.post-1174334958914183762007-03-19T16:09:00.000-05:002007-03-19T16:09:00.000-05:00Every business that comes into Southern Illinois l...Every business that comes into Southern Illinois looks at Carbondale and Marion. Some will not come here because of distance from 57, others might. <BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, small manufacturing is being wiped out in the USA by China right now. There aren't many wins there today. <BR/><BR/>Carbondale is doing great against Marion in retail, no one has gotten anything else around here for the last several years.PeterGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13362919400474969329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22571319.post-1174324707122178572007-03-19T13:18:00.000-05:002007-03-19T13:18:00.000-05:00What businesses has Marion cultivated that Carbond...What businesses has Marion cultivated that Carbondale had a shot at first, and how do you know this? What business growth does Marion have that Carbondale lacks? And I thought you said that because of Cole the business climate and growth of business are related directly to his leadership. So, now you're saying that Cole has failed at competing with Marion?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22571319.post-1174321820760039972007-03-19T12:30:00.000-05:002007-03-19T12:30:00.000-05:00I agree with Sam on most of this. I'm purposely b...I agree with Sam on most of this. I'm purposely being hard on the city manager and I know it is the city council too. If we had a mayor who was accountable instead, I think we would be better off. The City Manger is far removed from being fired or taking much heat from anyone who isn't on the city council. The real power of being on the council is being able to put items on the agenda to make the city manger do work.<BR/><BR/>Almost every business in Marion now, showed up in Carbondale's city hall and gave Carbondale a shot too. We have systematically chosen not to pursue these opportunities. There are many places where business locate 15 miles from an interstate, it isn't very far. Give Marion their due, they have out performed Carbondale by a wide margin in business development. It isn't just the luck or the interstate, they have made a city where businesses are wanted and treated possitivly. <BR/><BR/>Most companies would love to be in Carbondale and hopefully harvest the graduating college students. Almost every other college town in the country has companies moving there to get the graduates. Why hasn't that happened here? Why is Carbondale the worst performing college town in the whole country?<BR/><BR/>My feeling is we are facing a referendum on Carbondale's future in this election and this form of government is part of it. Do we want a 24000 person Town and Gown or do we want to have the city grow? Maybe get a second employer to bring money into our service industry?<BR/><BR/>We know the answer the business community wants to hear, but they all live outside of the city limits. It could be the university people like being lost in Carbondale?<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the thoughts.PeterGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13362919400474969329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22571319.post-1174319854620441292007-03-19T11:57:00.000-05:002007-03-19T11:57:00.000-05:00Just some thoughts, I may answer each question lat...Just some thoughts, I may answer each question later if I have the time.<BR/>City Managers like anyone who works for a City Council or Board of Directors are subject to the political agendas and wims of each member. Sort of like people who work for Peter are subject to his preferences and motives. In Carbondale you cannot blame the City Manager without blaming the City Council. <BR/>Yes, Carbondale has tons of rules because the legal system and the public have in one way or another asked for or demanded them. Those who are building want special treatment from the Planning office at the same time others in the community want a swat team to go in and make slum lords repair their rental property of close.<BR/>the slum lords know the legal game and play it well. <BR/>I think you are being to hard on the City Manager. The position requires listening and reacting to more than just the business community. Any decision that is made is going to make someone mad.<BR/>I think that our business problems are regional and just Carbondale. Marion success is due to the interstate. Bob Butler protrays himself as good for Marion, I think it is the interstate. IAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22571319.post-1174317937408879222007-03-19T11:25:00.000-05:002007-03-19T11:25:00.000-05:00It is the results that speak for themselves. Ther...It is the results that speak for themselves. There is almost no way for Carbondale to have done worse. We know this answer don't we? Anything is better then what we had.PeterGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13362919400474969329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22571319.post-1174315030118510652007-03-19T10:37:00.000-05:002007-03-19T10:37:00.000-05:00Wow. Now you are an expert on the history of polit...Wow. Now you are an expert on the history of political development the world over.<BR/><BR/>Maybe you could explain how Bob Paul is incorrect about the political history of <I>Carbondale</I>, and why a mayoral system would be better, rather than giving a historical review of political systems and their function that would make the people at Wikipedia laugh out loud.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com